Chris L

Seems I can't escape this heat. 3.30am start this morning and it was already 32 C and about 85% humidity. Seems to be getting worse everyday. The problem is that drinking copious amounts of water is considerably less pleasant if that water is hot, too. I really need a solution to this problem.

Guest

Ummmm... move to Chicago and ride outside in the winter?



Seriously, I've heard a lot of good things about that Polar water bottle. Check out this link: https://rsn.altrec.com/shop/detail/2913/9/?xsell_detail

They don't ship internationally, but I bet you could find a store in your neck of the woods that has it.

Koffee

blwyn

Lately I've been a lot more worried about keeping them from freezing solid. I haven't found anything that works well on keeping them cool in hot weather. Freezing them before riding buys an extra half hour, but that is about it.

Chris L

Is the offer on the ticket still good?

Now that is something I could look into.

LostAgain

Chris --

Koffee beat me to the punch on suggesting the Polar bottle. I've got no direct experience with it -- we don't get seriously hot weather where I live -- but people I know who ride the deserts of the southwestern U.S. seem to swear by it. And of course, the inimitable Crazy Guy on a Bike (www.crazyguyonabike.com) counts a pair of Polar bottles among his most indispensible pieces of touring equipment, jealously guarded against mishap.

Besides that, the only suggestions I can think of kinda obvious: start out with lots of ice in the water bottles, and keep backup bottles in your panniers rather than on the frame in direct sunlight...

Have fun,
- Paul

cyclezealot

In the Summer, when we ride in the interior it can get pretty hot. I do own two Polar water bottle. With the insulated jacket they keep water cool for several hours.. I keep mine in the refrig. before I ride and as I leave, put some ice in the reservoir..
I would guess they keep the water cool as long as maybe four hours. I think you will find them a pretty big improvement.

khuon

Maybe it's just me but if it's hot out and I'm thirsty... I really don't care that my water isn't cold. Now warm sportsdrinks are another matter... because that just leaves one with a horrible impression in their head after drinking it.

Revenig

I struggled for a long time with hot water in my bottles. I finally purchased two Polar bottles and I never experienced this problem again. Also, I really like the fact that I can remove the drinking valves for thorough cleaning.

froze

I use to live in the desert heat of over 100 degrees in California so I found there's a couple of ways you can do this, I did both depending on how far. First thing I got were 3 24oz Polar bottles (the 3rd bottle I strapped on to my stem using a bracket made by Two Fish), used these for shorter rides of under 60 miles. I would put one bottle in the freeze till solid, the 2nd I would fill with ice, and the 3rd I would fill with about 1/2 ice and drank them in the order of less ice first. Of course you have to mix your drink mix according to get the right mixture after the ice melts. The other thing I do when I go on ride longer than 60 mile is use a CamelBack Rogue that holds 70oz of fluid PLUS the bottles. I put about 1/4th ice in the Rogue then fill one bottle with ice and the rest freeze solid.

BUT sometimes hot was too hot and I stayed indoors. I usually did not ride when it was over 105 because all the water in the world could not make me cool enough unless I doused my self with it. I also rode more at night when the temps got too high during the day.

Ba-Dg-Er

I too have experience with Polar bottles. They work better then any other alternative I have used, aside from refilling with ice at a conveience store.

The two things I didn't like were in regards to the feel of the bottle. It's a little bit bigger then a normal bottle so it wasn't as comfortable in my hand reaching for it, probably just a matter of getting used to it. Also I didn't like the size of the valve for the water, which is just a personal preference thing. Overall the bottle works well at keeping water cool so I would say if you have the chance to try one then definately go for it.

It should also be mentioned that I have one of the original Polar bottles and have no experience with any new models of them, so they may have changed or modified them.

Stevet04II

Freeze it solid.

Ba-Dg-Er

I have tried this many a time and although it works great for the first 20 minutes of a 100+ degree ride you fail to get any kind of benefit from it thereafter.

Chris L

I think there's a reasonable distinction between "not cold" and ridiculously hot. Honestly, the water I was carrying this morning was hotter than any shower I've had in the last three months!

khuon

Maybe try using a different colour or even clear bottles? I prefer clear bottles because they don't seem to get as hot. Also, it's easier for me to see how much water I have left and what's in them in the case where I fill different bottles with different things.

Jakey

Get a couple polar bottles, and freeze 'em...

robertlees

Hey Chris, if you find out where to buy these Polar bottles in Australia, please let me know. It gets just as hot in Canberra at this time of the year.

AndrewP

Put a wet sock over the bottle and the evaporatiion of the water will keep the bottle cool. A spray bottle is also good for keeping yourself cool.

khuon

You mean people don't just use their waterbottles for that?

Chris L

I'm using white water bottles now, although I may give clear ones a try at some point. I can usually tell how much water I have left by the weight of the bottle.


Robert -- I'll be making some local enquiries up here, not sure if my LBS would send them to Canberra, but I can ask for you. Failing that, perhaps the Bicycling Australia Buyer's Guide could be a good place to start.

zonatandem

Howdy from Tucson, AZ
All other suggestions about pre-freezing bottles are valid. Have one water bottle partially pre-frozen, the 2nd bottle fully frozen. Then wrap an old heavy sock around each bottle to insulate it; works every time! Also by wetting that sock when humidity is lower, it will act as an evaporative cooler. Have commuted regularly in 100+ (fahrenheit) degree heat with very low (single digit) humidity and survived just fine.
If all else fails, take a break from riding and have a Toothsheaf Stout or a Fosters!

pitboss

Don't Moderators get Support Car assistance?

Chris L

What is a support car?

froze

100+ weather and a frozen solid POLAR bottle will last 2 1/2 to 3 hours and still be cold but drinkable; much over 3 hours and the drink become warm to hot at about 3 1/2 hours out in direct sunlight. A non insulated bottle frozen solid will only last maybe an hour in 100+ weather and in direct sun.

robertlees

Chris, I have a brother in Brisbane, so if you find an outlet for the Polar bottle up there, he'd be able to collect it for me.

roadfix

sag wagon