Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Keeping hydrated on a long ride?

I can use all of my water bottle going ten miles on a hot day. I can only imagine going 50/100 miles. What do you guys do? Pack a dozen of them? Have a bag full of quarters for vending machines?

I use two 1-litre bottles on my bicycle. Drinking about 750 ml every 1 to 1.5 hours, those two bottles can last me anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours. Usually, somewhere in that time I come across a town with a grocery store or convenience store or something at which time I buy a 2 litre bottle of water and refill my bottles. I usually also buy a 500 ml bottle of pop or juice and drink it while I'm taking a break.

I have done some really hot rides, and for those I have used a camelbak, but I can't use a camelbak for very long because it really hurts my shoulder, back, and chest for some reason ... giving me heart attack-like symptoms.

+1 on the 2 one litre bottles. I have also tried a camelbak, but they tend to weigh alot after long rides and IMO they are not worth it. You might want to plan your rides so you go by places to buy water. You also might want to make sure you are hydrating yourself during the day and on days that you are not riding.

Pack a dozen of them? Have a bag full of quarters for vending machines? No -we pose as long distance cyclists on the Internet and ask stupid questions.

I carry five bottles on a 100 mile ride.
Refill two of them on the ride.

No -I pose as a long distance cyclist on the Internet and post stupid answers to questions.

Fixed for you.

I can use all of my water bottle going ten miles on a hot day. I can only imagine going 50/100 miles. What do you guys do? Pack a dozen of them? Have a bag full of quarters for vending machines?


Hydrate before the ride. I carry two 24oz bottles and refill them as needed on long rides.

Why would you want to keep me on a long ride? :D

Why would you want to keep me on a long ride? :D

Pork is a good source of protein.

I plan my rides so that I'm coming across civilization every so often so I can refill my bottles. That was where I lived last. In Oregon, I'm noticing that there aren't a lot of stores once you get away from the towns so my plan is to take my 2 water bottles and a camel back. That should be enough.

I can use all of my water bottle going ten miles on a hot day. I can only imagine going 50/100 miles. What do you guys do? Pack a dozen of them? Have a bag full of quarters for vending machines? Gas stations, delis, etc usually sell gatorade and water. Either carry the packets for the powder for your favored electrolyte drink and mix with water, buy the bottled gatorade at the shops. I usually do a bit of both; sometimes favoring the sour/ salty taste of the gatorade and sometimes using my heed/perpetuem powder which have a more neutral flavor.

Last year I was forced by an bicep injury to travel with a camelbak. I've since recovered, but continue to ride with it. Two liters on my back and two large water bottles on my bike. I can go 63 miles without stopping, even in the hottest weather...and I sweat a lot.

You can't imagine the amount of stress that is removed when you are not constantly thinking about where you will next find water.

For shorter rides on cooler days, I use two 750ml bottles with energy drinks and refill where I can. For long rides (100+ miles), I typically add a small Camelbak with water only for either hot days or 100+ mile rides.

If you're really not thrilled about a Camelbak, I have heard about but have not used an on-bike hydration system called the NeverReach: http://www.neverreach.com

http://www.cdisports.com/images/Never_Reach_on_Bike_300x.jpg

Two things to keep in mind:

• Make sure you're getting some electrolytes (especially sodium) while you ride. Your body will work better, and you'll negate the (low) risk of hyponatremia.
• Most people need 500-750ml of water per hour on the bike.

Pork is a good source of protein.

Stop looking at my loins! :lol:

On the hydration issue... during the hot months here in the Southeast, I carry two water bottles. Freeze one to start, and then I try to route my path along places where I can hit stores for cold water every once in a while. I don't load up with tons of water unless I'll be in an area where I'm unsure of the available supply. Our Georgia heat warms those extra bottles up pretty quickly if you're carrying a few.

Have a bag full of quarters for vending machines?

only if they are made of carbon.

quarters are heavy. debit cards are lighter. planning ahead and doing some longer rides to see what works for you - priceless. :thumb:

For long rides I use two 750ml bottles and a camelback. It drops my cool-guy factor to negative 10, but I sweat a lot and I don't like to stop.

I keep 2 bottles on the bike, and if I know I have a long stretch between places where I can fill up, I'll throw another bottle (or two) in my jersey pockets.

For people who are carrying more than 2 large bottles, where do you ride? I can't see much point in carrying so much water unless you know you won't be able to refill.

Having said that, I sometimes will stash gallon jugs along my route if I know that resupplying is an issue.

For people who are carrying more than 2 large bottles, where do you ride? I can't see much point in carrying so much water unless you know you won't be able to refill.

Having said that, I sometimes will stash gallon jugs along my route if I know that resupplying is an issue.

Farm country. Mountain highways. There's lots of places up here in Washington where you can go for 40 - 50 miles before hitting the next town.

You'd really drive 100 miles round trip to hide a gallon of water 50 miles from your house?

For people who are carrying more than 2 large bottles, where do you ride? I can't see much point in carrying so much water unless you know you won't be able to refill.


I use four large bottles, two behind the seat.
Good for 100 miles without getting off the bike.

I carry 2 24 oz. bottles and drink 1 an hour. I can usually find water somewhere, deli, gas station, farm house, fire station......When I find water I always drink extra before I leave that location.

Farm country. Mountain highways. There's lots of places up here in Washington where you can go for 40 - 50 miles before hitting the next town.


Oregon is the same way. I moved from NC and NEVER had this problem, but here in Oregon, it's quite common. Now I could simply ride near the metropolitan area, but what fun is there in that? Especially when you have such awesome nature as we do here in the PNW.

I have gone through 5 bottles in less than 40 miles in Utah on a hot, arid day. You don't even feel the sweat.

You could always try this guy's (http://www.thesunnews.com/news/breaking_news/story/822208.html) method!

I put a carrier behind my seat and carry 4 of the large water bottles. I need to down at least 2 an hour while riding, especially when it is warm. Even short rides here in SoCal mountains can have me go a couple of hours without anyplace to refill. No water = David has pounding headache!

But dang the bike weighs a ton with so much water!

I put a carrier behind my seat and carry 4 of the large water bottles. I need to down at least 2 an hour while riding, especially when it is warm. Even short rides here in SoCal mountains can have me go a couple of hours without anyplace to refill. No water = David has pounding headache!

But dang the bike weighs a ton with so much water!

Do you use a handlebar bag to carry other items, or are you a pocket stuffer? I only used a behind-the-seat carrier on my tri bike back in my racing days, and all else I could fit behind the seat was a spare tube and a couple levers.


My bike (and I) weigh a ton before I fill my water bottles, so I guess I've never noticed an extra pound or two of water.

I still have the behind the seat bag for tubes, patch, CO2, etc. My gels and such go into my jersey pockets. Pain to get into with the bottle rack attached, but with luck, I don't have to use the contents much.

Hey. Sorry, I middle-clicked on Reply instead of Quote, so I don't know whom I'm replying to. Thanks for the advice. I don't know what a camelpack is. I guess it's a type of hydration pack. I'm actually avoiding those, since I'm always traveling with a back pack (it has two water-bottle slots, though I only have one, which really gets me almost all the way to town and back). I was thinking about going longer distances in the future, though.

I guess what you guys say is true. I always imagine going on back roads and paths and not running across a gas station or anything for hours. But I guess from my limited experience, there are plenty of places to fill up along the way.

Is Gatorade really that much better than water? It makes sense, because I always pack something with me when I go to town so that I'll have enough energy to climb back home. But I guess with all the sugar and everything, it would serve the purpose well.

I don't know, but gatorade sure tastes awful to me after mile fifty, and just gets worse.

I enjoy the breaks though, and don't mind popping into a convenience store, every once in a while even if they think I'm in a ballet outfit.

I don't know, but gatorade sure tastes awful to me after mile fifty, and just gets worse.




+1 ... not to mention the mouth sores it causes.


HEED is my sports drink of choice.

Do any of you add anything to the water, or just take it straight.

I also use two 1 liter bottles. I run across enough stores so that never is an issue. Occasionally I buy fruit drinks and mix them 50/50 with the water in the bottles. That gives me a sport drink without the salt. I hate gatorade yuck. The last time I read the labels, the 50/50 water-cheap fruit drink mix was equal to the more expensive sport drinks. If I feel in danger of bonking, a bottle of store bought cheap fruit punch fixes me up faster than anything. In minutes I am fine. Given enough, I can do over a century with no solid food. I get hungry not tired, from no solids. So I usualy get some solid food in my stomach. It's just a little more comfortable.

My snacks of almost any kind have plenty of electrolites in them. Most do, I don't need any added in my drinks because of this.