Mountain Biking - when the camelbak just isnt enough?

im an XC/trail rider from wisconsin. the season has just started for me the trails in my area reopened about a week ago. normally temperatures are in the 40-60 degree range (ferenheit) the other day for some reason it got into the mid 80's. maybe i am just not used to it but i damn near passed out.

i have the largest reservoir i can find (100 oz) i usually put one packet of electrolyte drink (supposed to be for 20 oz) in to my bladder. i usually drink a lot of water when riding, maybe more than the average joe.

the other day i drank my 100 oz of water in less than 3 hours. i want to ride much farther distances in hotter weather what can i do?

-i was thinking of maybe adding two bottles to my bike and some cages then strapping them down
-maybe i could fit a couple bottles in the cargo compartment of my backpack
-perhaps i could soak my jersey in a creek to keep me cooler
-i think there is a well about a mile from the trail head. it does taste pretty bunk though

You could see if you can find a Camelbak Sixbak. Its a 200oz or 6 liter reservoir system that was made for law enforcement/military.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=370156725640&Category=87125&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1

Edit. It doesn't have straps but rather only D ring attachment points. The 200oz reservoir also fits in Camelbak Maximum Gear packs. I think the MULE is one of them.

I only put 100% H2O in my camelbak. I think it is way too easy to get some unpleasant growth inside them if you use anything else, especially in really hot weather. I carry 1 or maybe 2 wide mouth bottles (easier to clean) on my frame with some sort of electrolyte solution in them (usually Gatorade) if I am going for 2.5 or more hours in hot temps. I don't think I would go over 100oz cause it would be really warm after 3hrs+ on your back in the heat.
p.s.
I wouldn't refill anything out of a well, no cholrine, no filtering, just a whole lot of microscopic bugs that will have a lot of unprotected sex in your camelbak.

p.s.
I wouldn't refill anything out of a well, no cholrine, no filtering, just a whole lot of microscopic bugs that will have a lot of unprotected sex in your camelbak.

You could use iodine tablets to purify the well water, although that won't do anything against the microscopic parasites...

I had this problem (just ask B2B) when I did a 3hr ride in hot / humid weather. I had to finish the ride on the road. I actually ran out of sweat and started getting cold and goose-bumpy. I think I was dadgum near heat stroke. I work in mid-to-upper 60 degree temp in a hospital all day, so I sweat like madd!

I should be sporting a 100oz pack, but I have a 70oz Dakine and Camelbak. I will either get a bigger pak this summer or use a bottle with Gatorgoop in it. along with the 70oz packs.

im an XC/trail rider from wisconsin. the season has just started for me the trails in my area reopened about a week ago. normally temperatures are in the 40-60 degree range (ferenheit) the other day for some reason it got into the mid 80's. maybe i am just not used to it but i damn near passed out.

i have the largest reservoir i can find (100 oz) i usually put one packet of electrolyte drink (supposed to be for 20 oz) in to my bladder. i usually drink a lot of water when riding, maybe more than the average joe.

the other day i drank my 100 oz of water in less than 3 hours. i want to ride much farther distances in hotter weather what can i do?

-i was thinking of maybe adding two bottles to my bike and some cages then strapping them down
-maybe i could fit a couple bottles in the cargo compartment of my backpack
-perhaps i could soak my jersey in a creek to keep me cooler
-i think there is a well about a mile from the trail head. it does taste pretty bunk though

Your drinking too much. I carry 2 polar water bottles 24 oz. each. One with water and one with gatorade. And I live in Puerto Rico, we have tropical climate all year long. I usually go on 3 hour rides, and always drink the gatorade first. I also carry 2 gel packets for energy.

Your drinking too much. I carry 2 polar water bottles 24 oz. each. One with water and one with gatorade. And I live in Puerto Rico, we have tropical climate all year long. I usually go on 3 hour rides, and always drink the gatorade first. I also carry 2 gel packets for energy.

Here is where the confusion lies. Since my body is used to the cooler 60's degr weather, when I get out in the 95'ish with high humidity...I sweat all that fluid out like Lebowski. If I lived or worked in a tropical climate, I'd be more used to it and sweat less...necessitating less water.

If I drank less water like you're suggesting...I'd pass out or die.

^^^^^ Not necessarily (replying to post above chels)
Everyone's body sweats differently, the more you sweat, the more you need to drink.

for those who aren't like us sweat hogs, you don't have to drink AS much.

So just curious, since your rides are about 3 hours long, don't you guys pass through some small market or store where you can refill so you don't have to be carrying so much weight on you ?

No...I rode for 3 hours around a lake that does have a marina...but I don't think it's near the trails. The Hick would know the answer to that. Lot's of trees around, so not much breeze at times. Temp 90's, humidity 90's = lots of water for me.

No...I rode for 3 hours around a lake that does have a marina...but I don't think it's near the trails. The Hick would know the answer to that. Lot's of trees around, so not much breeze at times. Temp 90's, humidity 90's = lots of water for me.

And at what pace are you doing this ? Relaxed ? Normal ? Fast ? Uber fast ? Carbon Stumpy Uber fast ?

Hydration is attached to lifestyle. That said if you dehydrate quickly, try a light mix of Gatorade (either powdered or liquid) and water, this not only replenishes electrolytes but also potassium, sodium. Two bottles and a 100 oz pack are all I've ever needed for a ten hour trek. Now with the bigger storage camel backs, IE: Mule,and Hawg. you can have two reservoirs. (if your willing to give up storage space)
I've have carried a 100 oz res. in my hawg, and and extra 70 oz res in the storage compartment.
I do long gravel training rides to build stamina, most have a small town around to get supplies but others are a strictly self sustained rides. Because I love riding in the Flint hills where there is nothing but scenery.

And at what pace are you doing this ? Relaxed ? Normal ? Fast ? Uber fast ? Carbon Stumpy Uber fast ?

I just saw your last post, Yeah, pace also has a a big input on fluid consumption. The day Ed w is talking about was a "Normal" pace for me. Probably more of a "Fast" pace for Ed's style of freeride/am riding.

Ohhhh...now the truth comes out (whimpering in corner)

I do mountain rides which sometimes mean long, slow climbs where I don't encounter places to get water for up to 3 hours. Going for an hour w/o water really sucks.

My first adaptation was to buy the largest bottles I could find: 1 liter each:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_146170_-1_200287_200277_200367

My second adaptation was to double the cage count on my bike. See photo.
The adapter brackets are 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum bar stock.
The hard part was finding the stainless bolts short enough to go through the adapter and the cage w/o hitting the bottle, and long enough to go through the adapter *and* the fender stay *and* the fork braze-on.

Wow, just wow Shimagnolo. Water cages gone crazy ! You should just get a Camelbak instead.

On a side note, that bike doesn't look very mountain.

Ohhhh...now the truth comes out (whimpering in corner)
Oh Cmon. Those telephone poles you rode down on an 18 degree grade at Holton? No wonder you knocked the stuffinng out of that marz 55 r. You got no reason to whimper, from me or anyone. we ride the same trails but we attack them differently. Your aproach is is to jump hit anything you can, Mine is a smooth, endurance "stay in the saddle" approach to the very same trails that you ride.
There is no constant from rider to rider. from town to town, or from mountain to mountain. There is only one person with their bike on the trail they are riding at the time.
:thumb:

Wow, just wow Shimagnolo. Water cages gone crazy ! You should just get a Camelbak instead.

On a side note, that bike doesn't look very mountain.

That is not a mountain bike; It is a Soma Double Cross, set up for touring.
I've tried wearing a waist pack with two one-liter bottles and I hated the extra weight pushing my backside down against the saddle.

Depending on the route, I sometimes start out with just two bottles, then at the last convenience store before a long remote climb, I will pick up two bottles of water to occupy the empty cages. Then on the way back down, once I get back to civilization, I can throw away the extra bottles, and go back to carrying just two.

That is not a mountain bike; It is a Soma Double Cross, set up for touring.
I've tried wearing a waist pack with two one-liter bottles and I hated the extra weight pushing my backside down against the saddle.

Depending on the route, I sometimes start out with just two bottles, then at the last convenience store before a long remote climb, I will pick up two bottles of water to occupy the empty cages. Then on the way back down, once I get back to civilization, I can throw away the extra bottles, and go back to carrying just two.

How about those seatpost water cages ? I've seen the accesory with two water cages in the same piece. They go right behind your wedgie bag.

How about those seatpost water cages ? I've seen the accesory with two water cages in the same piece. They go right behind your wedgie bag.

Behind the seat there is:
- a rack, with a bag on it.
- a mount for a Dinotte tail light.

There is no space for bottles back there, and I see no need to "fix" something that is working perfectly.

So just curious, since your rides are about 3 hours long, don't you guys pass through some small market or store where you can refill so you don't have to be carrying so much weight on you ?

If you're "mountain biking" near "markets" or "stores", it ain't really mountain biking, is it??

The nearest I get to refills are cold, running streams. Here in the Cascades, I can usually tell visually the Giardia-free streams. My instincts have not failed me yet!

Today was in the 80s, and I went through almost 5 liters (I was a bit dehydrated to start off). Two liters at the BMX track and "DH"trails, and close to the whole 3 liters in my other pack on our trail ride.

The nearest I get to refills are cold, running streams. Here in the Cascades, I can usually tell visually the Giardia-free streams. My instincts have not failed me yet!

I sometimes encounter little streams up in the mountains, and was considering carrying filters/UV/chemical devices to use the local water until I met an old-timer who has been specializing in historical maps of the areas I have been riding. He informed me there is a *lot*of arsenic contamination from all the old mines, and he wouldn't even consider drinking any of the surface water.

When I'm riding a long ways in the heat and don't know of any place to refill, I take my Camelbak HAWG and carry two 100oz reservoirs. I'll swap them out when the first one goes dry. The extra weight is a pain, but it's much better than running out of water in the middle of nowhere.

you mention the well 1 mile from the trailhead, why does this matter? do you pass it each lap? if so just bike the xtra mile to your car and keep gallon jugs in your car for camelbak refills,

a random idea: put a second c'bak bladder in the storage area of ur camelback, somthin like a 50 oz (unless you actually need more)

also yeah bottles on the frame and/or seatpost (they make adapters), one point on this, i tried riding with a normal cage and the bottle flew out down when i wend down a staricase in the parking lot, i've since had good results with the blackburn mtn cages, they hold bottles more securley, but its harder to get em out (and strapping it down is a good plan)

(ps my bike is lighter w/o a gallon of water on it lol ;)

If you're "mountain biking" near "markets" or "stores", it ain't really mountain biking, is it??

The nearest I get to refills are cold, running streams. Here in the Cascades, I can usually tell visually the Giardia-free streams. My instincts have not failed me yet!

And I know that your words, are words with iron. The kind of iron men carry in their souls. Of course, Ive seen your iron on the forum before, therefore it has become truth.:roflmao2: Awhh hell man, We know you know, what your talking about.

Hydrate before you ride. Just drink a ton of water the day before and the day of you ride, till you pee clear. Trust me. Just do it.

also my problem is that i do not have a car. going mountain biking involves pushing knobby tires over concrete for 12 miles before i can ride on the dirt.

a 3 hour ride turns into a 5 hour one because of the commute.

Hammer Nutrition

also my problem is that i do not have a car. going mountain biking involves pushing knobby tires over concrete for 12 miles before i can ride on the dirt.

a 3 hour ride turns into a 5 hour one because of the commute.


well thars your problem.