MFaust

So for those of us that deal with the relentless 90 degree plus heat and humidity , what is your hydration strategy, not so much what are you using but how are you set up . I am getting to the point where I can do 30-40 miles on a pretty regular basis ( as a regular ride ), and I am going to have to add another cage . do you give up a hand pump and go strictly C02 ? go to a camel pack ? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated .



Michael

Mr. Beanz

Give up a hand pump for CO2 on longer rides?Hehehehe!. CO2 is less reliable. I have double century riders that end up asking to use my frame pump!

I always have tow cages. Sometimes I use one to carry the camera whne we do trail rides, plenyt of parks to rewater. On 40 mile rides into the hills, I can get away with one but stop at a park to rewater.

I do use 2 cages on a century though. Only time I use a Camelback is when I do a solo 40 (5,000) mile climb into the mtns on a hot day (90 plus) where there is no water available. Ona cool day, I can get by with the 2 cages.


A solo 21 mile climb like this in 90+ temps (no water source) is a 2 bottle & camelback ride. Anything less is just a 2 bottle ride.

MFaust

Yeah ,,,,, given my tendancy to nuke tubes I was hesitant to give up the hand pump . But we wont see a cold front for at least another month and thats only going to bring it down to the low 80's . And refitting during the ride is pretty much out of the question , since most the areas with decent bike lanes do not have any facilities .

jboyd

I am no pro about any of this, but I have noticed that when I use the CamelBak instead of the water bottle, the ride always seems easier for me. When my rides are over 20 miles I just use the Camel.

Yesterday morning I rode 10 miles from a restaurant my wife and I had breakfast at back to home and only used the bottle. In the afternoon, I rode a 22 mile ride that was about 9 miles of backroad gravel and I had the camel. I think the fact that I am "hitting" the camel about every 10 minutes, I am able to keep the hydration high enough that I never dip. I have noticed that when I use the bottle I have a tendency to say "Ok, when I get to that fork in the road I will drink, and then I forget that the fork is on a downhill and I hate to lose that so I forget to drink and get in a little trouble.

Also, because I am able to load the camel with Ice, the cold seems to really keep my core down and I think has some value as well.

Just my .02

Good Luck
Jay

Mr. Beanz

Hmmm, I start my hydration process well before I get on the bike. If I'm doing a tough ride on Saturday, I drink plenty of water on Friday nite. Maybe some G-ade too! Not to mention that I continue to hydrate well after the ride.

I wonder why so many riders are bugged by how much exactly to drink on the bike. If you' are well hydrated before a ride, I bet one could do 50 miles without a bottle.

I dunno , but I don't concern myself with worrying about when I am going to drink on the bike. I ride then I drink some, ride more then drink more. I've had partenrs show up for a 50 miler with two bottles full of expensive fancy fluids. Half way thru the ride I ask why they haven't touched the stuff. "Oh, I'm not thirsty". Then they bonk after another 10 miles.

I don't take cycling as drink when you're thirsty. Make it a habit to drink for the sake of avoiding dehydration.

Mr. Beanz

Wow, where do you live? The areas with nice bike lanes around here are designed to be biker friendly. Meaning water sources available. I ride in some desert looking areas "without" bike lanes but still manage to find some sort of water source near. A small hidden park, a 7/11, a school waterfountain.

MFaust

We are in Sunny South West Florida , Home of the newly wed and nearly dead . My daily route , one that keep me kind of away from our seasonal residance ( read slow and usually lost ) and the angry locals , has one store that in a pinch might do but would have to be heavly armed . The one school that I do pass is locked down by the time I get to it , you cant get on property unless you have a student on campus . This place grew too quick with very little planning . Put it this way when I first moved here 20ish years ago from just out side NYC , I had to take a picture of the drive thru at the only McDonalds in town because there were 5 honest to god cowboys on their horses waiting to get their big mac's.

Mr. Beanz

Cowboys? When I hear Florida, I think of Tony Montana. Now I'll picture him on a horse at McD's!

10 Wheels

Most of my rides are 80 plus miles.
Carry two bottles on the frame and two behind the seat.
Still Hot and humid.
Todays ride, 81 mi, Temps 72* to 90* Sunny. Stopped twice to get ice and water.

Steve530

Minoura makes a bracket that attaches to the seat rails and allows you to mount two water bottle cages behind the seat. I have no idea how well this works, but it might be worth a try.

It is amazing how quick you can dehydrate in 90 degree weather.

10 Wheels

I bought a Topeak Seat Post rack to use as a fender.
Has a quick release. Added rain jacket, tube repair bag, and hand pump.

chewybrian 

That's quality old time Florida. I have a camelback, but I rarely use it because it makes me sweat more. I have 2 cages, with a thermos sippy, and a regular thermos, and another thermos in the trunk bag, and a bottled water or 2 in the trunk as well, if I think I might need them. (I'm a commuter, so a few pounds, or 10 or 20, meh...)

I would like to add at least 1 handlebar bottle cage, too. I am thinking of experimenting with a camelback in the trunk bag system, as well; only need a longer drinkin' tube, I think.

As far as pump, vs. co2, I use a frame pack to carry tubes, pump, tools, and batteries for lights. If you're not a weight weenie, the frame pack is a nice option for items you want to have on every ride. I never unload it; the stuff is always on board. I vote for mini-pump over co2.

p.s. The Rays are stayin' alive, 5 to 1 lead in the 6th.

10 Wheels

Three bottles and a frame bag for tire repair and tools.

MFaust

Well , Ive lived by the motto "zip ties and duct tape " are what really makes the world go round , but its lookin like I might be ziptieing the hand pump to the seat stays and adding a cage .

10 Wheels

Use Velcro Straps for the pump.

Mr. Beanz

I use a frame pump but thee are some available with a mounting bracket that shares the bosses with the cages. Uses same bottle cage bolts but sits off to the side. I like mine under the toptube with velcro straps.

If you go frame pump, make sure it fits the bike frame as some sloping top tubes size differently from dimensions given on the frame pump box.

MFaust

Thanks for the Ideas guys I really do appreciate it .

Wogster

Short rides, I just use 2 bottles, longer rides, 2 bottles plus a camelbak. Why would you have to give up the hand pump? Most hand pumps that use cage mounts, are off to the side, so just put the pump mount on, then a cage on top, like front one here:



The only issue might be if the screws are too short, in which case, just take the screw to an old fashioned hardware store, tell the guy, I need two of these but a little longer, they will measure the threads, dig through their collection of stuff, and sell you 2 screws, probably about 50 cents a piece. It can be tricky getting the two pieces and the frame lined up, best is to get one end started, then without tightening it up, get the other one started, then tighten them both up.

jaxgtr

I live in Jacksonville, FL and I typically carry 2 bottles in the summer if I am going 2 hrs or less and use the Hammer Heed unflavored in them. If I am going more than 2, I will use my hydrapak and fill it to where I am using 20-24 oz an hour and will still take the bottles as cooling with an occasional water on the head based on how humid and hot it is.

Back in July, I was out for 4 hours, wore my Hydrapak and I completely over compensated for the heat and humidity, over-hydrated to the point that my body was pushing out all my electrolytes via sweat to the point where my legs locked up. I finally made it home, but I was stupid and was lucky I was not hurt by losing control of the bike. If you are going to use a hydrapak, be weary of drinking 70 oz of fluid in a short period. Also, make sure you have some type of electrolyte replenishment on you. I forgot mine and I paid in a big way.

I have CO2, but I don't trust it completely. I also carry a Topeak Road Morph. I mounted mine just to the back side of the bottle cages. Does not interfer with my pedal stroke or cables.