lwenham

Hi,
My husband has recently started biking again and has one non-insulated plastic water bottle from the local bike store. When he put a cold tap water/ice cube combo in this bottle it was melted in less than half an hour. I was hoping for advice about the following questions:

1) Is cold water better or worse than room temperature water when biking distances of 20-30 miles?

2) What recommendations would you have for insulated water bottles and why?

Thank you for your advice,
Laura

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i just put foil around my water bottle.
I prefer any temperature of water when I'm biking.

I guess you can also fill the bottle half with water then put it in the freezer and fill the rest with water when he rides.

Whiteknight

In hot weather an insulated bottle with cold drink is nice.

My wife and will spend almost an entire day on the bikes on days I don't work. We get on the rail trail about 9:30 in the morning and get off the trail at dusk or after sunset. When we first started to do the local rail trail there were a number of places to stop and purchase cold drinks out of vending machines. They are all gone. So we start the rides with all of the drinks we will need. On warm or hot days we can drink 4 20 ounce bottles on a ride.
We use the 20 ounce Polar Bottle purchased at the local bike shop. One for each of us goes in the frig. Then 3 each into the freezer overnight. When we load up the car for the trip to the rail trail we wrap all of the bottles in small towels. The frozen bottles go in the big pannier bags on the racks on the bikes still wrapped in towels for added insulation. We have cold slushy drink the entire day.

When a bottle goes into the bottle rack on the frame it is in a long sock. Just old worn socks will do. Keeps the dirt off the drinking valve on the bottles. If we see a water fountain along the trail we will wet the socks in warm weather. When riding the evaporation of the water will help cool the bottle.
Cold weather winter rides require fewer bottles. We have not tried hot drinks in them. Afraid of warping the bottles.

RonH

I have two Camelbak Podium Chill bottles. They keep my water cold for over an hour on a hot day.
I'm considering getting a couple of Camelbak Podium Ice bottles next summer. They keep the water cold much longer.


I previously had Polar bottles but came close to breaking a crown on my front tooth getting it open on my rides.

bhchdh 

I use both the Camelbak podium and the Polar bottles, on hot days I'll take a full frozen one and one that was half filled, frozen and topped off with cold water. I'll have cold water for several hours.

dcrowell

I've had both the Polar and the Camelback Chill bottles. I prefer the Camelback Chill for hot-weather riding. For cool weather, I prefer my stainless steel bottles.

Nightshade

The human body would NOT like ice cold water if it were to overheat in any way. Ice cold water in an overheated body is a great way to get painful cramps.

That said, cool or cooler water is just fine.

lwenham

Thanks for the responses! I checked his bike and he's got two water bottle holders so I think I'll get him one Camelback Podium Ice and one Polar, that way he can see which one he likes better and also have two so he can freeze one and put water and ice cubes in the other. I also loved the practical tips about wrapping the bottles in foil or putting them in wet socks. I'll have him try that as well.

shelbyfv

A good plan and thoughtful gift!