Is it frowned upon.....

guilliano

... for a road rider to wear a hydration pack when going for a longer ride? I'll be fitting 2 bottle cages to my bike when I get it, but if I'm out for 4 or 5 hours I'd like to take extra drink, food, phone spare tubes, hefty lock and a waterproof with me, making a back pack necessary..... or is that just my MTB side taking over?

trickeyja

I personally think it's fine to use a camelbak but it's much more comfortable not to have anything on your back. How about using two bottles in cages and refilling as you pass a pub/cafe?

By the way, I've just bought one of these and it's brilliant. http://www.carradice.co.uk/sqr-saddlepa ... pack.shtml More than enough room for what you stated. It's not massive but I managed enough for an overnight B&B stop. (Medication, nightwear, trousers, shirt, socks, light waterproof, some snacks). For shorter rides I use a smaller Specialized seatpack for basic repair kit and tubes. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... gn=froogle

For readily accessible items (phone, wallet) I use this: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/topeak-t ... 96840.html

Anonymous

You can't do that!!!!!!!!!!

Get off the road forum immediately!


Why do you need a lock btw?

I've never needed a backpack to be honest, I have spare tube and tools in a saddle bag or carry them along with everything else you listed in jersey pockets, it's far more comfortable.

However, there's nothing in the world stopping you from doing it!

guilliano

I'd carry a lock so that I could stop halfway round a loop at a cafe, or at the worst nip into a pub for a loo stop. I wouldn't dare leave my bike outside a public place without my trusty chain and padlock!

redddraggon

Loo stop in a pub?

Just go in a field

guilliano

That means carrying loo roll too..... even more room taken up in jersey pockets!

trickeyja

I have never needed a lock on my rides, apart from when camping overnight. If I need to get off for any reason I just leave the bike within sight.

Anonymous

Touch wood, I've never needed a lock, just leave it in sight.

RedDragon's toilet method is also the one I employ!

Smokin Joe

guilliano wrote:

That means carrying loo roll too..... even more room taken up in jersey pockets!

Don't be silly.

Why do you think cycling jerseys are longer at the back?

fast as fupp

guilliano wrote:

... for a road rider to wear a hydration pack when going for a longer ride? I'll be fitting 2 bottle cages to my bike when I get it, but if I'm out for 4 or 5 hours I'd like to take extra drink, food, phone spare tubes, hefty lock and a waterproof with me, making a back pack necessary..... or is that just my MTB side taking over?

dont they have shops round your way?

or taps?

and do they have teams of bike robbers prowling the lanes?

you need one of these http://www.pressportal.com.au/tpllib/im ... =750&h=500 :shock:

guilliano

You'd be surprised where I have known bikes to be stolen from!

As for the shops.... not many of them out in the countryside. I'll be doing most of my riding in the evenings after work when shops are closed, or around Whipsnade where if I want to go to the shop I'd have to pay £11 to get into the zoo first! Plus I prefer to be prepared for anything so I carry more than I need with me

fast as fupp

fair do's

maybe one of these would be more suitable http://www.velorution.biz/images/Veloru ... icycle.jpg

guilliano

Don't like the colour..... maybe if it came in black and blue......

on the road

You don't need to take an entire loo roll with you. If you think that you might need a sh*t while you're out on the bike (unlikely) then just take a few sheets of loo paper. Are you expecting to be diving in to the bushes every 5 minutes?

benno68

on the road wrote:

You don't need to take an entire loo roll with you. If you think that you might need a sh*t while you're out on the bike (unlikely) then just take a few sheets of loo paper. Are you expecting to be diving in to the bushes every 5 minutes?

I heard they drive like nutters round his way. Best take a pack of bog roll

guilliano

Not really, but I have a disease called transverse myelitis (immune system attacks the spinal chord, causing loss of/change of sensation among other things) which has left me with an insensitive bowel, meaning I don't feel the urge to go to a private place til almost the last minute. As such I go prepared!

fast as fupp

guilliano wrote:

Not really, but I have a disease called transverse myelitis (immune system attacks the spinal chord, causing loss of/change of sensation among other things) which has left me with an insensitive bowel, meaning I don't feel the urge to go to a private place til almost the last minute. As such I go prepared!

*faints*

guilliano

*gets out the smelling salts*

markos1963

guilliano wrote:

Not really, but I have a disease called transverse myelitis (immune system attacks the spinal chord, causing loss of/change of sensation among other things) which has left me with an insensitive bowel, meaning I don't feel the urge to go to a private place til almost the last minute. As such I go prepared!

I don't bother with loo roll, just carry a small pack of wet wipes, much more versatile if you have to use the loo as you can clean your hands after and if you have a mechanical you can clean up as well. You say you want a hydration pack as you cant fill up on your ride but then say you need a lock to go into a cafe? Most cafe's are pretty good at letting you fill a water bottle so I would go with a decent seat bag for your tools and locks, carry food,wipes money,phones etc in my pockets.

guilliano

The cafe would be IF I rode out Wendover way rather than Whipsnade. V busy up there and I have known a few bikes get pinched

roger_merriman

i do take a lock, but it's a tiny "stop the ****** just waking off with the bike rather than secure as such. i think it came in a mag once?

shakey88

guilliano wrote:

That means carrying loo roll too..... even more room taken up in jersey pockets!

:roll:

billy whippet

I ride with camelbak as would rather the weight of 1.5l on my back rather than on frame... plus as mostly ride fixed, take a spanner to undo wheelnut if punctured, and don't like it in my jersey

Tony666

Nothing wrong with a small saddle bag - I used to use a small 'widget' bag, similar to the Specialized one, but now everything goes in the back pockets of my jersey. I would though find any sort of backpack too restrictive and wouldn't it male you back too hot and sweaty? I'm usually out riding for 4-5 hours and can carry all I need, but I don't take a lock though. It's also a good idea to take SIS energy powders which are mixed with water. That way you can beg, borrow or buy water from somewhere (petrol station) if you need a top-up.

guilliano

I'm used to a back pack through mountain biking and always use SIS anyway, with a bottle of water for drinking/cleaning disc brakes. I'm going to be getting a saddle bag with the bike anyway so I'll see how I get on stuffing everything int that..... maybe get a topeak tri bag too. If I feel flush I might get one of those camelbak hydration base layers at some point so I don't look like a homeless rider at sportives

Headhuunter

Tony666 wrote:

Nothing wrong with a small saddle bag - I used to use a small 'widget' bag, similar to the Specialized one, but now everything goes in the back pockets of my jersey. I would though find any sort of backpack too restrictive and wouldn't it male you back too hot and sweaty? I'm usually out riding for 4-5 hours and can carry all I need, but I don't take a lock though. It's also a good idea to take SIS energy powders which are mixed with water. That way you can beg, borrow or buy water from somewhere (petrol station) if you need a top-up.

Problem with those "widget bag" things is that the velcro strap that goes round the seat stem always rubs a hole in your lycra tights or shorts. I was always getting rough, worn patches and holes in my lycra and it was getting expensive but then I realised what was causing it and now I stuff everything in my back pockets

cougie

Always better to have the weight on the bike rather than on you.

Deffo go with water bottles and stop off at small shop/garage if you need anything else.
I've not locked my bike up in 25 years plus of cycling - bit different if you go into town tho !

Camelbacks are great for MTBing but pants on road - how can you see how much you have drunk/ have left to drink ?

nasahapley

cougie wrote:

Camelbacks are great for MTBing but pants on road - how can you see how much you have drunk/ have left to drink ?

I'd humbly disagree - if you're on a long ride (requiring more than about 1.5 litres of fluid), and don't want to/can't stop at a shop then a Camelbak is just the thing. Most people don't mind stopping so have no need of them, I prefer to keep moving if possible so I make good use of my Camelbak. I can easily feel how much drink I've got left by squishing the bottom (oo-er), and anyway, how is not being able to see how much you've got left such a big problem on the road but not on an mtb?

I don't want to get all evangelical about it, but it does seem that Camelbaks are often dismissed for no other reason than That's Not What Roadies Do, whereas I reckon that for some people they could work really well.

As for the lock thing - I've had a bike nicked from outside a shop in a nice village while I was in there for no longer than two minutes, so if I was outon my own and planning on stopping I'd take one, but since I use a Camelbak, I don't have to!

eh

if you're on a long ride (requiring more than about 1.5 litres of fluid),

What like 80+miles and how often do you do those on your own? At a sportive use the drinks station and at a race get a bottle handed up or carry a small lock for visit into shops.

Camelbacks are awful for road riding IMO, it causes over heating and puts more weight on your back/arms. Tools into saddle bag; food, armwarmers, ipod etc. into jersey; water and pump on bike. For one off rides you can always use insulation tape to tie a spare inner tube or gels under the saddle.

Problem with those "widget bag" things is that the velcro strap that goes round the seat stem always rubs a hole in your lycra tights or shorts.

No it doesn't if you take a pair of scissors to it.

cougie

nasahapley wrote:

cougie wrote:

Camelbacks are great for MTBing but pants on road - how can you see how much you have drunk/ have left to drink ?

I'd humbly disagree - if you're on a long ride (requiring more than about 1.5 litres of fluid), and don't want to/can't stop at a shop then a Camelbak is just the thing. Most people don't mind stopping so have no need of them, I prefer to keep moving if possible so I make good use of my Camelbak. I can easily feel how much drink I've got left by squishing the bottom (oo-er), and anyway, how is not being able to see how much you've got left such a big problem on the road but not on an mtb?

I don't want to get all evangelical about it, but it does seem that Camelbaks are often dismissed for no other reason than That's Not What Roadies Do, whereas I reckon that for some people they could work really well.

As for the lock thing - I've had a bike nicked from outside a shop in a nice village while I was in there for no longer than two minutes, so if I was outon my own and planning on stopping I'd take one, but since I use a Camelbak, I don't have to!

In a flash of madness I did use a camelbak on a hot road ride once. It was yuk. Sweaty back, aching back and a squish couldnt reliably tell me how much I had. I found myslef drinking less than I should as I didnt want to get half way round and run out of liquid.


Off road you can put up with these things cos its so much easier to drink over rough terrain and you're not getting the spouts covered in crap - but water bottles win on a road bike for me definitely.

I do have an aqua rack on my seatpost with an extra two cages on for IM racing - but never feel the need to use them in training in all but heatwave conditions.


Bummer about the bike getting nicked though.

nasahapley

eh wrote:

if you're on a long ride (requiring more than about 1.5 litres of fluid),

What like 80+miles and how often do you do those on your own? At a sportive use the drinks station and at a race get a bottle handed up or carry a small lock for visit into shops.

Probably about twice out of every three weekends. Fair enough not everyone will do solo rides this long that often, but then I'm not prescribing Camelbaks for everyone, just saying that they work for me, and I ain't changin'. As for the sore back/arms thing - can't really argue with that if that's what you found. It's never bothered me, but then I used to be a rower which gave me a strong upper body (I'm hardly Hercules though - it is only a couple of kilos!). I did a hilly 80-miler in the North York Moors yesterday with everything I needed in the 'bak no trouble. For the FWC this year I won't be using it, but then the feed stations on that are much more reliable than the local shops' opening times!