What should I get, a hydration pack or a water bottle?

I'd also would want to carry a bag pack for pump, inner tubes, and some stuff I buy when I hit the shops. I don't think I'd leave my bike outside, but it could happen.

Probably should have posted this in general discussion.

Hydration pack is my suggestion unless you're doing some fast paced road biking. That way you can carry all the stuff you mentioned.

I ride a Tandem and got into Camelbacks when riding it. I now ride solos a bit more often and to be honest- If I use a bottle- I do not drink enough. With the camelback- the water nozzle is so easy to get to and you do not have to slow down to do it. Going up a hill and want a drink- With a camelback and in 2 seconds you are drinking. With a bottle for me it is slow down- grab the bottle- ride one handed till the Bottle goes back in the carrier and all the time- I am slow.

Given a choice- go hydration pack- even if you are a roadie.

The pack works fine if you don't mind riding with a pack. I've just never gotten used to it, even after 15 years of pretty heavy-duty crosscountry mountain biking, and I prefer water bottles plus a seat bag or handlebar bag to carry the other stuff. Nice to have that liquid capacity for a long, hot ride, though.

I got a Camelbak last year and I used to use it all of the time on long rides. But it always bothered me that it was so heavy. Even when it isn't full, it weights maybe four or five pounds. And I also have gotten paranoid about cleaning it. The long thing that we got with it for cleaning the tube doesn't reach through the whole tube, and some black stuff from the Gatorade was starting to accumulate. Also it didn't seem like I was doing that good of a job completely cleaning the big plastic container either. So this year I've just been carrying water bottles. They are sufficient for short rides, and can be for long rides if it is either a supported ride where they have drinks at the rest stops, or if it goes by a convenience store where you can buy more drinks. If neither was true than I'd have to go back to using the Camelbak. If I do I'll probably just fill it with water this time.

I just got a camelpack today. I got it because I almost got wiped out by a motorist coming out of a parking lot while I was drinking from my bottle. I was able to stop in time, but I was way off balance because one hand was off the handlebars (not to mention the brakes).

The camelpack I got was $29 at Dick's sporting goods. It carries 1.5 liters, more than enough for my rides, which are less than an hour.

I'll report back with any experiences - positive or negative.


tgreenwood