What's largest water bottle I can buy? Where?
 

I'm looking to get some huge (tall so they'll fit the cages) water bottles so I don't have to carry so much on my back. What's the largest size they sell that will fit bike bottle cages? Where's the best place to buy them?

Thanks!

My wife and I use Zefal Magnums. 32oz, and available (last I checked) from Nashbar.

Someone might have another solution (i.e. reuse commercial water bottles) but those are the largest bike-specific ones I found.

I used to use a camelbak as well. I've switched to bottles. I put a rack on the back, and made a bracket from aluminum bar which holds two more bottles. Also have a 6-liter dromedary bag for really long rides (i'm in the country and can't refill easily). Sure it looks funny, but that's ok.

Great, thanks! That's much better than my current. A few questions:

1. Is there any plastic taste?
2. Any idea if it's one of the plastics that leeches into the drink?
3. Are there any 40+ oz bottles that would fit a cage?

The 1L Smart Water bottles fit perfectly in bottle cages. You just need to find a pull-up valve replacement for the screw on cap that they usually come with though.

I think Nashbar sells the cage for this baby:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

1. I don't think there is, but I'm not really sensitive to taste, so I might not be the best one to ask.

2. I'm not aware of any plastic that leeches into drinks, other than the urban legend thing.

3. Possibly, but it would be something like what Mike_Like_Bike posted.

You could get the clip that mounts 2 bottles on the back of your saddle, then you;d have 4 bottles you could carry. I've also seen strap-on cages for the downtube (or any other tube not equipped with bosses)

And if 4 isn't enough, add two to the front of your handlebar... Minoura has a bracket I found on Harris Cyclery's site: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/accessories.html

Height shouldn't be an issue on the handlebars until it obstructs the rider's vision. :D

I'd like to get the back-of-saddle mount, but I haven't seen one that allows me to also have a saddle bag.

I have bottles that are larger than the Zefal magnums and fit in a standard cage. They are one litre. They are a little taller than the Zefals but not much. I posted pictures of the bottles side by side a long time ago, but they probably got lost when the server was changed. They say "California Innovations" on them.
I found them in a local drug store chain in Rhode Island. I might still be able to find them there, not sure. I've had mine a couple of years.

Two bottles, two cages, two liters. I don't think anything else will hold that much with as little weight.

There are bottle cages that have rubber straps and adjust to just about any size bottle too. I don't like mine, it's too hard to get the bottles in and out on the move. The holder is heavy too.

Special bike mount included.

Note that Zefal Magnum bottles are a little wider than a standard bottle, so they will not work in some cages. They will usually be OK in metal cages than can bend a little.

I've got some 40oz cannondale ones from the 80's. I have no idea where they came from, I was digging through my pile of bike parts and found them one day. I can't fit one on the seat tube, it's too tall - I'm looking at getting a side-entry bottle cage for it. The downtube fits one just barely under my frame pump.

So far they've been fine in my Bontrager plastic cages, my wife's Elite side-entry cage, and (as you said) all the metal cages I've tried. If there's a width difference, it isn't much.

Years ago I did an unsupported century in the southwest where I wasn't sure there'd be any place to get water along the way. In additon to my Camelbak 100 oz, I bought 2 bottled waters that were 50 oz each. I took a standard bike bottle with me when I shopped and was able to find a brand of bottled water with the same diameter. It took some looking. I then but a push-pull top on each. They were a tight fit into the frame but I was able to get to them and put them back in the cages while riding.

If I need more than the standard two XL water bottles, I'll freeze a 1 Liter Platypus bag and put it in my center jersey pocket. When empty it'll collapse down pretty good. If more than that is needed, then I'd look at a dromedary bag and cargo carrying system. Water's 8 pounds a gallon.

the leeching plastic is a sought after feature. It bonds to oxygen in the bloodstream, thereby 'preserving' it. It has the ultimate effect of making oxygen in the blood last longer :D