Camelbak Podium Big Chill. Once you go jet valve, you never go back.

I use 2 Polar bottles. In addition to being the most practical here in warm North Carolina, they resist mold that the regular bottle don't. I bought two Polar bottles four years ago and have never bought a bottle since. BTW, we tried aluminum, stainless steel, and all sorts of plastic. Nothing comes close to the insulated bottles.

58. The one behind the Schwinn one is a tool/accessory holder.

fify

Is there no limit to the minutia which can cause an argument on BF? Just curious...

Pop it off and throw it in the dish washer. Or better yet be an adult and clean up after yourself before it ruins anything.

Apparently not.

"be an adult" - now thats just crazy talk!

I honestly just bought four of the Garmin-Sharp Camelbak Podium 21oz bottles when they went on sale. It was the last model, not the current blue/red they use. I use these for rides and I take one to work. I just bought the new Camelbak Podium 24oz insulated bottle since I found one on sale. I'm not the biggest fan of it. The old version was better IMHO. Insulated bottles aren't all I thought they would be.

I have several freebies. Ribble's branded and their Sky's Elite water bottles, and a 21oz Gatorade bottle I got for signing up for a race.

I just bought Team Dream's new high vis block socks with their watching bottle set. It'll be my first Specialized Purist bottles. I have a thing for bottles, but the really nifty ones cost far to much IMO (for example, I like most everything Fyxo makes, but I also don't make enough money to drop $19 per bottle).

That half frozen thing does sound like a good idea. Supposed to be 80 degrees for the STP next weekend. I'll be doing it in one day for the first time as well this year, done 2 days in the past.

I like the Purist bottles, I think they may actually be made by Specialized.

In AZ, I usually freeze half a big chill bottle with water and a second big chill full of electrolyte mix. I drink the water one first and then the second has usually melted all the way to drink it. Cold water the whole ride.

Not if you sling a 40oz in it... :roflmao2:

I've been on the fence about pulling the trigger on one of those... I could get a pretty fat bottle on the bottom side of my downtube... I go through 30oz an hour easy on the hot days...and I carry 3 21oz bottles.


OP, another vote for the Camelbak Podium Chill...good bottles.

Great bottle. I have an older smaller 16 oz non insulated Camelbak bottle and when I have it in by rear holder and an insulated 24 oz Podium in the front holder, the difference is noticeable after a short time.

You're not going long enough....

No.

I like plain vanilla water bottles. In the winter you get cold water and in the summer you get warm water. It doesn't get better than that.

If it's hot enough in the summer that I'm worried about core body temps, I go with a camelback full of ice and water. There's not a lot you can do in the winter except keep moving, :).

Another vote here for Camelbak Podium Chill insulated. I have 2 of the older Podium Ice models which are even better but for some reason they stopped making them. Chills are almost as good. Problem is you get so used to always having cold water that when you don't, it's like the end of the world. Not quite that bad, but I plan stops where I can refill with ice every 2-3 hours. Regular bottles are warm in 30 minutes it seems like.

As for the tops, they are great except as mentioned can get mold if you use sports drink and not washed regularly. I wash after use and also boil mine in water weekly for 3 minutes and this has kept them perfect. If they do get a little dirty, once they get hot, you can easily take then apart and clean with a Q-tip. It is worth the effort.

quick question on the boil. do you drop it in the pot while its boiling or just leave it in the the entire time?

I just buy water bottles. Usually the Sport bottles and throw then away after the ride. I didn't like the taste of plastic in the cheaper bottles, plus cleaning is eliminated. Admittedly, my after work rides are only in the 10 to 14 mile range. So many of you that ride further may required more bottles than I do. But on weekends when the mileage increases to the 25 to 40+ range, two bottles in the freezer works. If it is a long ride or I need more water, there is always a gas station or deli that I can buy more water. BTW: my A1C is climbing up, so I do drink water and not a sugar drink. But most stores do carry Gatorade too.

I use 2x 24 oz Polar bottles. For anything that's above 75 degrees, I'll pre mix and freeze both bottles solid the night before in my deep freeze.

i love them. I had 1 regular non insulated that I got for free that I used for a while, and to me, the difference is very noticeable, and I haven't gone back.

when I need extra capacity, I buy another bottle on the road and put it in my jersey pocket. I do drink like a fish.

they've also been easy to clean. I have a long bristled brush for basics, and they come clean in the dishwasher pretty easily.

Have recommended polar to 4 friends/family that got into cycling, and everyone's has been equally satisfied.

You're right about that. :(

We bought a new house and are in the middle of moving. I'm lucky to get in anything longer than 30-40 on the weekends and only 15 or so in the morning during the week, hell, I haven't even ridden this entire weekend because I've been putting crap in boxes the entire time. Hoping that changes shortly.

If you don't know how to clean a water bottle you get what you deserve.

I actually don't use a pot but that would work too. I have a large glass mug that I put the bottle top in upside down then put a ceramic shot glass on top as a weight to hold it down. Then enough water to cover the top then in the microwave until it boils plus a minute or two. Then I leave it in until it cools as you get good sanitation kill down to just under 180 degrees F.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=391523

I've used Polar, Camelbak, and Elite insulated water bottles. The Elite Nanogelite is the best of the bunch IMO. Stays cold longer, contents taste cleaner, all without the unnecessarily complicated nozzles. YMMV.

Yeah, the Camelbak jet valve is so complex. Sometimes I have a really hard time getting a drink, and I have to stop and contact Camelbak for help. :rolleyes: