how do you carry enough water?

Triangle Kebab
Triangle Kebab Posts: 85
edited August 2013 in Road beginners
as the title says, how do you carry more water?? I am covering bigger and bigger distances and my two water bottles just dont cut it any longer, how do you guys do it? anyone have a sloution?
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Comments

  • Htron
    Htron Posts: 47
    Do you have 750ml bottles? Find a nice cafe at halfway who will fill them up for you.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Is it really really hot where you are? As otherwise two water bottles are usually more than enough. Or are your water bottles teeny tiny? I use these ones http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bon ... 609#select 700ml each.
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    edited August 2013
    Things called shops, full of the stuff, and they're mad keen to sell it to you too.

    If you're riding a distance that 2 x 750ml bottles doesn't cover, the few seconds it takes to buy more and drop a Nuun tab or similar is irrelevant.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    If you have 2 500ml bottles get bigger bottles.

    If you already have 2 large bottles you are probably not hydrating properly before you ride.

    If you are Audaxing silly miles fill up along the way is the only answer.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Camelback.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    styxd wrote:
    Camelback.

    Unnecessary on the road unless you are riding 200 miles across the Spanish interior.
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    styxd wrote:
    Camelback.

    Unnecessary on the road unless you are riding 200 miles across the Spanish interior.
    Indeed. What's the logic in having a lightweight responsive road bike and then lugging a few litres of water about on it? 750ml should do for most rides as long as it's normal English summer weather, less usually.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    2 x 1 litre bottles, Halfords sells them.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Whats the logic in having a lightweight responsive road bike but being to thirst to ride it?

    Get a Camelback, you can store all your tubes, tools, sandwiches and waterproofs in it aswell, if you get one big enough.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    styxd wrote:
    Whats the logic in having a lightweight responsive road bike but being to thirst to ride it?

    Because 1.5 litres of water (hence 1.5kg) is more than enough for the vast majority of riding. In most cases you'd only need more than that if doing the likes of century rides. In which case stopping somewhere to buy water shouldn't be a big issue.

    In any case, why not just get your domestique to go back to the team car and get you another bottle? ;)
  • djm501
    djm501 Posts: 378
    Yeah fill up at shops/cafes when you get the chance. I audax silly miles and cafe stops are built in as control points. I only once forgot to top the bottles up - I won't do that again!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Camelbacks aren't very comfy on road bikes. Why carry the weight on your body when you can let the bike carry it for you ?

    Stopping for water makes perfect sense - its quite easy to do....
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    Be careful using big bottles (1ltr +) as you may find your cages not up to it. I speak from experience of the ones that have a 'tang' at the bottom to stop the bottle falling right through. One pothole and the weight of the bottle smashed it off. Also be careful using big tall bottles as they can easily come out of a cage (as they are more 'top heavy'). Ensure your cage holds them tightly enough.

    I only use 750ml bottles and these do me for about 60 miles. If I'm riding further I stop and fill them up, either at a cafe (where a bit of cake and a coffee go down well!) with just tap water, or at a shop or garage where. Just buy a big little and transfer it into my bisons.

    Simples.

    PP
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Is it possible to train your thirst threshold as you get fitter?
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Pilot Pete wrote:

    I only use 750ml bottles and these do me for about 60 miles. If I'm riding further I stop and fill them up, either at a cafe (where a bit of cake and a coffee go down well!) with just tap water, or at a shop or garage where. Just buy a big little and transfer it into my bisons.

    Simples.

    PP

    I used to do that, but as I got faster I found the Bisons had trouble keeping up, particularly on the longer rides.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    2 x 750ml bottles will see you through 100 miles in hot weather.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    Bozman wrote:
    2 x 750ml bottles will see you through 100 miles in hot weather.

    Sorry, I think that's nonsense. On the Prudential RLS 100 on Sunday I got through 2 litres of Isotonic and it was just enough, and it wasn't even that warm. In hot weather I might get through twice as much, certainly 3 litres over 100 miles.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • earth
    earth Posts: 934
    Pubs and cafes. You can buy drinks and ask them to top up your water bottle. Or be cheeky and just ask for a top up. Is there still a law that says you cannot refuse someone tap water? Or you can be really cheeky and nip into the toilet and use the tap in the hand basin.
  • davidefernandes
    davidefernandes Posts: 54
    I use a camelback on my road bike, it's easy, barely notice its there and you don't have to reach down to get it or worry about putting it back in. That gets me 3 litres of water, most of which I finished when I did my 60 mile ride the other day.

    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft because everyone will need different amounts of water throughout the cycle, depending on fitness levels. I reckon we all drink a lot more than the professionals do.
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    will3 wrote:
    Pilot Pete wrote:

    I only use 750ml bottles and these do me for about 60 miles. If I'm riding further I stop and fill them up, either at a cafe (where a bit of cake and a coffee go down well!) with just tap water, or at a shop or garage where. Just buy a big little and transfer it into my bisons.

    Simples.

    PP

    I used to do that, but as I got faster I found the Bisons had trouble keeping up, particularly on the longer rides.


    :mrgreen:
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    edited August 2013
    drlodge wrote:
    Bozman wrote:
    2 x 750ml bottles will see you through 100 miles in hot weather.

    Sorry, I think that's nonsense. On the Prudential RLS 100 on Sunday I got through 2 litres of Isotonic and it was just enough, and it wasn't even that warm. In hot weather I might get through twice as much, certainly 3 litres over 100 miles.

    I think that it's all down to the individual I've never needed more than 2 x 750 ml bottles, I try to stay well hydrated throughout the day and when I'm out on the bike that's all I need, I generally do 60 to 70 miles and I'll probably drink about 1 litre of fluid during the ride.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    davidefernandes wrote:
    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft because everyone will need different amounts of water throughout the cycle, depending on fitness levels. I reckon we all drink a lot more than the professionals do.

    Exacly, I handed a bottle of Evian to a Euopcar rider on Alp D Huez this year and he just poured it on his head!
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    davidefernandes wrote:
    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft because everyone will need different amounts of water throughout the cycle, depending on fitness levels. I reckon we all drink a lot more than the professionals do.

    Everyone will need different amounts due to differing physiology and different sweat rates and different power outputs etc etc.

    I reckon most probably drink a lot less than professionals,who drink something like 500ml per hour minimum. They are regimented and train to keep the fluid intake at optimum. They also have an endless supply on hand when they need it. Most 'Sunday warriors' that I know do not drink anywhere near enough.

    I personally sweat like buggery - recently calculated my sweat rate in preparation for a 100m TT and I need 1.2l/hr to stay fully hydrated! Bloody unbelievable I know, but that is at 25mph average in warm conditions. On a 50 I will drink 1ltr which just about gets me to the finish, but I fully hydrate before and again straight after. Anyone who says I should be able to do it on less is just talking pie in the sky. We are all different, a young lad on the 50 set off in frontof me with just a 500ml bottle and didn't plan to pick up any more! He did alright with a sub 2hr on a 'J' course...

    I personally don't think you can train yourself to drink less fluid and remain fully hydrated. You are what you are and I have always needed a much larger fluid intake than friends and colleagues doing similar activities. I first noticed it in the Army where I would go through much more than my mates, constantly filling up my water bottles in streams etc whilst they seemed to happily survive for hours on just 1ltr...I have always sweated buckets when doing any form of exercise, even in winter with minimal clothing. Army doc once told me it was a sign of an efficient internal heating/ cooling mechanism....not sure about that though!

    PP
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    davidefernandes wrote:
    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft

    People saying it is a bit daft is also a bit daft as none of us know how far the OP is talking about. :wink:

    If he is talking over 100 miles then you may have a point, but if it is less then I have a point. :mrgreen:
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • davidefernandes
    davidefernandes Posts: 54
    smidsy wrote:
    davidefernandes wrote:
    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft

    People saying it is a bit daft is also a bit daft as none of us know how far the OP is talking about. :wink:

    If he is talking over 100 miles then you may have a point, but if it is less then I have a point. :mrgreen:

    distance is irrelevant, he/she is asking about carrying more water, not how much people drink. I drink 3 litres for a 60 mile ride, a lot of people on here will drink a lot less, some may drink more.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    davidefernandes wrote:
    distance is irrelevant, he/she is asking about carrying more water, not how much people drink. I drink 3 litres for a 60 mile ride, a lot of people on here will drink a lot less, some may drink more.

    Have you actually read what you have written. The longer you cycle the more likely you are to need to drink more.

    If we talk time rather than distance do you then agree that you will drink more?

    The OP states he is doing longer and longer distances as the reason he wants to carry more water.

    Your notion that distance is irrelevant holds no water :lol:
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    edited August 2013
    davidefernandes wrote:
    smidsy wrote:
    davidefernandes wrote:
    People on here saying you won't need more than such and such or your not hydrating yourself enough before hand is a bit daft

    People saying it is a bit daft is also a bit daft as none of us know how far the OP is talking about. :wink:

    If he is talking over 100 miles then you may have a point, but if it is less then I have a point. :mrgreen:

    distance is irrelevant, he/she is asking about carrying more water, not how much people drink. I drink 3 litres for a 60 mile ride, a lot of people on here will drink a lot less, some may drink more.


    3 Litres! How do you get/carry 3 litres and do you have to stop every 5 miles for a p1ss
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    If you are cycling at fast pace you'll sweat it out.
  • doug5_10
    doug5_10 Posts: 465
    Rule 1: 500ml per hour
    Rule 2: No Camelbacks :wink:
    Edinburgh Revolution Curve
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/1920048
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    smidsy wrote:
    Your notion that distance is irrelevant holds no water :lol:

    :D

    As others have said, weighing the bike/you down by carrying more and more water (that stuff is heavy) is not the answer for most riding within the UK.

    Pubs, shops, graveyards (many will have a tap for watering flowers) and failing all of those, the kindness of strangers working in their front gardens.

    I ride quite a long way, often in remote terrain, and have never completely run out of water, for very long, with 2 750ml bidons.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way

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