Bottle question.. ideas?
 

I'm looking for some way to get the water from the bottle in the cage on my bike within reach for easy drinking.

I'm not sold on a CamelBak since it may be overkill for my usual short 10 mile ride.

I found the SmartTube, http://www.bluedesert.co.il/smart_tube.html but there are also some other ideas I found that may also work.

They are both from Nalgene.

The first idea I found was the Drink Tube and Bite Valve.
Could I simply use this and place the bottle upside down in the cage?
http://www.rei.com/product/670641
[edit: this is listed as working with the cantene.. it may not work since it doesn't have any valve on the lid for air to get in]

The next idea is shown on their page as Tubing - 4 foot:
http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store...l.aspx?ID=1081

Would this work by simply getting this and adding a bite valve?

Any other suggestions?

Ive seen somewhere a bottle and mount that attaches to the handlebars and has a rigid straw that
sticks up. You can just lean down a little while riding and take a sip without letting go of the handlebars.

Reach down grab the bottle, pull the top open with your teath. Drink. close bottle by pushing top against outside ot thigh. replace bottle in cage. Once you have done this a couple of times it becomes second nature just like shifting gears.

Why spend money on something you need.

talk/look at specialist triathlon or timetrial websites (or even road cycling/triathlon sub-forums here). There are many different options afaik.

here are some existing ideas(NOT a recommendation of that shop though) - http://www.keithstriathlon.com/Searc...CategoryID=146

There used to be an elastic bladder that could be hung behind the saddle with a long drinking tube to the handlebars - basically pressurised H2O to mouth. Someone here may remeber what it was called.

That's close enough to the whole idea. LOL

time for a camelback

:roflmao: I am wondering why more people didn't suggest the same thing. Unless one has a physical disability that makes it difficult, drinking from a water bottle while riding is easy.

I also ride on trails and that covers the bottle in dirt (riding on the road also does, but not as much) The taste of water mixed with dirt and road grip isn't too appealing.

I appreciate the tutorial on drinking from a bottle :rolleyes:, but I'm sure there are others out there looking for the same thing and maybe even someone who has found an option, even if it is the SmarTube.

thanks.

Two things to consider:

1. Fenders help a lot to keep the bottles clean

2. Many bottle braze-ons are very low. If you find them too low, use zip ties to position the bottle cage where you want it.

I'd like to see THAT on a bike helmet. With two water bottles.

[QUOTE=2. Many bottle braze-ons are very low. If you find them too low, use zip ties to position the bottle cage where you want it.[/QUOTE]

On small frames the cage may not fit any higher. I have a new Trek 7.5 FX WSD in the smallest size (13 in), with only one very low bottle cage. I'm used to a road bike with reachable cages, but am looking for alternate water storage on this bike since it's going on a tour unsuitable for my road bike. Appreciate the ideas here, and look forward to others!

Thanks!

Linda, I guess my experience comes from riding with 25"-frame bikes. I'm not that tall, I just have long legs.

Other solutions:
- A handlebar clamp that allows you to attach a cage to your bars, near the stem. I think it only exists for 25.4 mm stems.
- A behind-the-seat dual cage, although it might interfere with your cargo.
- zip-tying cages either behind the seatpost or on the steerer tube.

Handlebar cage. I have modified a behind the seat dual cage to a dual handlebar cage on my folder. Very easy to reach.

I think with a long straw and low position bottle it would be hard to suck up the water. Camel back the water is higher up on your back so there is not as much gravity to fight.

Never tried it but it sound like PITA to suck water from a low bottle with a long straw

You can get small and light camelbacks (I think in the 20-some oz range). You probably don't need one that holds 70oz or more.

I'm a longtime Camelbak user. The biggest thing for me is the insulating factor. Even the very best Polar bottles do NOT compare to Camelbaks for keeping water cool and drinkable. I agree that Camelbaks are not "cool" for road riding style points, but nothing compares for convenience and ease. Long story short;you will drink more and stay hydrated better because the water is convenient and cool. Screw the style points and 70 oz. is not too much during the hot days of summer. I've drained mine several times.

Mark

Yeah, I have a suggestion. Take some time to smell the roses. I doubt you're raceing anybody on your 10 mile rides so why not just stop and put a foot down whenever you want a drink?

Handlebar mounted water bottle cage(s)!
Minoura sells the adaptor that you can use to mount bottle cage on handlebars. You can mount it inboard or outboard on the bars, preferably near the stem.
Have adapted this system on both our tandem and single bikes.
'No hands' drinking is possible with the following change in a water bottle. Remove the pull/close tab plastic piece in cap of water bottle. Go to local hardware/pet shop and take water bottle cap with you. Buy a 1 foot length of clear plastic tubing to fit snugly through that round hole in the cap. Install on bike. Hooray! Now you don't need to remove bottle at all for drinking . . . lower/bend your head and sip!!!!
Photo shows 2-bottle installation for longer rides . . . one cage inboard and other outboard of the handlebars. Been using this systems since 1975 (w-a-y before Camelbacks!)
Pedal on!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

I didn't even think of that until after reading your message. I have a smaller frame bike as well and the bottle fits much lower than on my older bike. I rode my older bike and noticed it is easier to grab the bottle.

In any case, I'm wondering if the following would work?

http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=72 part (2575-0063)
and
http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store...l.aspx?ID=1081 part (2576-0003)
The second item it apparently just everything after the straight tube coming out of the bottle.

I guess the main thing is if the white piece connecting the straight tube and the flex tube is a check valve. If it's just a connector, then the water would flow all the way back into the bottle. (darn gravity)

What does a bite valve do? Is it a check valve (is it air tight) or to keep water coming out?

thanks.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...and=&sku=11801

Zephal makes several bike water bottles with flip-up dust caps. I use one for dusty dirt road rides.

I haven't yet mastered the art of un-caging my bottle, drinking, and re-caging. When I get thirsty I just stop.

A good friend of mine was telling me a story one day about a family ride on their Quad(yes they ride a 4 seater) He glanced back over his shoulder and saw his youngest on the rear most seat all hunched over areo and really getting into it. He said it was the proudest moment of his life, she wanted to hammer so he kicked it up a notch. They are flying down the road and a little voice speaks into his ear through his headset "dad I'm stuck" So he slows it down to see what is the matter. It turns out she had leaned to far forward and had gotten the nipple of her handlebar mounted water bottle stuck in the front vent of her helmet and couldn't get the bottle out of the cage because of the angle.