Joe Minton

Both; bottles (up to three) and 100oz Camelbak (you guys cant spell - LOL):

To the store: no bottle.
10 miles: one "Smart Water" bottle (one liter, from most supermarkets) with cap from smaller version (pop-open cap).
10+ miles: two of same.
30 miles three of same.
+ Camelbak "Lobo" for long rides on warm days.

Note: The "Smart" one-liter bottles fit bottle cages rather well and are easy to use when fitted with the cap from the smaller version (24oz?). They tend to get a bit wrinkled & abraded after a while but are cheap. I've started buying the Trader Joe version of this bottle as they are a bit tougher and have a nice blue tint, cheaper too (buck twenty or so).

"Rules -- sneer -- Don't need no stinking rules!"


Joe

ColaJacket

And a regular cheap bottle from the LBS is $5. And you refill it over and over, and don't create a lot of trash for the landfill. Even if you recycle the plastic, that still takes energy that you don't need for a reusable bottle.

GH

Joe Minton

ColaJacket:

What makes you think I don't refill the TJ bottles over and over and over again, Eh?
Well --- I do.

What's more, I believe the Smart or TJ bottles are made here and don't get shipped over from Asia at great cost to Ms. Gaia --- so there -- LOL

Don't use no stinking ROM water either. Tap water only; for every liter of ROM water, four liters goes down the drain. (got that bit of wisdom from a Premier rep.)

Joe

txcrash

I think the point is, the over and over for one of those bottles pales in comparison to the length of time a "real" bottle lasts.

I have aver one bottle that I'm pretty sure I got more than 10 years ago. It certainly looks it, but it still functions.

Try that with a refilled water bottle.

wphamilton

Are "TJ" and "Smart" the disposable water bottles from the supermarket?

If so, please don't re-use them more than once or twice. Seriously, as they get old, and the sides flex and some exposure to the sun the plastic degrades and they may start leaching some chemicals that you wouldn't want to ingest. In addition to tiny bits of plastic.

Granted you can find internet "debunking" that you have to sort through, so you can probably rationalize your re-use as far as the chemicals go. But that's not all. As these thin plastics break down there are tiny cracks and scratches that bacteria love, and it's not easy to get rid of. Your choice, but if anyone wasn't aware of the potential hazards at least now you're warned.

Jeremy_S

Always used them mountain biking. Pedal too hard and sweat too much road biking to do it plus they flop around when I'm bent all the way over.

And putting the non aero pack on my back defeats the purpose of shaving my legs.

Joe Minton

If we really, really try we can get completely silly about water bottles.
I find that the bottles I referred to, whether from the grocery store or Trader Joe's are lasting very well. They are certified for water use, pretty much like all those Gatorade, canned water and other similar containers. Some, here, might consider them to be 'disposable' -- I do not.

I use them because they hold a full liter of water, fit bottle cages very nicely, have a flip-top cap (from the smaller Smart water bottle), are easy to use and, when the label is removed, look kinda cool.
Besides --- one can really hose down an aggressive dog with one of them.

This is all good fun but we shouldn't get overly involved with useless details. I, like most of you, do not enjoy the throw-away attitude of our society(s) and, I am sure, we do small things to correct that particular destructive vector.

I'm more likely to expire from the crap I have to breath while riding than I am from bits and pieces of my water bottle. Part of the reason I got rid of my car and get around almost exclusively on bicycles is my desire to leave less of a mess for those who must follow me to clean up.

Bicycles are wonderful devices and may represent the penultimate use and value of the wheel. A person riding a bicycle is the most efficient travelling animal on the planet, followed somewhat distantly by the kangaroo rat.
I'm doing my best; please give me a wee break about my water bottle. And, remember, water bottle cages hold beer cans too and we don't refill those --- Cheers!

Joe

highrpm

I use camelback when we are riding four wheelers of dirt bikes. I don't use it when I bike for two reasons:

1. I usually ride with a backpack that has all my stuff in it
1. Camelbacks require more maintenance than bottles if you want to keep them from molding. Every time I use my camelback, I wash it out thoroughly and let the inner bladder air dry for a day before I put it away. It's easier to just carry a water bottle around on the bike than have to wash the camelback all the time.

Looigi

All this has likely been said already but: I find my Camelbak and its straps to be hot on my back in warm weather. I don't like the feel of its weight and I also don't like how it bounces when I'm pedaling out of the saddle. I do use it without the bladder as a backpack on occasion when commuting to carry the few things I might need to take back and forth to work.

wphamilton

So we buy 12 or 24 packs of water bottles, refill one over and over again, and that helps reduce the throw-away attitude of our society? As opposed to filling an actual water bottle from the tap or a large refillable one...

It doesn't make much difference and it won't kill anyone, but the PET plastic disposables are not designed for refilling, and are easily recycled. Opinions may vary, but it's not a good idea to keep reusing them.

XXLHardrock

All this talk about plastic bottles, bacteria and recycling.....this is why I just drink beer. Those mountain feed bags from Revelate Designs are perfectly sized for 25oz cans which are completely recyclable and safe to use in group rides because the bags mount on the handle bars so you're not reaching so far down. And the alcohol should kill the bacteria but if it doesn't, you can always upgrade to Malt Liquor.

Retro Grouch 

Of course you should buy water bottle cages. Otherwise, the other road bikers are going to laugh at you.

Of course, they are going to laugh at you anyway. There is nothing that you can either wear or not wear, equipment that you can use or not use, shave or not shave, do or not do that is going to either impress the other riders or even allow you to escape unnoticed. There will be skoffers no matter what.

If you like using a hydration pack, just do it.

jmess

Too bad Camelbak stopped making the more road focused SLX/Charge based packs. They sit higher on your back so you can reach your back pockets easier. They also had some vent type groves that help reduce sweat build up on your back. I always ride with my Charge 240 even when I participate in a timed distance type event. Sometimes I won't take any bottles and/or partially fill the 70oz bladder.

rbeasley0911

I have a Zefal 2liter hyration bag, works awesome. fits about 2 trays of ice and im set

gear64

Not to mention when the $#!T flies, like on shared equestrian trail. You're never really sure if that's just mud on your water bottle.

LGHT

^^^^^ this says it all.

Phil_gretz

True 'dat.

Camilo

I don't care how they look really, but i don't find them all that convenient to use, I don't like wearing a backpack while I'm riding, and I absolutely hate cleaning those damn things. Not generally worth it to me, even for hiking.

Why call it "hate" just when someone says they don't like something?

Oh, good god, what a bunch of BS. Maybe they use water bottles just because they like them, are used to them, they're inexpensive and easy to use and clean, and they work great on a road bike.

But if one doesn't like handling a bottle or prefers to wear something on their back, and isn't bothered by the expense and hassle of cleaning a hydration pack, why should anyone care? Nobody I ride with does, and they're all roadies.

TGT1

I don't like Camelbak.

(*) I find it difficult to open the valve thingy and also difficult to suck water out of the tube. I find just easier to use water bottles.

Sounds like operator error.

(*) The mouth piece is exposed to dirt and germs all the time. Yuck!

So how is a mouthpiece at high chest level less sanitary than one at knee level and exposed to direct collection of all the road grime the front wheel kicks up?

(*) I hate wearing any kind of backpack. My back gets too hot and sweaty.

you are supposed to be sweaty or you don't need hydration in the first place.

(*) Camelbak is difficult to clean compared to water bottle.

Pull the bite valve out and let it siphon empty, pop the lid and shake out what's left, place bite valve in crease by lid so the air circulates and it can completely dry, hang upside down to dry. no problem.

(*) Camelbak is unnecessarily expensive.



Same one , more than ten years later, I think it will last another five at least.

And I forgot one thing: Camelbak cyclists look goofy.

I don't care what you think.

Dahon.Steve

You don't have to carry the Camelbak bladder on your back! I have a front handlebar bag and that's where the bladder full with ice water goes. I leave the Camelback bag at home. Again, you only need the bladder and Walmart sells them.

rydabent

I guess I dont see the attraction of wearing a hot camelback on ones back. Couple that with the cleaning problems and the plastic and rubber taste, I see no attraction at all. BTW I use stainless steel water bottles from Walmart. They are very serviceable, cheap, and have no plastic taste, and possible chemicals in the water.

Coop500

I have used hydration packs a lot in hunting and off-road motorcycles. I do not like them on the road. My back gets sweaty and it's extra weight I don't need on my back. I have a bad back plus I am carrying extra weight already around the middle from too many 12oz curls. I don't care how they look, I am not a roadie. If you like them, use them and forget what other folks think.

andr0id

Why be a mule and carry on your body that which can easily be carried on the bike?

Camelbaks make sense on a Mt bike where dirt and mud can end up on bottles, but that is not a big problem on road bikes.

Also, weight down low keeps the center of gravity lower which can be important on fast descents.