mitty2328

So on my ride today I was a clutz(sp?) and dropped my waterbottle while going downhill. I turned around and when i finally found it, it was in the worst spot possible. It was inside the body of a decaying deer. I was 8 miles into a 45 mile ride. I washed the bottle off in a nearby stream but didn't drink out of it. I waited til i got back into town at about mile 25 and asked a cop if he had any dissenfectant wipes. Of course he didn't. So I decided to bike to my friends house a couple miles away and then got to wash the bottle off with soap and water.

It was a very fun ride in the end.

But for the thread, what would you have done and whats the worst place your bottle has landed?

I know, weird, pointless thread, but it could be fun.

LowCel 

I would have probably turned around and went back to the house to get another bottle. I have a pretty strong stomach but I don't think I could ever drink out of that bottle again.

byarmis

If you were going fast enough, the bottle would have killed a dear fresh. Therefore, this thread is pointless.

mitty2328

The deer was dead already. I couldn't kill it fresh in anyway possible. Plus the bottle rolled down the hill, it wasn't a direct hit so if anything the deer would have been injured/stunned.

longbeachgary

All that for a $3 water bottle?

Polar Foil

What if it was a $30 carbon fiber water bottle?

DScott

I would have left it there and kept riding, using my second water bottle for the rest of the ride. Refilled as necessary.

Having only one water bottle on a 45 mile ride is stupid.

NickDavid

ptle

I would have left it... I carry 3 bottles for a 36 mile ride in the summer. Or gone back home and gotten a new one.

echappist

if you really want the bottle, soak it in isopropyl alcohol, that stuff disinfects. personally, i'd have tossed it

Flatballer

I would've left it for sure. I wouldn't have even wanted to retrieve it, much less use it ever again. My LBS gives me bottles for free sometimes, and I pick them up after races in feed zones. I've probably got 30 bottles, of which I use 4 of them.

NickDavid

You cheap bastard. Buy a new bottle. Nasty!

mitty2328

Yeah getting it wasn't the worst part though. I've gutted deer before granted they were fresh but still. Should i have used more than just dishsoap to clean it when i did? The water tasted the same as usual and so far i'm still feeling fine.

mitty2328

It didn't take much effort. A heck of a lot less effort than going back to my house to get a new one and then continue on with my ride.

jdom

You did the right thing not leaving it there and littering.
I would have done the same.Regular soap should be fine for cleaning it.

csimons

There are some pretty serious microbial pathogens in dead carcasses that simple soap and water may not disinfect. And I'm not simply speaking about regular infectious diseases. The microbial population within the bodies of humans and animals, called the 'normal flora' by microbiologists and public health practitioners, while not harmful in their proper place within the body, can be fatal if they find their ways to other parts of the body (such as if you ingest some of the deer's flora into your digestive system). A common example is E. coli; this is present in all of our lower intestines, but can cause various illnesses if they find their way out of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you don't see a problem using this water bottle after it has been in an animal carcass, take a class or read a general-audience book on elementary public health and/or microbiology! Most people don't realize how prevalent nasty pathogens are!

electrik

bleeeeeach that sucker, then run it through an autoclave!

noobpone

Really quit being a wimp. I would have gone back carved some fresh deer jerky for protein for the ride then picked up the bottle and taken a big swig. Why? Because those goo things are nasty. Seriously anything beats them even deer carcass.

Velo Vol 

I'm pretty sure I've never seen this question posted here before.

What are the odds against randomly dropping a water bottle into a deer carcass? Heck, it's been ages since I've even seen a deer carcass out in the road where this could become an issue.

4000Miles

I'd use bleach and possibly boiling water to clean it before using it, but it's up to you.

cshell

Where (how) do you carry bottle #3?

superNoid

I would have ended my ride there and tossed the bottle for good. Not worth it.

mitty2328

[QUOTE=Velo Vol;11232481]I'm pretty sure I've never seen this question posted here before.

What are the odds against randomly dropping a water bottle into a deer carcass? Heck, it's been ages since I've even seen a deer carcass out in the road where this could become an issue.[/QUOTE]

Yeah that same thing went through my mind too. The one place i needed it not to land, was where it did. But i sadly see dead deer all the time. I live way in the country and thats where 90% of my rides are. On one part of the same ride i had to dodge two dead raccoons. But usually the city makes quick work of cleaning them up.

ILUVUK

Lots of people carry bottles in jersey pockets.

To the OP: I would have left the bottle and ridden home to get a new one.

mitty2328

Two on the bike and one in the jersey. I've done this for a couple rides.