DGauthier
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 21
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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What do you guys do for water on long rides? My longest ride is getting into about 4.5 hours, and a couple of 20 oz. water bottles don't cut it. In our recent 80 degree heat in Los Angeles, I'm consuming something like 60-70 oz. (buying Gatorade at service stations when I run out). Two 32 oz. water bottles would be nice, but I can't seem to find any bicycle bottles that big. The idea of a camelbak doesn't thrill me. What do you century riders use?
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 720
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Zefal makes the Magnum 28oz that are the biggest (I think) bottles that fit in standard bottle cages. But on 4 plus hour rides you need more than that. While you don't like them, I use a CamelBak (72oz) for any rides longer than 2 hours. Another upside to CamelBaks (or their like) is that you can carry more stuff as needed. I ride in very rural areas with little or no water/hydration or support available except what I can carry. So for me a hydration pack answers my problems.
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Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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I just use 20 oz water bottles. One filled with water, and the other bottle will have a performance hydration drink in the water called Sustain Sport. The Sustain comes in a powder form and dissolves very easily into the water. I am doing most of my biking in South Orange and San Diego Counties, and I am usually stopping in at fast food restaurants or any where else there is free water to refill my bottles. I carry the Sustain pre-measure for my refills in small plastic bags, and just pour one of them in as I refill my bottles. The Sustain I order directly from it's manufacturer (Melaleuca) via internet or phone. I prefer doing this versus the camelpak (where I can't keep my water and perfomance drink seperate, I don't like the weight on my back, and they are hot to wear).
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MAX
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easypedaler
contributor
Reged: 02/08/04
Posts: 149
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I agree 2 water bottles on longer rides just does not cut it. I usually plan a route that either runs by a small convenience store and buy some water. Or a local fire station where I know someone is always hanging out. Something like that. Camelbacks just don't do it for me. Don't like that feeling on my back 
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DGauthier
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 21
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I was not aware of the Zefal Magnum - thanks very much Dave - it seems to fit my current needs perfectly.
I did a little searching and rediscovered http://www.planetultra.com. At the bottom of their home page they recommend use of a camelbak. This seems to be the definitive solution, so if I end up taking even longer rides, I'll just have to get used to one.
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Siriusguy
new member
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 11
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I've bought a set of the Zefal Magnum. They actually hold a full liter each, better than the usual 750 ml ones, or those dinky 500 ml. bottles. With my larger hands I can handle the Magnum without much problem. BUT, for a warm day, that's still barely a two hour supply. So, for some rides around here, if I couldn't be sure of support, or some place to replenish my supply, I'd take either a Camelbak Daytrekker (1.4 liter) or even a larger hydration pack.
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 720
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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While some don't care for on the back hydration systems, one very positive thing about them is that they can keep the liquid cool for hours. My 72oz Rocket, with the bladder stuffed full of ice cubes and water, will still be quite cool at the end of a 4 hour ride. If the day is really going to be hot, I'll wet down the inside of the CamelBak before I insert the bladder. This will further cool the reservoir area and keep my back cool too.
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Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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RDP
captain
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 245
Loc: Kansas
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Dave,
What are the cleaning/maintenance requirements for the CamelBaks? Based upon my past history, a bag on my back would eventually become a mobile WMD lab. Just curious.
Richard
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It is about the bike.....BikeFanClub Forums
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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Those are all good attributes for Camelbak. That's why my wife has ridden with one for the last four years, she was using the Rocket. The only attributes about them I don't care for is you're carrying the weight of the water on your back, and it's difficult to carry water and sport drinks separate. My wife has used two bladders in the Rocket to seperate the fluids, which was hard to fill up. And from having the weight of the water on her back over the years, it has caught up with her, and she started having some neck/shoulder/back pain.
So I have help her make some changes. She rides a small Trek Y-foil (it has no place mount water bottles to the frame), so I have mount a "Flat Wing" from X-Lab, and couple water cagges to the back of her seat. The water is convenient, and off her back. Her pains have gone away, and she says her seat feels more comfortable now, too. The camelbaks are good, but not for everyone.
I prefer to let the bike carry to water weight. Another option for 80 oz of cold fluid is to mount a wide-mouth white 20 oz bottle to the down tube, one to the seat tube, and 2 behind the seat. The wide-mouth accepts ice-cubes easily, and the white color will keep it cold longer, too. The bottle to be drank last would be pack with ice cubes and crush ice and top-off with a fluid of choice to stay cold the longest.
Whatever keeps you going, do it.
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MAX
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 720
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Richard: I carry only water in the CamelBak. At the end of the ride, the bladder is removed and the top left open to dry. I'll also wipe down the mothpiece (it can get a little wierd after muncching Fig Newtons and swilling water). In three years I've had no issues with anything growing in the bladder.
The weight of the CamelBak isn't an issue for me, it's properly adjusted and I don't notice it. I hate drinking warm water. Even the Polar bottles loose their cool after several hours, so the CamelBak is perfect for me. Plus carrying my wallet and keys in it, I always know where they are.
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Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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