Water Bottles vs Camelbak

[Dave K]

Which do you use on the road? I'm not talking about during a road race where you get water bottles handed to you.

Use of Camelbak for MTB is obvious, but not frequent on the road. Why not? Function? Culture? Appearance? Just can't stand having something on your back? Aerodynamics? Too much trouble to clean a Camelbak bladder and hose?

1 big water bottle = 30 oz.
1 big Polar insulated bottle = 22 oz

1 Camelbak Classic = 70 oz

I see some put 2 bottles in the cages, then one in the jersey so they'll have enough. Otherwise, in this heat, you're gonna have to stop and refill or maybe you can drink extra before the ride?

[Bikin'chick]

So far, I'm using camelbak with that bad-ass road bike of mine... why? So I can quickly identify the S.E.B.'s by the looks of disapproval when I ride up to the group.

Or because I only have the screws for the bottle, no cage.....

Or because I'm afraid I may not be coordinated enough to grab the bottle & drink while moving forward without crashing....

[TechniKal]

I was a camelbak junkie, then I rode without one a couple of times. It's cooler, more comfortable and you don't have the pack shifting around all the time....

I now never wear a camelbak on the road bike (I have a saddle bag on my road bike for tools and tubes so I retain my Fred status.) Two larger water bottles and routes that never venture too far from refill station make going camelbak-less viable.

If I could figure out a way to carry enough water on the mtb, I wouldn't wear one there, either. Given that my mtb rides don't usually have places to stop and refill, that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

[Weeg]

#1 Camelbak "STEALTH" (I was given one when I moonlighted a as a SWAT Paramedic...Ergonomic, and NO FLOPPIN. I wear it under my roadie jerseys sometimes, and sometimes you can't even tell I'm wearing it

#2 I do bottles too...2 cages, so I can have one H2O, one CYTOMAX, etc

[Dave K]

Originally posted by Bikin'chick
Or because I'm afraid I may not be coordinated enough to grab the bottle & drink while moving forward without crashing....

Good point. If I'm going for a spin by myself or one or 2 other riders, I try to get by with just 2 bottles because it's slightly less hassle to clean when I'm done with the ride, and just a little more freedom from not wearing the Camelbak.

But when I go on one of the fast rides where things get tight with riders several right next to me and we're going hard, I don't wanna deal with a water bottle and I see few others reaching for theirs during those times either. So I see it as an advantage and added safety precaution.

Also, in this heat Camelbaks do a great job of keeping your stuff cold.

I'm having real trouble with my Polar Bottles leaking around the screw down top! Annoying when I've got Gatorade in them and they leak in the car or on my shirt!

In MTB: if it's hot and your bottle's cold, and the trail is dusty, I always got a muddy, slippery mess. Otherwise, in cool conditions or low-dust, it might work OK. But my full suspension bike's only got one bottle cage.

I've mentioned these before on Raspa, and I'll plug 'em here too: Platypus bladders with the zip top and screw-off removable hose are quite easy to clean and dry inside with a towel and by swinging the hose around using centrifugal force to remove all water from hose. 70oz model on clearance for $6 (normally $20) at Colorado Cyclist!

[Weeg]

Most of the time...

MTB: Camelbak (Cloud Walker, or STEALTH)

Road: Bottles

Added bonus in racing: In the Muddy Carnage that was known as the BTU Power Pedal (Lake Bryan) 01, I raced with Camelbak...I also took 2 bottles at the Bottle-Drop...They ended up being my Drivetrain washers...A tactical decision that paid off:eek:

[Todd]

I wear a camelback when I'm mountain biking, but I'm thinking about ditching it for water bottles. For me, camelbacks are just too hot on the back. For road riding it's water bottles all the way.

[TXRAiDR]

I use both. I'm a 98% bottle user on both bikes though. I had gotten a camel back a while ago (Rocket) when I was just getting used to riding. Then the heat came and I was sweating like a sonabitch with it on. Don't get me wrong, that cool feeling from the water is good, but when it gets hot it's uncomfortable. When I do where a camelback, it means I'm out "getting lost" somewhere so don't follow me unless you have one too.

On the MTB I still use bottles too. I'll admit it though, I will go to a camelback because it can get freaky reaching for a water bottle on the trail and then WHAM! you hit a root and the whole bike moves up and you miss grab. Plus, I think it's safer on the trails.

Also, for RR if it's a long course or it's hot and humid, I'll half fill one bottle and freeze it, and 3/4 fill another bottle and freeze that one too. Then before the race, I'll top both off. I'll keep the 3/4 in my center jersey pocket or my right one, and I'll keep the other two in the cages.

[data]

Camelback on the MTB, never any exceptions yet. On the road, no camelback. Have a Profile Design seatpost bottle holder that allows me to carry 2 bottles there and then the 2 cages on the frame, I usually put the 2 in the seat pack and 1 on the frame, swapping them when the frame one is empty. Pretty mucn been drinking a bottle an hours in this heat and rarely ride over 2.5 hours.

[Dave K]

Originally posted by data
Have a Profile Design seatpost bottle holder ....

Can you still have a saddle bag if you have one of those tri-athlete extra bottle-holder thingies?

[Willie]

Mtb: camelpack
Road: 3 water bottles

[data]

Originally posted by Dave K


Can you still have a saddle bag if you have one of those tri-athlete extra bottle-holder thingies?
Had to get a small one, it'll still hold tube, CO2, ID and tire iron. Make sure it's a wedge bag. You can tell about the size that will fit there.

[Jeff]

Ice in the camelbac for me. Topped with a pitcher of ice coldwater.It keeps my back cooler and my drink is always cold. Plus I can carry any and all the gear I need incase something breaks or the weather changes. I once got caught in a terrible summerstorm that made us beg use of someones porch. The rain came in sideways so I pulled out the raincoat. My riding buddy was very jealous until I gave him the extra emergancy poncho that I always carry. Now he always wear his camelback too.

[Weeg]

Originally posted by Jeff
Plus I can carry any and all the gear I need incase something breaks or the weather changes.
Good point Jeff...With some of my Jerseys, you put more than a couple of items in the pockets, you feel like the Jersey is choking you:(

[Jim_K]

Mtb: Camelback Mule
(w/ spare tubes, tire levers, pump, tools, etc..)
Road: 2 Water Bottles
(I carry my spare tubes, tire levers, and Co2 in a seat pouch, everything else I might need in jersey pockets)

[the Inbred]

didn't use my camelbak till this year on the mtb, now use it regardless of what i'm riding. to me it's just easier to drink out of, and i can still keep my hands on the bars (for the road). also serves as a way to keep the half-Powerbar i save for mid-ride cool and not so gooey.


p.s. - that Cookies and Cream PowerBar is gooooooooood.

[TXRAiDR]

Originally posted by the Inbred


p.s. - that Cookies and Cream PowerBar is gooooooooood.

Yeah they are! I can't seem to find any here though :(

[Dave K]

I tried the Helotes ride (40 miles) with 3 water bottles. I noticed most people were only using 2, but I think they are refilling them at the gas station we pass before and after the ride.

Putting one bottle in a jersey pocket is easy to grab, but a bit hard to put back with just one hand.

I didn't really notice if I was cooler than when using Camelbak. I really doubt that I was. It seemed dadgum hot out there. It's definitely more trouble to deal with all the bottles and my water got hot before the end of the ride despite filling them with ice all the way to the top. Freezing the water bottles before the ride means you're gonna be putting pure water on top that won't necessarily mix with the chunk of gatorade you've got on the bottom unless I add a little bit more gatorade mix with it too. I like to have all my stuff pretty close to ready to go when I get home to grab it.

I'm gonna try it a few more times before I give up on it. It does allow use of the middle jersey pocket for my new Crank Bros. pump which I really like.

[Jeff]

Dave

I don't know if you've tried the camelbac yet but if not I have two and I live just across 281 from you. You are wlcome to borrow mine for a while to try out. Just buy yourself a big gulp bite valve and I'll loan you the bladder and tube that goes with it.
Just lemme know. Bottles are cool I used to use them solely. But accept on certain occasions,I will not go back.

[Dave K]

Thanks Jeff. But, actually I own 2 Camelbacks now! I got a 70oz Classic slightly used for $25 in addition to my dedicated MTB 70oz Lobo model. I'm just experimenting with water bottles on road cuz very few roadies use Camelbaks and I wanna see what the deal is. I've gotten a little more used to the bottles, but not totally sold on them yet for road. Sometimes I think it's easier, sometimes not. It just depends on the situation.

[Elena]

Umm got my new road bike about a month ago, and am loving her. At first I rode with just water bottles.

But those only get me to about 1.5 hour ride and I was having to conserve water- which totally sucked and then had the worst headache the next day 'cause I was dehydrated :( . Now I ride with both.

And when I do speed work outs I can't really lean down and grab my bottles. Camelback makes a nice 50oz roadie hydration pack, I use it when I mt bike race.

I won't ride with just a Camelback b/c there is no good way for me to tell when it is almost empty without stopping my ride.

I would much rather carry more water than not enough. :D

Kyle btw Cycle360 is having a sale on their bikes :D

[Weeg]

Originally posted by Elena
I would much rather carry more water than not enough. :D

I think these can be configured as a BOB Trailer:D

[John]

Originally posted by Dave K

In MTB: if it's hot and your bottle's cold, and the trail is dusty, I always got a muddy, slippery mess. Otherwise, in cool conditions or low-dust, it might work OK.

Put your water bottle in an old sock, and then in the cage. Any mud will be on the sock, and the water bottle will remain clean.

[Weeg]

Originally posted by John


Put your water bottle in an old sock, and then in the cage. Any mud will be on the sock, and the water bottle will remain clean.

Yup...John knows the value of old socks!

Additional uses for old socks:

* Put them OVER your shoes (with a Cleat Cut-out) on race/ride courses that have lots of Goat-Head Spurs (They are EVERYWHERE in El Paso!), dry grass, etc...And they keep them from getting in between your footsie and shoes (ITCH!!!)

* Good covers for your shoes on Ch-ch-ch-chilly Road Rides :D

* Excellent jaw covers for the Workstand/Repair Stand...You know us roadies and our bike finishes:D

[Jeff]

The tour and this discussion inspired me, yesterday to try the bottles again. Using the 1 bottle per hour theory I did 30 miles At an avg 19 mph. I was much cooler with the pack on, but always concerned about running out of fluids. I also discovered a new preride meal. Borrachos with Fajita beef in it. One bowl two hours pre ride and I felt great. Never a lactic build up and power to burn. Recovery time was slow somehow but minus the three dogs and the truck that backfired beside me. It was a great ride.

[Dave K]

I'm fairly used to water bottles on the road, but I still think Camelbaks have a performance edge due to being able to drink while still hammering in a tight group. There's just no way to do that with bottles.

I have discovered these Nike water bottles are better than any other I have tried. You can find them for $3 at Ross at Bandera & 1604 or the Nike outlet store in San Marcos for I think $4. I've only seen the maroon colored one though.

Main feature is a special valve that automatically opens when you squeeze the bottle or suck on it. Thereby eliminating the need to pull the top open or close it. So far, they've never leaked in my car or otherwise which is better than I can say for my Polar insulated bottles which leak around the cap.

Also, the black areas are rubberized to improve grip which is important because I put ice in mine and there is a great deal of condensation on the outside that makes other bottles slippery and I have had one squirt out of my hand once or twice which is very dangerous if there are riders behind you, plus you lose your position in the group if you have to go back and get it, or you're littering if you don't.

One negative: they have a skinny tapered shape toward the bottom that makes them fit loosely and give a lot more sideways play in water bottle cages, so you gotta tighten up your cage quite a bit, and be careful when putting it back in cuz you can shove it right through the side of the cage.

Also sold online at various places for about $7 a bottle. Just do a search on "Nike water bottle" and you'll find plenty.

[Jeff]

Thanks Dave. When are we going to get a ride? I live across the highway from you.

[carlos]

Elena, try drinking a gallon and a half of water each of the 3 days prior to the ride. one or two bottles will be all you need.

[Dave K]

Score 1 for the Camelbak!

I froze my 70oz bladder in the freezer the night before the Hotter N Hell 100. 85 miles and 5 hours later, COLD Extran-laced water was still coming from my Camelbak! I also used one Polar Bottle that I refilled at the rest stops with iced water or Powerade. The Polar Bottle didn't keep the fluid cool through the 112 degree heat, but my Camelbak did!

I can understand why the road pros don't use Camelbaks - they've got handups. But for those of us that don't, the Camelbak just works better. No risk of dropping it (many hazardous water bottles littered the HH100 roads), holds more, better insulated, can drink small amounts often while still pedaling hard and in a tight pack.

I've used water bottles all summer now, and I found they just don't work as well as a Camelbak. The thing about making you're back hot? - not true if you freeze or even just ice your fluid. Non-aerodynamic? - who goes fast enough to notice?

For shorter training rides, I'll probably use bottles though. Just easier to clean than a Camelbak bladder. Although my Platypus bladder with zip-top is pretty darn easy.