Hydration for bike - most aero

[Stallionforce]

I'm actually a roadie, so feel free to blaze me down. I know the water bottle on the seat tube is what most roadies go for in a TT. My P2C oddly enough does not even have the option of a bottle on the seat tube; my only option currently is the down tube.

At any rate, I'm curious what some of the tri guys use to stay aero. There's a local guy here who has a torpedo-shaped watter bottle that goes behind his seat post with a length of what looks like surgical tubing running forward to his mouth. Seems a bit ridiculous but I guess it works. I've also seen Vision Tech's setup between the aerobars. Is there a camelbak a la Julich still? I thought they took their racing ones off the market.

What are your solutions? Should i even worry about my down tube water bottle?

[Moochers_Dad]

The SpeedBottle
"Wind tunnel testing makes this the fastest bottle and cage on the planet"

http://www2.bontrager.com/images/products/x-large/275294.jpg

I can't seem to recall who makes it though...;)

[rplong]

I'm actually a roadie, so feel free to blaze me down. I know the water bottle on the seat tube is what most roadies go for in a TT.

I think it is usually the other way around with the blazing..... =] But that is another topic.

I have heard that seat tube or down tube are truly the most aero. In a Triathlete magazine interview, Peter Reid actually said that the behind the seat is not really as aero as the tube positions. It is funny where you say your P2C has its' water bottle, as my P2-SL ('05 or '06 i think) has the water bottle on the seat tube. I think that the data concerning the 'most aero' position changes and Cervelo is probably on top of their game, with your position being the best.

However, I think that an up front water bottle such as the profile design or whatever kind of brand you pick would be the most beneficial. I think this because you do not need to come out of your aero bars to take a drink. No matter where your bottle is elsewhere on the bike, you will most likely be coming out of the aero position to grab it. I am sure there are some that can grab from the tubes w/o coming out, but I certainly don't feel very safe doing so.

Anyone else?

[Dalai]

An oldie but a goodie... http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/waterbottles.html

I personally use a Jet stream (aero shaped bottle sitting between the aerobars) only for shorter events - straw in face to drink without getting out of the aero position. For longer events I still use the Jetstream bottle which can be topped up on the go, plus a behind seat bottle mount using one cage for fluids and the other to carry spare tubular and co2 in a cut down bottle.

[Stallionforce]

An oldie but a goodie... http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/waterbottles.html

I personally use a Jet stream (aero shaped bottle sitting between the aerobars) only for shorter events - straw in face to drink without getting out of the aero position. For longer events I still use the Jetstream bottle which can be topped up on the go, plus a behind seat bottle mount using one cage for fluids and the other to carry spare tubular and co2 in a cut down bottle.

Thanks for the replies guys.

That article truly surprised me. Surprising results, and surprising how gullible I am to marketing. Seems the downtube bottle is not so bad.

But the feeling I am getting is that coming up for a drink is bad. I guess the cost-benefit comes out in favour of the bottle between the aerobars? I'll probably look into the visiontech system then.

[Dalai]

Thanks for the replies guys.

That article truly surprised me. Surprising results, and surprising how gullible I am to marketing. Seems the downtube bottle is not so bad.

But the feeling I am getting is that coming up for a drink is bad. I guess the cost-benefit comes out in favour of the bottle between the aerobars? I'll probably look into the visiontech system then.


Downtube bottles such as the Arundel or Bontrager bottles on the down tube would act as an additional faring just above the bottom bracket*. So I would suggest it is even more aero and therefore even if I wasn't taking a drink during a very short TT I'd be inclined to still carry the bottle.

The issue then though is when you actually drink. Any movement that forces you to come out from the aero position isn't ideal, hence the use of bar end controllers to change gears. In regards to hydration and bottle location it's all a matter of compromises. I use the Jet stream bottle which will be less aero than not having the bottle, but I can drink without moving other than dipping my head to reach the straw. Also as it's easily accessable and 'in my face' I tend to drink more!

* I don't have actual figures as yet so purely speculation on my behalf... But from the linked article from 2004 "I didn't get the aero shaped frame bottles tested, for example. I had done a good bit of that a few years earlier when I was designing a new frame for Lance, and found that an aero bottle worked very well on his seat tube. But aero frame-tube bottles aren't readily available at this time, so I've deferred that testing for now."

[Stallionforce]

Downtube bottles such as the Arundel or Bontrager bottles on the down tube would act as an additional faring just above the bottom bracket*. So I would suggest it is even more aero and therefore even if I wasn't taking a drink during a very short TT I'd be inclined to still carry the bottle.

The issue then though is when you actually drink. Any movement that forces you to come out from the aero position isn't ideal, hence the use of bar end controllers to change gears. In regards to hydration and bottle location it's all a matter of compromises. I use the Jet stream bottle which will be less aero than not having the bottle, but I can drink without moving other than dipping my head to reach the straw. Also as it's easily accessable and 'in my face' I tend to drink more!

* I don't have actual figures as yet so purely speculation on my behalf... But from the linked article from 2004 "I didn't get the aero shaped frame bottles tested, for example. I had done a good bit of that a few years earlier when I was designing a new frame for Lance, and found that an aero bottle worked very well on his seat tube. But aero frame-tube bottles aren't readily available at this time, so I've deferred that testing for now."


This is really quite fascinating. I wonder if they could do a study which takes into account the differences between hydration systems when the rider is forced to come out of his "tuck" to take a drink. In other words, the Bontrager faring-style water bottle might be the most aerodynamic, but that does not take into account the very fact that you must, at the very least, remove one arm from an aerobar and take a drink.

[Dalai]

Plenty of interesting discussions about the Arundel type drink bottles by the Aero guys on http://biketechreview.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1 Just search on 'Arundel'

Also discussed a bit on Slowtwitch http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=741449#741449

Still no figures on how much time would be lost by actually drinking though...

[Stallionforce]

Ordered the Arundel bottle. Couldn't handle the scorn of my fellow man if I ordered the Never Reach. ER Dodds was right about shame culture...

When I saw the pic on biketech of the guy with the P2 and the Arundel it was a nobrainer -- very snug.

Thanks for all the advice and help boys.

[Dalai]

To get it to fit he did have to custom drill the cage. Was 1.5 cm gap using the standard drilling on the cage. Guessing the old adage stands true 'measure twice, drill once' ;)