icyclist 

OP - using a CB may or may not make you a Fred. But admitting you currently have only have one jersey? Uh huh, THAT could be a Fred thing.

rizz

I use Camelbak bottles and that alone makes me feel dirty.

Like umd, I carry bottles in my jersey pockets. I've even done the TdF-style bottle-in-collar trick too, just because I could, but that tends to be uncomfortable.

My question is, what sort of place are you riding where you can't find water? We've evolved into a pretty modern society with all sorts of niceties like that generally available everywhere. Heck, I hear a lot of places even have electricity now. It's a brave new world.

umd

I carried 3 bottles with me and filled up 3 times on this ride which was mostly in the mountains. If I was going to do that kind of ride and knew I would not be able to fill up somewhere I would consider a camelbak, bue like I said, it's never happened. I don't look down on people who choose to though.

CharlieWoo

Some pros use them on TTs.

Molto Lento

I use a suede wine sack filled with sangria. It's much sauver.

aham23

no.

overall the CB on the road bike experience sucks arse for me. sloshy or not.

later.

Reynolds 

I tried one but found it uncomfortable (sweating, straps). I'd carry it only if I had to ride 100+ km with no place to refill.

Skewer

Lightweight road camelbacks are a great tool if you are doing a long ride where there are no places to stop with water, or you don't want to stop for water, or your jersey pockets are too full of calories and other stuff for the ride to carry enough extra bottles. They are also more convenient to drink out of. You can attack with a tube in your mouth. Try that with a bottle at your lips.

platypus

Easy enough, just hold it with your teeth and use both hands on the bars for attacking (counterattacking, bridging a gap, crushing souls, whatever you're into). Once things have calmed back down a bit, resume imbibing.

umd

I was taking a drink from a bottle when an attack was launched that I had to counter. Wasn't a big deal.

paimeii

Forty or less miles, bottles. Over that, I bust out the CB. If you were at the HHH you saw many racers using them. But I guess they are Freds??

Not everyone takes a break every 15 miles

umd

2 bottles lasted me just fine for my last 70 mile road race. 3 hours, no breaks (duh).

big john

We ride in remote mountain areas where there is no water for hours. I use a Camelbak on these rides as I will drink 200 ozs or more if it's hot.

icyclist 

Hey, Big John, that first photo - is it looking down toward the Lockwood Valley, west of Fraizer Park? I'm guessing Highway 39 for the second shot.

paimeii

that's nuts. I go through 1 bottle/hour minimum. I would be all dried up.

umd

It was cold at the start. I was considering bringing 3 bottles but there was also a neutral feed so I decided against it. I tend not to drink as much as others as well.

big john

Good eye, the first is looking down Heartbreak Hill, the second is Angeles Crest, west of Dawson Saddle. It's closed because of this.

big john

O.K., here is one from Hwy 39. There are streams along the road and some guys drink from them, but I haven't. I can drain the 70 oz Camelbak on that climb.

Vireo

It's funny to here the definition of long rides and really long rides from you guys.

Big John I just did that climb on Saturday when I rode from Huntington Beach to Crystal Lake and back (150 miles solo only 7k boo) . I am part camel so I don't use camel backs. I used a bike bottle (24 oz) and 2 (20 oz) bottles in my jersey pockets plus the two on the bike to do the 23ish mile climb from Encanto Park to Crystal Lake. It was 1:30pm when I started the climb and HOT!. I had plenty of water left over for the descent ( I like to drink at least one bottle on a descent).

I brought the extra water for insurance and when I got down and off the mountain (remote area) I ditched the two water bottles (yes in the trash). I then rode with one in the center pocket and two on the bike for the 50 mile ride home.


I have other reasons why I don't like camelbacks here. Scroll down to camelbacks

umd

Haha, I've been nicknamed a camel on more than one occasion.

icyclist 

I didn't realize Highway 2 was closed - did that happen last winter, and is it still closed - to cars, anyway? Must be a nice ride, as long as you don't get clonked with a boulder from on high.

bobjenkins79

I bought one of those groovy seat-post 2-bottle holders from Aero Design on ebay. Now I can haul 4 water bottles w/o having the CB on my back. I really think it's more comfy, plus there's just something nice about knowing you have 4 water bottles...

big john

Hwy 2 has been closed for at least 4 years, but it is supposed to open by the end of this year. I hope not, it's nice to go through there with no cars. Recently, they are working Saturdays and won't let us go by, I hope that changes, too. It's nice to go to Wrightwood that way, again with no cars.
Here is the gate near hwy 39.

Here is the one at Vincent Gap with me getting ready for the next climb.

big john

George, if you wanted more feet, you could have gone to Dawson Saddle. That would add at least 1500 ft, I think.

Lou627

whats a fred