How to feed long rides

rob39

Due to my location my rides are in the back end of the middle of no where and very hilly 4000ft + of climbing. So when attempting a long ride 70 miles how do you hydrate when their are no shops

imposter2.0

I usually take a couple of bottles and carry them on the bike.

marcusjb

As above, two larger bottles.

If you need a refill, you'll generally receive good responses from people out in their gardens etc.

You don't say where you are, but on the continent in particular, graveyards usually have a tap.

If you are truly the back end of the middle of nowhere, then fast flowing streams are going to generally be fine.

fenix

Two large bottles typically do me for a long ride.

I refuse to believe you can't find a shop/petrol station/cafe somewhere on a 70 mile ride though.

Flâneur

70 miles in this country should see you pass something be it a cafe/garage/corner shop/ spar (cycling in Wales Mid and North has taught me there is always something even if you need to hit a proper road for a few miles).

But should you be out early hours or in the late hours and require more than 1.5L I'd go with a saddle mounted bottle cage, 2 more bottles so another litre at least.

I know when I have been mtbing (and hiking/running) I've used fast flowing streams without ill affect. Do give the bottle a smell tho.

drlodge

Can you fit 1 litre bottles in your cages? 2 litres should be enough for 70 miles, and a snack bar of some sort at mid ride.

ugo.santalucia

rob39 wrote:

Due to my location my rides are in the back end of the middle of no where and very hilly 4000ft + of climbing. So when attempting a long ride 70 miles how do you hydrate when their are no shops

If it's 4000ft over 70 miles, I'd say they are not hilly at all. 2 large bottles should be plenty for 70 miles. Yesterday I did 62 with one 750 ml bottle (hottest day of the year, albeit I went out in the morning)

DeVlaeminck

oxoman wrote:

If your not careful riding over rough roads you will lose the bigger bottles, hit a crack in the tarmac going downhill on a sportive my big 750 bottle popped out and skidded off. Luckily people behind me missed it.

Not a problem if your bottle is snug in the cage - if it's not just wrap a bit of insulating tape round the cage with a bit of rubber or foam under if it is really loose. No excuse really for people to lose bottles especially in a race or big sportive where you could end up taking someone out.