Your still thinking about what YOU think is the right way to use and test a bike. But there remains the issue that not every one's use is the same. YOU may feel bikes should be tested with two bottles but maybe some people only ever ride with one 24 ounce frame mounted bottle and that gets them through rides up to 50 miles and that's all they ever do. Or a person who rides with a bottle in their jersey. Or...Or...Or...

So imagine you get your way and a test is done with 2 frame mounted bottle, but then what if one company designs their bike for a seat tube bottle only, one for a down tube bottle only and one for both? Lots of guys only need 1 bottle to race with and al of a sudden they have doubts about the test protocol. So a test with both bottles may not apply to them. Or a test with a bottle in the wrong location, i.e. I race with a bottle only on the downtube. It starts demonstrating the question of when do aerodynamics matter, when racing, or all the time?

In terms of time trial bikes, it gets even more baffling. Because riders have many more options and requirements. Bottles mounted horizontally between the aerobars, front end hydration, various rear end hydration systems, aero shaped bottles, distances from 12 miles to 112 miles for the bike leg. If I saw an aero test of time trial bikes with two round bottles I would consider it inapplicable to me. I would never race, even an Ironman with two round frame mounted bottles. With my speed concept I'll most likely come up with a system for one normal bottle in between my extensions and one aero bottle on the frame for up to HIM; and an additional aero bottle for up to IM.

I'm just trying to demonstrate that it's hard to say, all testing should include ________. Because there is no standard way to use a road bike.

false. it's not this subjective world many configurations. the vast vast vast majority of racing and riding takes place with two bottles. Therefore, road bikes (not TT bikes) should be test with two bottles. Which bottles? Which cages? Standard steel cages with standard 16oz bottles. Largest producer of bottles? Specialized I suspect. So use their standard 16oz bottle.

there. done. now on to the testing

Would an aero frame make much of a difference in a crit?
Doubt it.

Wheels? Probably more so than the frame - especially if they are light wheels, as the spin-up/acceleration from the turns would be enhanced.

Unless you are thinking you'll take a flyer off the front and lap the field - and have your break actually hold, an aero bike won't do you that much better than sitting in the pack and racing intelligently.

See the problem?!

Yes, intentionally silly, but proving a point.

You're being silly. You could give a top team steel frames with box rims and Rival parts and they'd still win races. That wouldn't mean that's the best possible choice. The only thing which will stop them from winning is using stuff which breaks.

So, until I see test results with two bidons onboard to compare to no bidons on board then aero tests aren't worth the paper they are written on.