indyfabz

I'll confess that I sued one once during day road ride. It was extremely hot and humid and I wanted to do the ride. I sweat a lot so I need as much water as I can get.


When I do loaded tours I always wear one because many times I go long stretches with services. On Saturday I will be heading to Montana for two weeks. Day 3 of the trip is some 55 miles with three passes. There is only one restaurant along the way, and it probably won't be open when I pass by.

xodondum

I use these bags, even when road biking. they store my water as well as keys, cell phone, wallet, spares, tools, food, pump, patch kit, etc. very often I will use up most of the water, so more (3 sources of water) is better. they're not camelbaks but they work just fine for me, no leaks. if I ever do get a leak, those bladders are all over the place. in fact the red bag didn't come w/a bladder (it had space for one), I bought 1 from amazon and it works fine.

merlinextraligh

Using a Camelback riding a road bike is such an abomination against God and Nature, that the Keepers of the Rules didn't even consider the need to address it.

Nonetheless, Rule 52 clearly bans the use of Camelbacks by implication.

BluFalconActual

It's over 100 today and will be 114 by next week where I live. "Rules" be damned, I'm wearing my camelbak on my daily rides because going tits up while wearing Lycra due to dehydration is way less cool than wearing a small backpack.

Side note, I'm an active duty Marine and have been issued both Source and Camelbak and I prefer the Source bladder and the Camelbak straw. Source bladders are more "glass like" and don't get funky like camelbaks do but their straws seem to brake easier.

merlinextraligh

114 degree weather is more than enough reason for me not to wear a hot pack on my back.

unterhausen

I'm sure there are exceptions, but good hydration packs don't warm up your back because they have air flow between the bag and your back. My only complaint about it is that when I really need a lot of water, I fill it up all the way and it's a bit heavy at first. I haven't used mine this year, but I'm sure I will soon.

The people that wrote the rules have a sense of humor, unfortunately most of the people that cite them don't. On the downside, the rules guys think that 100 miles is a long ride. But mostly they just ride to the coffee shop and sip their lattes until they call someone to pick them up. So, yeah, appearances are far more important to them than actually being able to complete a ride. Bike has to look good on the back of the BMW. Fine words about riding in bad weather notwithstanding.

ZippyThePinhead

Everything has costs and benefits. If riding road (locally, in the suburban environment), I prefer no backpack of any kind and will rewater as needed. A water bottle in my jersey pocket would be uncomfortable. But I use the largest water bottles I can get and carry two on my road bike. Riding dirt, I use a large Camelbak and carry no water bottles on the bike unless absolutely necessary.

For a short time last year Nashbar had the Elite Maxi Cincio 950ml bottle. Hard to find, IME, but a good choice. Easier to find is the Zefal Magnum, which Amazon has carried pretty reliably for years. I've not measured the capacity but it is supposedly 33oz (1 liter). Early versions leaked, and later versions will eventually leak through the valve when on the downtube, but I like to drink a lot when riding and these work well for me. I did about 55 miles the other day and consumed 3 Zefal Magnums full of water and Nuun tabs.

Such as hassle to put something sugary into a Camelbak bladder which must be cleaned out later. I prefer (non-sugary) Nuun tabs, which add electrolytes, plus they improve the taste. Two tabs/liter is what I like, and I drink a lot more when I like the taste. At first I put just water in the bladder, and I'd drink half in a typical dirt ride, but with the Nuun tabs, I drink almost all of it (two liters yesterday doing 20 miles on fire roads).

Yes, and some packs have enough insulation that you can drink cold water for a few hours. I throw in a few ice cubes, as well, and my Camelbak M.U.L.E. pack insulates two liters of refrigerated water for about two hours.

RJM

I have two camelbacks that I use for mountain biking and would totally use them on a road bike if the heat and duration called for it.


One of the great thing about hydration packs is that you can fill it with ice, then put water in it and it will keep your back nice and cool for a long time. I use this trick when mountain biking in the summer.


The Camelbak classic is dirt cheap and not bulky, but it is also only a 2 liter bladder with minimal storage.

TimothyH

Posts like this are why I have been distancing myself from the term "Roadie" and the people who identify with it.


-Tim-

merlinextraligh

You might want to dial up your sarcasm detector.

nycphotography

I don't think his is dialed down, nor is it actually broken.

Far as I can tell, he was ordered from the factory without one.

Hiro11

I use bottles on pavement rides. However, on gravel and MTB I like to use a hydration pack. More volume, safer to use, eliminate bottle launching etc. Also, I like have my food and tools readily available.

I don't find my Osprey Raptor uncomfortable or hot. I rode for three hours last weekend in 90+ weather without issue. I need to get a slightly smaller pack as well.

BluFalconActual

Like I said earlier, it has been stupid hot lately in the Joshua Tree, CA area lately. I've worn a small camelback filled with ice the past 3 days and it's been really nice. I honestly don't even feel it and all the ice actually makes it cooler on my back. Now, I ride a Felt Z series which is a little more upright than a pure race bike, but I've really enjoyed having a cold source of electrolytes on my ride.

merlinextraligh

obviously everyone should use what works for them where they're riding.

Personally, I use a Camelback mountain biking because a) its often difficult to grap a water bottle riding technical terrain, and b) water bottles tend to get mud on the mouthpiece.

Road riding, I find using waterbottles much more comfortable than wearing a pack. And I've never done a ride where 3 bottles wasn't enough to get me to the next source of water, including DK200.

If I ever rode in the Desert with no store stop for 75 miles, i'd use a Camelback, or just not ride in a desert with no store for 75 miles.

greg3rd48 

I picked up a 2L Quest hydration pack which was on sale for $25 and it proved to be very useful in the humid, 94 degree heat.
A randonneuring event is quite different than a "roadie" race so as I see it the rules regarding the use of a hydration pack for a roadie do not apply. Riding 125 miles in the heat this past Sunday with a steady source of water was ideal and the water remained quite cool without warming my back.

Hypno Toad

Quick update to this thread, I picked up a Camelbak Lobo back in August. I've done a number of test rides with it and it's totally comfortable. I did one century ride with the Lobo; it was a supported charity so I didn't need the hydration, but I wanted to get a feel for comfort on a long day. It was all day comfortable!

Also, I started the century ride by taking the Lobo out of the freezer, I had about 2l of frozen water in it, and filled it the rest of the way. There was still ice in the Lobo at the end of the day! The ride started cool at 50F and topped out at 80F. I was supporting Lizz (my adult daughter) on her first century. Total time for the ride was just under 8 hours.

IMG_4686 (1).jpg

I will be using the Lobo for all long, unsupported rides in the future!