Water bottles

spykes

Are them twin bottles holders any use that go behind seat post?
Not even got my bike yet but will need to hydrate lots with the amount of sweating I ll be doing :roll:

prj45

Drink when you're thirsty is my motto.

In the summer, say 25 degrees, I need perhaps one bottle of water to take me 14 miles.

At the moment I simply don't carry water.

Two bottles seems a bit over the top.

spykes

How far do you ride? Surley you would need something.

merkin

I would probably get through twice that in the summer.
I try to drink before getting too thirsty as I see thirst as an early sign of dehydration.

craker

the exercise gurus will tell you to drink before your thirsty. But this is a commute and is a pretty known quantity; why not have a drink before you set off and a drink when you arrive (if you're thirsty)?

tbh I do ten miles each way and neither drink nor eat before I set off. In the mornings it's very cool, in the afternoons I dare say I'm ready for a drink when I finish.

How far is your commute?

lost_in_thought

I did 7-ish miles each way, and tended to drink after doing so each way. Never really needed water en-route, though.

For longer rides, I have a buzzer to remind me to drink every 15 minutes or I forget. It does make a difference to stamina.

asprilla

I commute 17 miles each way. I don't bother with a bottle, I just make sure I'm hydrated before I leave.

nich

I have a glass of water before I set off in the morning. Not enough that I need a mid-ride pee thought!

I don't find I need any during the ride (10 miles), but do guzzle a lot down when I get into work.

Funnily enough I did start off by carrying a water bottle to work, but realised that I never wanted it, it just ended up being extra weight, hence I ditched it. When the summer comes I'll probably carry one as I don't like the heat much - I'll be the one splashing water over my face at the lights :P

DaveHudson

Same as L.I.T, 7.5 miles either way and don't drink. I always have a bottle of weak squash (water around here is rancid, Tastes like a tramps armpit. Don't ask how I know).

The only time I will have a small drink is if it is very windy and my throat is dry. Otherwise I just plod on.

itboffin

20 miles each way I always carry a full bottle and yet never use it, perhaps I should ditch the extra weight?

for sportives i always have two full bottles which I use completely before each food stop, so ran out of water on the Dragon ride last year, which can be potentially dangerous.

This year I'll be rocking up with 950ml bottles and spending less time at the feed stations

asprilla

Would you not use a camelbak on a sportive?

spasypaddy

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no.

LiT this buzzer, i like the idea of this buzzer as i forget. 45mins this afternoon without drinking and i was struggling as i never remembered to drink. (i hasten to add i rode for 4 hours). Where can i get this buzzer?

Agent57

spasypaddy wrote:

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no.

Only if you care what pretentious elitists will think.

For anyone else, a Camelbak is perfectly fine if that's how they prefer to carry their water. They're easier for constant sipping too, particularly for people who aren't adept at taking a bottle out & drinking one-handed.

asprilla

spasypaddy wrote:

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no

Any particular reason, or is it just not 'the done thing'?

stuaff

Agent57 wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no.

Only if you care what pretentious elitists will think.

For anyone else, a Camelbak is perfectly fine if that's how they prefer to carry their water. They're easier for constant sipping too, particularly for people who aren't adept at taking a bottle out & drinking one-handed.

+1. No-no? Personally, I've found my hydration bladder really useful, as one of those clumsy people it's very handy to have a quick drink whilst keeping the hammer down.

Stevo_666

I must sweat a lot as take a sip every 5-10 mins on the commute. The camelbak is great for making it easy to do that - no reason why you shouldn't use one. They are also ideal for long rides/hot weather as they can hold up to 3l of water. On a hot summer jaunt, add ice cubes before you set off 8)

will3

I find it depends hugely on the weather. On a sultry day in summer I can use a bottle on a 20 mile commute.
Today I got though half a bottle in 55 miles. Didn't seem to affect performance that much.

spasypaddy

a few reasons why is a no no on a road bike:
1. its the not done thing
2. its quite heavy
3. weight distribution on a back for long long hours in a saddle.
4. gets in the way of pockets on road jerseys

Mickey Eye

Soooo any good reasons?

itboffin

Looks ghey :P

Stevo_666

spasypaddy wrote:

a few reasons why is a no no on a road bike:
1. its the not done thing - that doesn't bother me
2. its quite heavy - fair do's if you're competing in something
3. weight distribution on a back for long long hours in a saddle. never noticed any problems myself
4. gets in the way of pockets on road jerseys don't need them - Camelbaks have loads of pockets

lost_in_thought

spasypaddy wrote:

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no.

LiT this buzzer, i like the idea of this buzzer as i forget. 45mins this afternoon without drinking and i was struggling as i never remembered to drink. (i hasten to add i rode for 4 hours). Where can i get this buzzer?

On the Edge - it's somewhere in the Training menu... or you could set up an interval alarm on some other thingo - many digital watches used to have them.

As for camelbaks, I think if you're used to carrying a rucksack they're fine, I'm not so I find them cumbersome and unpleasant.

Don't really see the additional gain over just carrying 2 bottles...?

EDIT and pockets on rucksacks (the ones I used to use for commuting years ago before I saw the light and switched to panniers) are waaaaaay harder to get to than those on a jersey.

roger_merriman

Stevo 666 wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

a few reasons why is a no no on a road bike:
1. its the not done thing - that doesn't bother me
2. its quite heavy - fair do's if you're competing in something
3. weight distribution on a back for long long hours in a saddle. never noticed any problems myself
4. gets in the way of pockets on road jerseys don't need them - Camelbaks have loads of pockets

even on the MTB I don't use the camelbaks as I hate having things on my back, much rather use a bottle. and since I live in SE which is hardly wild land, cafe etc is never far away.

Mr Sworld

What is wrong about having a bladder on your back rather than on the bike? It's the same weight overall at the end of the day?

Also on a hot day I like having a couple of litres of cold water on my back!

Of course I ride a MTB rather than a road bike....

<runs for cover...>

roger_merriman

Mr Sworld wrote:

What is wrong about having a bladder on your back rather than on the bike? It's the same weight overall at the end of the day?

Also on a hot day I like having a couple of litres of cold water on my back!

Of course I ride a MTB rather than a road bike....

<runs for cover...>

it's the point of having it on you rather than the bike, I've never liked the feeling of camelbacks makes me feel too heavy.

Kieran_Burns

I always have a drink (pintish) before I leave and a glass or two when I get in from my 10.5 mile commute.

Did the same on the 14 miler previously. I used to carry a bottle (and use it) but just stopped doing so. You do start to feel it a little at the end but it's not that far and you know you can have drink when you get in.

prawny

I always carry a bottle I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I can't always face a drink before I leave in the morning so I just have a sip at the lights once I've got going. Depends how far you're riding though and the weather. I don't usually touch it if it's raining a lot.

spasypaddy

lost_in_thought wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

using a camel back on a road bike is a big BIG no no.

LiT this buzzer, i like the idea of this buzzer as i forget. 45mins this afternoon without drinking and i was struggling as i never remembered to drink. (i hasten to add i rode for 4 hours). Where can i get this buzzer?

On the Edge - it's somewhere in the Training menu... or you could set up an interval alarm on some other thingo - many digital watches used to have them.

As for camelbaks, I think if you're used to carrying a rucksack they're fine, I'm not so I find them cumbersome and unpleasant.

Don't really see the additional gain over just carrying 2 bottles...?

EDIT and pockets on rucksacks (the ones I used to use for commuting years ago before I saw the light and switched to panniers) are waaaaaay harder to get to than those on a jersey.

sweet there is so much to use on the edge and yet i never do

must find that then and use it

stuaff

spasypaddy wrote:

a few reasons why is a no no on a road bike:
1. its the not done thing
2. its quite heavy
3. weight distribution on a back for long long hours in a saddle.
4. gets in the way of pockets on road jerseys

Well:
1. I can't bring myself to give a toss about that.
2. OMG! Another kilo or two! Like that's going to make a difference to my speed. If I need to carry stuff that won't fit in jersey pockets I'm not going to leave it at home.
3. Pish. A decent rucksack doesn't cause any problems.
4. True. But hardly a massive inconvenience.

oscarbudgie

I don't use a camelbak but good luck to anyone who does. Frankly I'm getting a bit tired of all the w@nkers out there who like to say what is and isn't Ok to have on a ride...just more boring Raphawank if you ask me. Anyone say bidon?

craker

Wearable hydration then?
Pockets on the back - check.
Road biker fascist approval - check
Slightly odd shape - check.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cam ... p-ec021651

8)