Winter Cycling - Solution to freezing water bottles

I recently bought one of these (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442621174&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302696655&bmUID=1202570785314): http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Kitchen/5013041_v1_m56577569830620746.jpg

Yesterday I took it on a century with temperates from -6C(21f) to -2C(28f) and my water stayed lukewarm all day. I found it slightly too small to properly fit in my bottle cage but a little hockey tape fixed that. It also doesn't hold quite as much as normal water bottles. I could only fit one in my front cage but someone with a bigger frame should be able to fit two. All in all it's better than having your water freeze.

Those look nice, but I prefer something with a lid like the Thermos Nissan Backpack Bottle (http://www.thermos.com/Product_detail.aspx?CatCode=NISS&SubcategoryID=1&ViewAll=true&ProductID=494). You could probably use a backpack / hydration pack with a hydration bladder inside it too. Just make sure you blow the water back into the bladder after you drink from it, otherwise the tube will freeze.

I use the Topeak Modula Cage EX (http://www.topeak.com/t8/products/bottlecages/modulacageex.php) for my thermos. It's an adjustable bottle cage made out of plastic, and it can be adjusted without tools to fit pretty much any bottle. It was fairly inexpensive.

I recently bought one of these (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442621174&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302696655&bmUID=1202570785314): http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Kitchen/5013041_v1_m56577569830620746.jpg

Yesterday I took it on a century with temperates from -6C(21f) to -2C(28f) and my water stayed lukewarm all day. I found it slightly too small to properly fit in my bottle cage but a little hockey tape fixed that. It also doesn't hold quite as much as normal water bottles. I could only fit one in my front cage but someone with a bigger frame should be able to fit two. All in all it's better than having your water freeze.


Wouldn't it be easier to just drink Gatorade instead?

Polar water bottles.

Wouldn't it be easier to just drink Gatorade instead?

Sometimes I do, but gatorade freezes just as easily as water.



Polar water bottles.

I guess I need a bit more anti freezing bottles than most. My ride yesterday was 7 1/2 hours long with temperatures down to about -6C (~20f). I don't think the polars would cut it.



Those look nice, but I prefer something with a lid like the Thermos Nissan Backpack Bottle (http://www.thermos.com/Product_detail.aspx?CatCode=NISS&SubcategoryID=1&ViewAll=true&ProductID=494). You could probably use a backpack / hydration pack with a hydration bladder inside it too. Just make sure you blow the water back into the bladder after you drink from it, otherwise the tube will freeze.

I use the Topeak Modula Cage EX (http://www.topeak.com/t8/products/bottlecages/modulacageex.php) for my thermos. It's an adjustable bottle cage made out of plastic, and it can be adjusted without tools to fit pretty much any bottle. It was fairly inexpensive.

Those look even better!

Beer would have stayed mostly unfrozen. I recommend Maudite for the 8% content. :D

Beer would have stayed mostly unfrozen. I recommend Maudite for the 8% content. :D

And I recommend MasterCard to get out of the RUI (Riding Under the Influence) charges. :)
When I was taking my first aid course, though, I heard about a guy who had a flask of alcohol (vodka?) in his truck in minus 40 weather. He took it out, took a swig and died. (I am told it doesn't freeze at that temperature)

Seriously, though. The Thermos is an excellent idea. I've been loving mine for hot apple cider in my classes. They work so well.

Camelback, under your coat.

Sometimes I do, but gatorade freezes just as easily as water.


The sodium and sugar in gatorade lowers the freezing point.

Just make sure you blow the water back into the bladder after you drink from it, otherwise the tube will freeze.

Don't know why I didn't think of that. I'm new to the winter biking thing and get frustrated with the freezing spigot on my Camelback. I'll do that next time. :)

The sodium and sugar in gatorade lowers the freezing point.

Not by much. To drop from the freezing point of water (32 F, 0 C) to 25 F (-4 C), you'd need a 1 molal solution of sodium chloride or about 58g of sodium chloride per liter. That works out to around 6% or about twice as salty as ocean water. A teaspoon of salt weight about 6g by the way. Probably not a good idea.;)

Don't know why I didn't think of that. I'm new to the winter biking thing and get frustrated with the freezing spigot on my Camelback. I'll do that next time. :)

Get a Thermal Control Kit (http://www.rei.com/product/631126?vcat=REI_SEARCH) for your Camelbak. Mine stays liquid for about an hour at temperatures around 15 to 20F. If you drink a little from time to time, it goes longer...I can't, but it will;)

Get a Thermal Control Kit (http://www.rei.com/product/631126?vcat=REI_SEARCH) for your Camelbak. Mine stays liquid for about an hour at temperatures around 15 to 20F. If you drink a little from time to time, it goes longer...I can't, but it will;)

Thanks for the link. I rode for 2 hours at 25 degrees or so and kept the nozzle un-frozen by drinking periodically, chewing the nozzle every time to break the ice, and flexing the tube. Seemed to work but I'd bet blowing it out would work well too. I'm going to give it a try. Next option: keep the camelback under my jacket and stop, unzip to drink. We'll see.

I tuck the tube and nozzle of my camelback into my coat. It's easy to drink while riding. Un-zip with one hand, reach in and pull out the tube, drink as much as I need as I leave it outside the coat for a minute or so, then tuck it back in and zip up your coat. It never freezes that way. In fact, it's usually luke warm.

take more shorter rides,thats the solution.

Start with hot water?

I wear a camelback under my shell and blow air into the tube after drinking. The bitevalve freezes, but you can chew it open easily. I've gone on 3 hour rides in the teens like that and had no problem with water freezing.

GB

Hello! Here's my solution:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/2168500538_85b11314c4.jpg