Originally Posted by
wphamilton
Drinking lukewarm water (at 100+ degrees it's lukewarm, not "hot") also encourages consumption. Since most of humanity prefers lukewarm drinks to cold drinks, and cold drinks don't actually cool one's body more, this preference is a matter of habit and custom and is therefore easily overridden. The quest for keeping the beverage cold throughout the bike ride is therefore probably less effective than accustoming oneself to enjoying lukewarm water. Many people just don't consider it, just as most people don't consider riding in the first place, and so I point it out as a superior, simpler alternative.
If someone refuses to drink unless the water is cold, then I suppose they'll need to go to whatever lengths are necessary.
Offer someone a glass of lukewarm water and a glass of iced water and see which one they will drink. I doubt, highly, that "most of humanity prefers lukewarm water". They drink it because they have to but if they were offered an alternative of cold water, they would take it.
There are alternatives available so why not take advantage of them? The discussion isn't about dealing with hot water bottles in the middle of nowhere after hours of travel while on a tour...a situation that I've experienced many times...but about riding home from work. Even an "insulated" bottle will handle that kind of duty well enough.