Road Cycling - Camelbak: Anyone here use one?

I'm wondering about getting a camelbak for my longer road rides. It's not so much the distance but rather the weather. I went for a 70 mile ride on Friday starting at 1:00 pm. It was 90 degrees with very high humidity. I'd eaten a good meal at around 9:30 am, drank a fair bit of water (in fact it seemed like a lot for me, but I don't drink nearly enough as it is), and took two 24oz bottles of accelerade and two 16oz bottles of water. At mile 41-ish I began to cramp in my left calf. 2-3 miles later I was cramping in both. All my fluid was gone by mile 45. I was saved by a small housing development that had a completed Open House a few miles later. I went in and filled up all my bottles and drank 2 16oz bottles of water right there. At mile 55 I literally started to crawl home, barely getting above 15 mph the rest of the way on dead flat raods. Average for the ride was 18.1 (computer stops when I stop ... which I did frequently after 55), but I was cooked, done, baked, boiled, and not in good shape. I started to shiver when I got back (after getting my son to hose me off in the front yard I was so hot). My route is all rural, some inclines and two decent, if short, climbs but otherwise flat to gently rolling. No gas stations, no 7-11/White Hens, nowhere to fill up (except for the Open House!). I'm thinking in weather like that the camelbak may be the way to go. I don't give a crap what I look like wearing it - I just remember feeling like I wasn't going to make it with 20 miles to go. I figure the smallest 70oz camelbak would be good for my route. Anyone use these?

Sorry for the ramble ... I've never been beaten up so badly by the weather before and I didn't like it at all. I've done 110-mile rides on 2 bottles with one stop and never cramped, but never starting out and ending in 90-degree weather.

Sounds like you need the Camelback!

Sounds like you need the Camelback!

I think I do for days like that anyway. I've done the same route in cooler weather and never missed a beat - even with just two bottles. Do you have one of these things? Any recommendations?

I thought about getting one, but I think the hassle of keeping the bladder free from bacteria (I'm a bit O/C) turns me off.

When I ride I keep a 36oz. plastic bottle with frozen Kool-Aid in my backpack, it melts during my ride and I fill it up again with soda I buy from the Hot Dog vendor.

LOL! If there was a hot-dog vendor on my route, I'd be riding a motorcycle! I think I'm just going to get one for th really hot days, just to be safe. My wife wasn't impressed and started babbling about acting like a child and not being responsible. I was too tired to explain or defend myself :D

You can get tablets that keep the mechanism clean. It all sounds a bit like false teeth cleaner, but if they get the job done ...!

I rode 108 hilly miles today and the longest distance between stops was 40 miles. ALL of us topped off at the previous stop but I was the only one with a camelback (70 oz). At the next stop, I had about 6 oz left and everyone else had run out of water/sports drink 10 miles earlier.

The Camelback would be a good idea, I use one for centuries, but I wonder if you did not need some food like a Cliff bar.

For unsupported rides in excesse of 40 miles, I use a 70 oz Camelback. You should eat about every hour or so. Keeping it clean isn't as hard as it sounds. You should prehydrate as well, drinking at least 12 oz of water before you ride.

I think I'm convinced! I did take some GU bags with me, but I only "ate" one. I really need to do a better job with food. I think I got spoiled by the rides on the same route before - I never really had to cope with weather this hot. Given the fact that there really isn't anywhere to fill up ... Camelbak it is!

Thanks for the replies. There are times when I'm not the brightest bulb in the shop and it takes someone else to flick the switch!

I'm watching Nam's videos right now ... makes you want to just jump on the bike :D

I like using my Camelback for longer rides in hot weather. Fill the bladder about a third of the way full the night before and freeze it. Top it off in the morning and you'll have cool liquid (and a cool back) for most of your ride. Mine adds about 8 lbs, but I don't even notice it. I feel it's better to look uncool (who gives a crap, anyway) than to be convulsing at the side of the road due to dehydration (he looks cool, though!).

for the love of god, get the camelbak. i use a camelbak clone for all my long rides. 70 miles is a ton (metric century) and for that distance i wouldn't be caught dead without a camel. went for a ride today and took 2 bottles, lasted me only an hour, thankfully i was just doing intervals near my house, and came back home.. usually 2 bottles would last 2 hours.. be careful in this summer heat.

sd

I always use my hydration pack. I have water in it and Accelerade in 24oz bottles.
If you sweat alot, consider your salt loss too. I've been trying to prehydrate with water and some salt prior to long rides; kept me from any inkling of cramps during my last century.

I have the rocket, it just blasts me away, never got dehydrated after riding home. The only thing that ever happened was me not putting in enough water and having no water left just when I'm about to reach home, but I'll still be real hydrated. Good water drinking habits are essential, I find myself drinking every 5 minutes or so with the camelbak compared to what people say about drinking every 15 minutes. It's better to drink more frequently than to drink only when you are dehydrated. The camelbak is easy to use and just the flick of the tube and it goes into your mouth, all you have to do is to get the water flowing.

I live in Central FL. During the summers the temp is about 75 degrees and 100% humidity at dawn and then it goes up to about 95 degrees and oh 65% humidity. I always ride with a 72 oz camelbak and 2 large water bottles which is good for 50 miles or so. To go farther maybe I would have to tow a little keg around behind me, but fortunately, I there are places to fill up reasonably frequently.

Remember to replace your electrolytes as well. Over whelming your body with just water can cause hyponatremia. You may want to consider using Succeed! caps and / or Endurolytes (www.hammernutrition.com). I have used both of these products with success to help fight off cramping.

Buddy B

I don't use them - on longer rides, I carry 2 large bottles - 1 with water and one with Excelerade. For the 110 miles I did yesterday, I brought 3 Powerbars (ate 2 of them - about 1/2 bar per hour when not eating snacks). We stopped at 40 miles and 80 to buy water and gatorade and a few snacks. At 40 and 80 miles, I need to get off the bike and strecth for 5 mins or so anyways.

I'd prefer not to have to clean the thing and carry it on my back given how many places there are to stop around here.

Let's see. You say that you need a 70 oz. Camelback. You took 2 - 24 oz. accelerades. Subtotal 48 oz.

You also took 2 - 16 oz. water bottles.
Subtotal 32 oz.

Total 80 oz.

Where does bringing 12.5 per cent less help you?

And you used all this in 45 miles? I would have cramps from the fluid intake alone. Do you go to ride or to see how much you can drink? You should taper your fluid intake and get your body used to it.

I did a hot 140 km yesterday on a 12 ounce bottle of water and 1 can of iced tea at the group stop no problems.

I use a Camelback Mule. It carries 100oz of liquid, and has enough room for my bike pump, spare tubes, wallet, keys, all-in-one tool, cell phone, and energy bars. I use a 50/50 mix of water and lemon/lime Gatorade. I ride on country roads where places to refill are few and far between.

The weight of the Camelback doesn't bother me a bit. The only thing I have problems with is my back sweating under the Camelback - does anybody have a way to deal with this?

The weight of the Camelback doesn't bother me a bit. The only thing I have problems with is my back sweating under the Camelback - does anybody have a way to deal with this?

This is my problem too. I use my Cloudwalker not so much because of fluids, more to have a place for my rain gear, warmers etc. The weather (temperature) changes in spring so fast here in Calgary that on one ride I need to go from the full combat suit down to just shorts/bibs and jersey, and sometimes back. There is only so much that I can stuff in my jersey pockets. However, I wish I did not have to use it sometimes.

I' have a Camelbak as I started out mountain biking and it was necessary to stow all your gear with you. I use it when on my other bikes as well. Why not? It holds 1.5-2 litres of water and all your other stuff, too. My problem with Camelbaks is this: The bladder construction is weak. I've gone through two if them in four years or so. The problem was the same both times. The top of the bladder where you fill it and close it is simply folded over twice and secured with velcro. Twice now on two separate bladders, the plastic has failed on the seam at the top! Is there no way to repair this? Does anyone know? If you have any ideas, would you please share them with me? I'm getting rather exasperated. The replacement bladders are @$50.00 while I can buy a whole new camelbake, bladder and all for @$70.00.

I have no experience with the other type of bladder with the twist off wide mouth opening. Is it any better?

Sorry if this is a thread jack, but if anyone has any insights, I'd be very happy to hear them. I hate wasteing money on things like this over and over. Also, I'm sorry for the rant, folks.

I started off in mountain biking, so I grew accustomed to carrying a Camelbak all the time! No water bottles for me. Now that I spend most of my time road biking I continue using my CamelBak Blowfish (http://www.camelbak.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?catid=6&product_id=259). I tend to carry too much: tools, pump, food, and fill the bladder with about 50 oz of water. But I'd rather be safe than sorry!

:rolleyes:

Ed

Let's see. You say that you need a 70 oz. Camelback. You took 2 - 24 oz. accelerades. Subtotal 48 oz.

You also took 2 - 16 oz. water bottles.
Subtotal 32 oz.

Total 80 oz.

Where does bringing 12.5 per cent less help you?

And you used all this in 45 miles? I would have cramps from the fluid intake alone. Do you go to ride or to see how much you can drink? You should taper your fluid intake and get your body used to it.

I did a hot 140 km yesterday on a 12 ounce bottle of water and 1 can of iced tea at the group stop no problems.

I was obviously talking about taking the camelbak in addition to the two 24oz water bottles. The fluid intake was certainly not the cause of my cramps. I'm glad you can ride huge distances on three drops of fluid. I can't. You're my hero.

I was obviously talking about taking the camelbak in addition to the two 24oz water bottles. The fluid intake was certainly not the cause of my cramps. I'm glad you can ride huge distances on three drops of fluid. I can't. You're my hero.

never mind that fool who says: "I did a hot 140 km yesterday on a 12 ounce bottle of water and 1 can of iced tea at the group stop no problems". he's clearly an idiot or he goes at 5km/h. it's well-known science that the body loses about 1 liter of water per hour when working hard. that's 33 oz. a 140km ride, averaging a fast 30km/h, is about 4.5 hrs long. that's 33oz times 4.5 = 120oz of water you need. at least. so this guy is saying he went that distance at 10% of his liquid needs. lol. nice troll. more probably, he did 14km, hallucinated from dehydration, and thought he had done 140km.


anyway, glad you're going to get the camel. one of those buys you'll never regret.

sd

I was obviously talking about taking the camelbak in addition to the two 24oz water bottles. The fluid intake was certainly not the cause of my cramps. I'm glad you can ride huge distances on three drops of fluid. I can't. You're my hero.
"Hero" is not the only word for that guy 'ewitz'! every group has one!

Remember to replace your electrolytes as well. Over whelming your body with just water can cause hyponatremia. You may want to consider using Succeed! caps and / or Endurolytes (www.hammernutrition.com). I have used both of these products with success to help fight off cramping.

Buddy B

That's a great link. Thanks.

i've never tried a camelbak, but i have been using a 3litre one of these (http://www.platypushydration.com/reservoirs.asp?Action=Hosers) for the past year or so, and it's built really well.

fsnl
sparky

I use a Camelback Mule. It carries 100oz of liquid, and has enough room for my bike pump, spare tubes, wallet, keys, all-in-one tool, cell phone, and energy bars. I use a 50/50 mix of water and lemon/lime Gatorade. I ride on country roads where places to refill are few and far between.

The weight of the Camelback doesn't bother me a bit. The only thing I have problems with is my back sweating under the Camelback - does anybody have a way to deal with this?

Same here. Since I'm more of a mtb rider, the I almost feel naked without my camelback. I have the Mule and keep tools, tubes, pump, basic first aid kit and throw an ID or wallet, keys and cell phone in there. On really hot days, I put some gatorade in water bottles in my cages, but otherwise, just carry water in the pack.

As for cleaning it out, read an article once upon a time about using city water in the packs. The additives like chlorine and stuff will keep bacteria from growing in your bladder as long as you use it on a somewhat regular basis. If not, there are cleaning kits available.

I just found a shirt from PI that has basically a net in the middle of the back to promote better airflow. Only used it once and it was humid as hell - nothing was going to keep me from getting sweaty, so no verdict on it yet. And now that I'm back in TX, same hold true - pack or no pack, I'm going to sweat.

The weight of the Camelback doesn't bother me a bit. The only thing I have problems with is my back sweating under the Camelback - does anybody have a way to deal with this?

The Camelback "Rocket" is probably the best way to deal with this. It has a molded plastic skeleton that bows outwardly, allowing air to pass under it. It also has a streamlined shape and sits high on your back, which appears to be about as streamlined as an arched, bare back.

If you have not shopped Camelbacks for awhile, you might be relieved (as I was) to see some substantially improved design to the bladder. Instead of a rubber plug, the filler opening is now an oversized threaded cap that allows you to fit your entire hand into the bladder. The pack and the straw are also insulated now.

I had used a Camelback for years on my mtn bikes, so I despised using water bottles initially on my road bike. Why pay $thousands to shave weight from the bike, only to add on 5 lbs or so with water? I'd rather support the weight on my back than on my bike. I must admit, however, that I started noticing the camelback more on yesterday's ride, wishing the water was off my back and back on my bike. I might experiment some more with water bottles.

5 lbs is a lot of water! All things equal, I'd think you'd be better off having the weight on your bike than on your back.

I use my Camelback for rides longer than 2.5 hours - I find I consume more water with the drinking tube so easily available. Since I ride to keep in shape, rather than to race, I don't mind the extra weight on my back.

I've got a Camelbak classic. Since my hybrid frame is small, I can only carry one water bottle. So I usually use the Camelbak for water and the bottle for water/gatoraid mix on rides over 1 1/2 hours. It also keeps the water cooler than my bottle since it's insulated... although if you don't sip frequently on a hot day the water in the tube heats up quickly and you get a blast of warm/hot water.

I haven't had any cleaning problems yet. The new ones are easier.

A friend and I were doing a long ride on Sunday and I ran out of water as well. He has a NeverReach on his bike and he had no problems with his supply. I get hot when I ride with any type of pack on and I generally reserve the Camelback for the MTB.

I am strongly considering getting a nevereach.

Link:http://www.all3sports.com/product/categoryID/19/Manufacturer/0/ProductID/3827