KonaRider125

I've got a couple local rides where two 25 oz water bottles does not quite cut it and am thinking about getting a handlebar water bottle cage mount for a third bottle.

Question is, is this considered "uncool" or not something "serious cyclists" do? Can't be as bad as a Camelbak, right?

cydewaze

I have a pair of these for longer rides where I'm not sure if refills will be available. 33oz each.



My other option (which I don't think is made anymore) is called a "Pocket Monsoon". This was a flat, square plastic "bottle" that would exactly fit in a jersey pocket. I can't remember how much each of them held, but I'm guessing 16-20 oz each. Not that it helps you any.

I'd venture that most people here would consider a handlebar bottle to be uncool, but I'd rather be uncool than dehydrated. Do whatcha gotta do!

clausen

Yes and Worse.

Stop somewhere to fill up or worst case stick the third bottle in your jersey pocket .

Raiden

I don't think the weight of a large water bottle to one side of your stem would feel all that great.

How about something like Speedfil Hydration System (low center of gravity; it has a straw that sticks up from your handlebars)

You should be able to get another bottle behind it, adding up to almost 3 bottles' worth.

If you go with stashing in jersey pockets, I suggest a couple of very small bottles. I hate having one pocket dragged around by a bottle.

KonaRider125

That is what I figured. Several of the local rides I do are in rural areas where there is significant distances between places to fill up water bottles. I've tried the bottle in the jersey pocket and its uncomfortable.

Elvo

Just get this:
XLAB Torpedo System | Aerobar Hydration | Aerobottle | Refillable Hydration | Torpedo

Raiden

Speedfil also makes something like that, but both it and the xlabs model needs aerobars to mount to

FBinNY 

BITD, they produced dedicated HB bottle cages and certain people were very devoted to them. That was when bicycling wasn't cool in the first place, so nobody cared. In fact the cyclists of the era considered thinking about cool as most definitely uncool. Some of us still feel that way.

If you want a handlebar mounted bottle, and can find or improvise something that works, then go for it, and let others worry about being cool or not.

Lanceoldstrong

I use a Platypus Softbottle from REI when I need to pack more water.
It rolls up real small when empty, secured with a rubbber band or two, it easily fits in a jersey pocket.
It holds 34 ounces, a liter, so I you don't have to fill it all the way.

I start with the filled Platypus in my middle jersey pocket. It fits really nice into the small of my back.
With a full 2 bottles in my cages, when the 1st one is empty I stop and refill it from the Platypus.
Then the Platypus rolls up super small to return to a jersey pocket.
100% BPA free and adds no taste to the water.

I have used this on a lot of rides.


Platypus SoftBottle Water Bottle - 34 fl. oz.

jwarner

I don't know, Coppi and Bartali seemed to understand the value of staying hydrated. Notice the handlebar bottles for when the bottle of wine ran out.



(image from: https://winefolly.com/wp-content/uplo...share-wine.jpg)

anotherbrian

Check out:

Universal Cycles -- Bottles & Cages > Water Bottle Cage Mounts & Hardware

for a lot of alternative mounts ... they may even have some in carbon fiber. While _I_ wouldn't put one on _my_ bars, I did buy one so that my kids could have bottles on the "stoker" (they do far less than stoke) bar of our cargo bike and it worked great. I did have a coffee cup/beer bottle holder on the front of that cargo bike though.

Reynolds 

Tri stuff.

LesterOfPuppets

I have bottle cages on the bar of my fixed gear and love it. So easy to reach.

Probably considered uncool but who cares, really. Wish they made the $5.00 cages I have to fit 31.8 bars but nope, only 25.4-26.4.

Raiden

Seriously, people that make such things should get a clue that we want oversized clamps! Took me forever to find a cup holder for my touring bike....

zonatandem

Uncool??? But very practical!
Used this method for over 40 years, both on our tandem(s) for both riders and on my singe(s).
Note plastic tube inserted through top of bottle; no need to remove the bottle to drink.
If you look hard, you may find a water bottle mount for your handlebars; or you can jury-rig one with a couple radiator type clamps.
After 300,000 miles of bicycling we know what works well for us!
Pedal on!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

icepick_trotsky 

Is this uncool?

datlas 

If someone thinks it's uncool, that person is a (dare I say it?) a SNOB.

Go ahead and use one if you need a 3rd bottle.

Gege-Bubu

The reason why the old photos show the bottles on handlebar is because it was no Garmin at that time
If I need an extra bottle, I'd rather have it behind my saddle. Besides, bottles on hb is not aero

rpenmanparker 

Yeah, behind the saddle is the more functional place. Two will fit and the cages are made and sold for that application. I am assuming of course you shift the empties to the back and bring the full bottles forward when you need them.

Bandera

Agree, this is the set-up I use in mid-summer for long challenging rides, a small flats kit will tuck neatly on the mount as well.



-Bandera

big chainring

Not uncool. I will take a smoke and have a cup of tea before a Time Trial. Smoking gets the heart rate up and tea settles my stomach. And the aroma of both focuses my brain.

rpenmanparker 

What a wuss! Tequila and lime man. Rocket fuel.

big chainring

^It was a reference to English cyclists in the '60's. Many of which were laborers, farmers, common men, who worked hard, smoked regularly, and would race in the local TT on the weekend. A smoke and a cup of tea was sort of a send off as they embarked on a 12 or 24 hour TT.

kbarch

Please, noooooo!

Bar mounted bottles all day long, but not the bidonkadonk!

Bandera

Style goes out the window in South Central Texas heat when it's many miles between Hill Country towns and the clock is ticking on a self supported century. The bottles behind the saddle affect steering less on our high speed/rough road descents than bar mounting would, form follows function.
This isn't New York.

Just so you feel better here's a pic of the bike in Fall-Spring kit.



-Bandera