wphamilton

I'm not sure where this "conformity" thing is coming from but ... I never ride in groups, conforming is about last on my list of priorities, and I still don't care for a camelbak.

unabowler

My opinion is that roadies in groups are a conformist bunch (and that's not terrible) and much of the reason you never see one with a Camelbak is largely due to conformity. If you're not a roadie in a group, it's a red herring.

bovine

You know who else didn't care for Camelbaks? Hitler.

Just saying.

caloso

I've never had anyone hand me a full camelback in a feed zone.

txcrash

I snorted.

osco53

LoL thats right,,you gotta fit in, wouldn't want to stand out or go your own way.. You gotta look like a racer If'ins ya wanna be a true Roadie

I was out climbing a roadie on my Folding bike, little 20" wheels and all, Come on peoples ! He was older than me and much larger,, I had him.

I pissed him off when I up shifted and started pulling away faster, he yeld, " No Way, NOT Happening" and started shifting for power,,too late..
I crested before him, went to top gear and pushed, I only had 8 gears ending about 93 gear inches,, LoL

He blew my doors off on the down side,,It was all In fun

caloso

I was wonder when we'd get the first post about the time I dropped a roadie on my folder/fixed gear/commuter/utility bike/C&V.

Pidge

I use both, at the same time even :O. My water bladder is 2 liters but I let the bike carry some of the weight and fill it to 1.5l at the most. With the bottle (~1l) on the bike I can squirt some on my head to cool off, too. I would absolutely love to not ride with anything on my back, but once I get going the pack is out of mind. I had cages the fork but took the off cuz I was worried about potential wheel damage during a fall on dirt. If all I did was road though, the bike would carry all the water.

bovine

Now that we've got it over with, I was out Saturday on my cargo bike w/ 150 lbs of boys in the back and I passed a roadie in full kit who was just leisurely enjoying himself on a residential road. That certainly ended his leisure time as it took him five seconds to rev up to pass me in my turn. What is it with these guys and their need to pass (a guy w/ a 400 lbs load, no less). He must have been 45. I got that **** out of my system when I was 25. It's pretty ridiculous.

caloso

I do intervals on quiet country roads. If I'm in a rest between intervals or sets, I'll be barely turning over the pedals and I get passed by old ladies on shopping bikes and little kids with streamers. Then when it's over, I dial it back up to 400w (or whatever that day's workout calls for).

Don't know if that's what happened here, but it's a possible explanation.

Jaywalk3r

There's a lot to be said for the refreshing chill of a 100 oz bladder full of ice water on your back during a summer ride.

bovine

Hah! Anything is possible, but this was urban residential. Stop signs every other block. He wasn't doing intervals. That and he shifted to pick up pace within about 1-2 seconds of me passing him.

And it's not even that unlikely a scenario, so I don't know why one would go searching for another reason he might be doing it. I don't know that I've ever passed a guy in kit on my way to work where he hasn't picked up the pace to at least stay with me. It's pretty hilarious to watch it happen in the rear view. As if I didn't know they weren't giving it their all when I pass them wearing slacks riding a 75 lb, 7' long cargo bike. Got's to prove it, I guess.

caloso

I wasn't searching for another reason, just offering a possible explanation based upon an experience I have several times a week. Feel free to draw your own conclusions on his state of mind based on the evidence you have.

TGT1

I rode my first century last year and go lots of weird looks at the start. Geezer on a Ti CX bike with a Camel Back.

It got into the 90's later in the day and at the third water stop when I filled it back up with ice somehow it wasn't such a strange idea and there were some sorta envious comments.

For long rides I'll freeze two 1/2L bottled waters, skin off the bottle and place the two round ice cylinders in the bottom of the 3L pack and fill with ice water. It stays cold and lasts till about mile 80. Crushed ice or cubes are only good for about 30 miles.

I'd prefer the Gatorade full strength and put that bottle on the bike.

Plus the pack has room for a PB&J, candy bars, wallet, spare batteries, etc.


If you have trouble keeping it in place on your shoulders, that's what the sternum strap is for. The waist belt should be removed for road bike use.

bovine

It's just bananas to me that something like that on a century would draw strange looks. I mean, it's pretty much the ideal solution for a decently long ride on a hot day. Then again, I live in Texas where icewater in insulated cups is ambient temperature after about an hour in the August sun.

TheManShow

I got to test out a Camelback about twenty years ago as someone in our club had a demo unit. Honestly I did not like the digging in my shoulder when the unit was full of water. In the last twenty years the basic idea of the Camelback is the same. Many design changes. I sill carry only two 20 Oz.+ water bottles. The set I use most often are a promotional set that have something about Specialized Bicycles for the Cactus Cup 1996. They still carry water, and get washed out after every ride, so why throw em away?

Giant Fuji

I use a Camelbak on my MTB for reasons already said about decaging bottles and not to mention mud and gunk flying up. I do use Camelbak Podium insulated 25 oz bottles on the road bike though. Also, I wear MTB shoes and pedals on my road bike, I am not duck walking!

pysiklient

Camelbak is a brand making hydration systems and bottles. Strange to see people comparing a company against water bottles

CoachManny

Interesting thread.

Cause I ride a lot solo I have been in the market for a camelback. Mainly because I do carry things like locks...sometimes racquetball racquet as I coach a high/middle school team...other stuff.

Mainly the lock and pump is why I need a bag with me.

I do like a little weight for extra exercise. On group rides I wouldn't bring a camelback though as I would try to be as light as I could.

Manny

bovine

And I'm sure when you need to blow your nose you ask for a Kleenex facial tissue and I'm sure everyone rolls their eyes then as they are now. Hilarious that you chose this as your first comment on the forum.

pysiklient

Asking specifically for Kleenex instead of a facial tissue sounds rather strange
Sorry if I offended you but saw an error and tried to correct it here. I'm using regular water bottles from Camelbak for example and the title of this comparison looked weird.

bikepro

You're correct. However, like Kleenix, being the first of a type of product, the name often refers to the entire product type. Now, do you know who invented the Camelback? Hint: It was invented in Texas.

biker86

I wear a Camelbak. Not only can I carry up to 100oz of water, but I've got enough space to fit my smartphone, some money (like $5 or $10), clear protective glasses, sunglasses, bike lock, information about me (in the event of an accident and I can't respond verbally), bandana, clean rags, small amount of food should I get hungry and some tools in the event that I need to fix my bike up out on the road or on a trail.

Wearing it and carrying all that doesn't bother me at all and I think of all that extra weight as more resistance in which to push myself even more to overcome.

hillyman

If you ask someone for the rules your going to get the rules. If you worry about fitting in follow the rules, if not go with whats best for you.

RISKDR1

I have hiked thousands of miles with Camelback's and like them for that purpose. I really don't like things on my back for riding. That is just me. They probably work fine for some.

Velo Orange now has a cage that will accommodate a large Nalgene bottle. You can carry a lot of water with that.