Camelback
 

Do any of you use a Camelback (or similar) when riding? They don't look C&V but seem quite useful for bikes that have one or no bottle braze ons. Thoughts?

Sweat back is my only complaint. Too much heat rash in the middle of the day. It entertains me now to see folks suckling from the bag teat, as I once did proudly. 8]

Gatorade bottles in the jersey pockets here... :)

andy

I have used on now and again but unless it is a long ride I perfer bottles

Considering I sweat like a w----e in church, I guess that wouldn't be a good idea for road riding. Maybe for mountain biking.... (I lost a bottle yesterday while ripping through a rocky section).

Any suggestions for adding water bottle holders to a bike that has no braze ons? Without marring the paint?

If you have ever run out of water riding in Texas during the summer you would have one also. After I did that I swore I'd never let it happen again. Camelback for me, I don't care how it looks.

Mutt

Me too. Less so in the winter when I don't need as much water. There are bike specific Camelbacks with more air ventilation in the back which help with the sweat.

I have three different models and have retrofitted insulated drinking hoses to the ones that didn`t originally have them. One model is bicycle/ski specific in that there is no facility for storage - just an insulated shell designed to store a bladder that will handle a couple liters of liquid.

Skiing I wear one under a ski jacket. Bicycling I use one to supplement a couple water bottles. The previous poster has decided sweating was an issue. I guess thats a personal observation based on how he was using the Camelback. Skiing, perspiration is a general occurance and results in loss of body fluids. Same for bicycling except that do to the nature of the sport, its possible that perspiration can be trapped under the Camelback and be more noticable. In the real world thats only an issue in extremely hot and humid conditions.

But there is a strategy that pretty much solves the whole `sticky` situation. If the Camelback is left in the freezer overnight so that the contents are frozen, it will be 4 to 6 hours before they will gradually become liquid. In the meantime the insulation will limit temperature transfer and keep your back cool but not cold. That works best for me because I`ll go through 2 water bottles before the Camelback contents start to melt enough to provide a liquid source.

I imagine that if the Camelback was your primary drinking source and not your secondary, then a couple hours in the freezer would probably be enough.

The only downside to these is that they do require maintenaince. They will mildew if not washed and dried on a daily basis. But then - so will any regular waterbottle. Its usually the silicone ring under the cap on a stainless or plastic bottle that starts to have issues. With a Camelback - the whole bladder plus the drinking hose needs to be cleaned..

Again - a lazy way to deal with the situation is to store the bladder and hose in the freezer when not in use. Personally I`ll take a Camelback over a waterbottle any day - mostly because a waterbottle just dosen`t hold enough. But then there are convenience stores everywhere in most cities and Gatoraide, bottled water and fruit juices are pretty easy to come by too.

Walmart has em, they clamp around the tube. I would assume they would fit the narrower tubes of a classic steel bike but i'm not 100% on that... you'll have to check it out

andy

Sweat back = swack

Didn't happen to me, but to a friend ... spent a night on a mountain cuddling his brother in lycra because there wasn't a pocket for the map in the camelback. Swears by the heavier/bulkier ones that have pockets.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you pretty much sweat everywhere? Or does your body have zone specific climate control?

I'm partial to "Source" brand hydro systems. http://sourceoutdoor.com/15-cycling-...ydration-packs The bladders are much sturdier and easier to clean.

There's always "old school" . . .
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=194175

+3 When you ride a 47cm road bike that has but one bottle braze-on and you live in Texas you have to carry water somewhere. Its also nice to be able to drink in traffic while keeping both hands on the handlebars.

In the hot summer months, on long rides, I don't hesitate to strap on my Camelback. No, it doesn't "look" C&V, but no one has ever stopped me to advise me about my fashion faux pas. (For that matter, none of my riding shorts are especially C&V either, nor are all of my water bottles, my helmet, or my gloves.) Just like your choice of bicycle, go with what works for you. BTW, I have water bottle cages on all of my bikes, but sometimes I want to ride further and longer than a single bottle or two will last me. The Camelback is a logical choice for me in those situations. Only you will know what works best for you, though.

I can't carry a backpack of any sort when it's hot out. I made one out of a large fanny pack, with some foam insulation and a Camelback bladder, which I sometimes use.

Camelback, for sure. On a short ride it doesn't really matter, but on a hot day if I'm going for more than an hour the camelback is essential. You take a sip every time your mouth feels dry, and you keep nicely hydrated all day. Sweat? Of course you're going to sweat. You're riding a bike. You're going to sweat. Get used to it.

+1 Arizona. Also, I find that during the summer heat, I hydrate much better because of the ease of grabbing the tube and getting a few swallows. Hydration is not a C&V correctness issue. Hydrate or die.

My father in law has this behind the seat rack that holds two bottles, great for desert riding. I think that is the most practical. similar to triathlon racks. Sometimes it is a 4 bottle ride!

I've been messing around again and tried to reproduce something I saw in "The Golden Age...". Little strips of felt along the contact points would likely keep your mind at ease.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...cage3small.jpg

another camelbak backer here. another reason... i have more than one bike and don't care to slap a saddle bag on every one or move flat kits from bike to bike all the time. everything is in the camelbak, including every tube size. so i can just grab it and go regardless of which bike i'm riding.

btw, if you only fill the bladder with filtered water, you won't need to clean it all the time. pure water alone does not support life. i can't remember the last time i cleaned mine. gatorade goes in the bottles.

Then why would I want to drink it!? ha ha

[QUOTE=kevrider;12384364]another camelbak backer here. another reason... i have more than one bike and don't care to slap a saddle bag on every one or move flat kits from bike to bike all the time. everything is in the camelbak, including every tube size. so i can just grab it and go regardless of which bike i'm riding.

btw, if you only fill the bladder with filtered water, you won't need to clean it all the time. pure water alone does not support life. i can't remember the last time i cleaned mine. gatorade goes in the bottles.[/QUOTE]

Exactly right. Innumeral bike rides, hikes, etc. Other than a quick rinse, no real maintenance.

I use my camelback when I go mountian biking, although I have 2 bottles on my bike. If im in the woods for the day I know Im not going to ride past a store where I can pick up some extra fluid. On the road is a different story, I dont use it.

I forgot to mention earlier, in the summer months I toss a trey of ice cubes in mine and use cold water from my fridge to fill it. The ice usually lasts well past two hours. How cool (sic) is that? Mine are cleaned once a season and I use well water. But they are hung up to dry open in a dry warm attic after each use.

I have a small MEC rock climbing bag that has a pocket that will hold a 2 litre bladder (I use a 1.5) and I prefer the Source bladders as their large opening lets you add ice, they are very sturdy, and have treated me well for the past 5-6years.

When it gets really hot, and we get as hot as we get cold, I find that I drink more when I have my hydration bag and often take it on walks and errands as well as bicycle rides... my daughters won't leave home without their hydro bags in the summer and use the same bag as I do.

They will empty a 1.5 litre bladder in an afternoon of riding and I know that they won't be dehydrated after playing in the sun.

Same here. For long rides in the heat they're hard to beat. Without one I was not only running out of water, but the water in my bottles was hot within 10 minutes. The camelback stuffed with ice and filled with water does a much better job staying cool.

I cannot argue with the points made for these types of devices (Camelback et. al.). They make sense for a lot of reasons. But, there is one good reason I don't own one and don't see myself owning one anytime soon. They look seriously uncool. Sure, that may be vain, but it's honesty. Unlike a lot of folks, I don't have trouble staying hydrated and I don't find lukewarm water particularly unpleasant. I'm never in such a hurry that I mind stopping to refill a bottle or two. I've no interest in sweat rash on my back, either.

I still actually prefer bottles and never had any interest in trying a camelback. What changed my mind was running out of water on long brevets. Doing a 200k or more ride when it's ~95 degrees or better outside with long stretches between controls was all the convincing I needed. I remember one ride where I had two 1 liter bottles, a 2 liter camelback, and I stuffed another liter bottle of water in my bag. Not that I actually drank that much, but when it's really hot it helps to have water to pour over yourself, too.

I only drink "certified organic" water... LOL

Camelback is a great little company and I love them for many different purposes. They make some of the best small daypacks you can buy and are usually cheaper than non-hydration daypacks even with the added bonus of the hydration bladder.

I use one while hiking/backpacking/camping or even when traveling abroad. I spent a month with the new wife wandering around Peru and each of us had everything stuffed into a large daypack bag and a medium duffel bag.

Some of their models are better than others as far as sweaty-back syndrome is concerned. We met a guy with a really high-end camelback that had a sprung mesh net bit that held the rest of the pack about an inch and a half off of your back so air could circulate. There still were the straps over the shoulders and the belly belt but the small of the back was free to breathe. One of those would be much better for sweat. In the Amazon we sweated all over until we were soaked anyhow so it wasn't that big of a deal. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was either too hot or too cold but we were too busy trying to make it over the next pass and getting enough oxygen to care about sweaty backs.

I don't like to wear a pack when riding. It can never be cinched tight enough for me as it tends to want to shift upwards at inopportune moments. I don't like it on a motorcycle either for the same reasons when riding off-pavement and on long sport-touring rides it bothers me with the weight. That's what saddlebags were made for. I do sometimes put the bladder inside my pillion bag but I have to remember to drop the tube before I dismount.

that describes the Camelbak Mule, built for mtn biking. that is the model i use.
"sweat rash" -- i don't know anything about that.

you're right Amesja, they are great for hiking. i have a larger one for dayhikes.