chinarider

I'm strictly a roadie & always use my Camelbak (100oz classic model) for anything over 10-15 miles, which means virtually always (doesn't mean I always fill it all the way). My back gets a little sweaty, but that doesn't bother me. I find it much easier to drink out of a camelbak than a bottle. It also keeps the drink much cooler than a bottle. Not to mention that I'd need multiple bottles to duplicate the capacity. The classic has limited xtra storage, but enough for a cell phone & wallet. It does have some elastic a jacket could be stored in also.

I typically carry dilute gatorade in mine. I just rinse it in hot water when I'm done & hang it on one of those hangers that keep the bladder open to air; takes a few minutes. No taste or smell issues here.

Dan

BluesDawg

Whether you use them strictly off-road, on long road rides only, or if you sleep with them, you can save a few bucks on one today at Nashbar.

chinarider

Here it is. $10 less tha what I paid. Good deal & well worth it!

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...tion%20Systems

pdq 5oh

I wasn't being paranoid. Just............. and

BluesDawg

What makes you think I was talking about you?

ncherry

I love my Camelbak, I've been riding with one since they first came out. I now have a Ventoux which is usually packed with tons of junk (with a full bladder it weighed in at about 25lbs). On event rides I empty it out (about 9 lbs). I do lots of long rides with 30 miles between stops. I run with a Gatorade mix and on my normal centuries (usually every weekend) I fill the bladder twice (plus the initial fill). Quite a few of the 'faster riders' hate riding with me (I lead one of the 17-18 mph groups) as I don't think they like the fact that some guy with a 25lb Camelbak hangs on the front for most of the ride. ;-) The fast riders tell me I ride heavy. They've never complained when I pull out whatever tool we need for most bike repairs.

Louis

It doesn't matter to me what someone uses. If it works for them...everyone wins.

Bottles are simple and have worked well for me, so I've never felt the need to use anything else.

On group rides I have heard folks complaining about how much their saddle is hurting their butt. I sometimes wonder if carrying 5 pounds of water on their back has anything to do with it.

dendawg

I use them on longer rides and on really hot humid days. I do tend to drink more when I am wearing one, which is a good thing. For longer rides I'll carry 2 bottles of energy drink and fill the hydration pack with water. FWIW it is not necessary to fill the bladder completely and often do a partial fill for shorter rides.

Big Paulie

O.T. for Louis...

https://www.bookforum.com/inprint/014_03/831

https://www.worldhum.com/books/item/w...jack_20070905/

https://newcriterion.com:81/archives/...de-of-paradise

pdq 5oh

You quoted this:
Originally Posted by pdq 5oh
If other roadies don't like me because of the hydration pack...........I'll get another. Besides, I usually ride alone. Maybe that's why.

Am I just being paranoid?

Louis

Thanks BP. Although the last link seems to be a dead link, the others were very interesting.

BluesDawg

Well, yeah, I was talking to you, but you thought I was talking about you? Hmmmm.

howsteepisit

I only use my Camelback for long hot rides. I think there is no better way to carry a lot of water. Here in Montana water stops can be quite far apart, and not always open.

pdq 5oh

Glad to see I wasn't being paranoid.

umatillarider

Got mine from the Marine Corp. Works good, all the weight does is give me strength. I know on long group rides, i have come close to problems when someone decides to grab a bottle and wanders all over the lane-in any case, as the man said, use what works for you, get good at it, and we all win.

Semper Fi

cyclinfool

Well I used the new pack on yesterdays century ride. It was a very hot and humid day for up here. I drank over 6L of fluid and still was over heated and dehydrated at the end. I found the pack to be quite nice, I did not tie up the line for refills any more than anybody filling two water bottles. I only wish I had consumed even more fluids. The pack seemed comfortable although I did get some low back pain from time to time - but I have had that without the pack as well.

I had also planned on taking an extra bike bottle for a sports drink but forgot to put one in the car before I left so I did not have any of that along the way - because of how much liquid I was sweating out I could have used that for the electrolights, I did not want to put a mix in the bladder of the pack.

I rode this ride with a group, we averaged 16.5mph. This was best avg yet for a century so I was quite pleased.

Here are the stats on the ride

Carusoswi

These would not be for me. I hate the added weight of my water bottles, and usually only fill them half way or ride with them completely empty. Like another post I read here, generally, although I will ride long distances, I'm not so far into the hinterlands that I won't come across a convenience store often enough to keep myself hydrated.

I am also a big advocate of and in the practice of "salting-up" on hot days. I will ingest a couple of teaspoons of salt - gulp it down and chase it with a little orange juice of some cold water. It's a gag to get down, but, once ingested, I can literally ride for hours in comfort without the need for as much liquid intake. I ride lighter as a result, and my muscles seem to recover more quickly and I feel much less fatigued.

If you only put water in your bottles or packs, and, if you have no other means of replacing salts (electrolytes) lost as a result of perspiration, drinking water will not really help you much.

Caruso