My drinking problem (while cycling) . . .

[GuitarStv]

Question for the mustachian roadies out there

I've been gradually ramping up my distance and time spent cycling this year, and am now going out for at least one 80 - 90 km ride most weekends.  It's more than three hours steady cycling, and even though it's cooler out (still around 12-14 degrees C on the warmer days) I'm just able to complete the ride by draining my two 750 mL bottles held on the frame.  I'd like to ramp up to 120+ km distances this summer, but there's no way I'll have enough water.

What's the best way to carry another bottle?  Saddle mounted cage?  Or does everyone just stop to get water (I really hate having to find a place to refill)?

[dycker1978]

https://www.amazon.ca/Camelbak-Products-Rogue-Hydration-70-Ounce/dp/B00EPGTM7W/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1461613452&sr=1-3&keywords=camelback

These work good.  I could not find anything today, but I got mine at Costco for $25 of something like that.

[GuitarStv]

https://www.amazon.ca/Camelbak-Products-Rogue-Hydration-70-Ounce/dp/B00EPGTM7W/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1461613452&sr=1-3&keywords=camelback

These work good.  I could not find anything today, but I got mine at Costco for $25 of something like that.

I was thinking about one of those, but I like to use the rear pockets of my jersey for food.  I think it would cover the pockets (as well as make my back hot and sweaty).

[RidinTheAsama]

My Dad used to do very long rides on a bike with aero bars.  He had a special bottle that mounted between the aero bars and had a straw.  It was great for both some extra capacity and for having that straw in your face ready for whenever you wanted a drink.

Of course if you don't have aero bars this won't help you much...

[Miss Piggy]

Add another water bottle cage under (behind) your saddle.

[Midwest]

I use my rear pockets with a camel back. 

[SU]

Refill. Sorry, but you can't be a roadie and use a Camelbak. It's against The Rules. You could try filling one bidon with (homemade) isotonic drink and see if that deals with your thirst more effectively. Otherwise try to fit a bidon cage under your seat.

[Midwest]

Refill. Sorry, but you can't be a roadie and use a Camelbak. It's against The Rules. You could try filling one bidon with (homemade) isotonic drink and see if that deals with your thirst more effectively. Otherwise try to fit a bidon cage under your seat.

I'd rather be a hydrated outcast than follow the "rules."  Never understood why roadies don't like camel backs.

[onlykelsey]

Refill. Sorry, but you can't be a roadie and use a Camelbak. It's against The Rules. You could try filling one bidon with (homemade) isotonic drink and see if that deals with your thirst more effectively. Otherwise try to fit a bidon cage under your seat.

Agreed that it's against the rules, but I'd do that.  I have a petite little Nathan brand bag that I love, and it covers ~1/3 of my (petite female) back so it's not so bad for heat (get a light color for heat and visibility purposes).  It also is insulated so stays cool for longer, so I drink from bottles before the bag and save the cooler water for later.  I also put food in there.  But then I don't own a jersey and ride a steel bike and and and so I know I'm not allowed in the club.  Also I'm afraid of drinking from a bottle when moving more than 10 mph.  Basically I'm a grandma.

I had a friend that had an extra long bottle and bottle holder, but I don't know where he got them, and they seemed unwieldy to me.

[infogoon]

I have a fanny pack with bottle holders that I use for longer rides -- I keep tools/tubes/Clif bars/wallet/etc. in the pocket and a couple of extra bottles in the sides.

[attackgnome]

You could use a handlebar bag with a camel back type bladder tucked inside. The tubing should be long enough to be accessible while cycling, while keeping your back nicely ventilated.

You could do the same with a frame bag, but it sounds like you already have water bottle cages mounted, so that would defeat the purpose.

[GuitarStv]

I use my rear pockets with a camel back.

Huh.  That would change things a bit.  I figured that they would be blocked for sure.  What model camelback are you using?

[onlykelsey]

I use my rear pockets with a camel back.

Huh.  That would change things a bit.  I figured that they would be blocked for sure.  What model camelback are you using?

Definitely possible.  I can wear a waist strap fanny pack thing with my nathan camelback copy, and I imagine my waist is further up my torso that yours.

[Midwest]

I use my rear pockets with a camel back.

Huh.  That would change things a bit.  I figured that they would be blocked for sure.  What model camelback are you using?

Have a couple of them.  The bigger of the 2 is 70 oz if I recall (rogue).  Looks about like this  http://shop.camelbak.com/rogue/d/1316_cl_4734

I'm not tall and it doesn't block my jersey pockets. 

The smaller of the 2 is around 45 oz.  I ran out of water once on a 50 mile ride (90+ degrees) with that one.  Bad idea.  Hence the larger size as well.

I bought both of them at performance.  Cheapest I could find at the time.  There are knockoff's around that may be cheaper.

[greaper007]

Don't be a weight weenie, just put a couple more cages on your frame.   You can fit one on the top tube and one on the seat tube.    If there isn't room you can throw one under the down tube.   Cheap, easy and effective.

[GuitarStv]

Don't be a weight weenie, just put a couple more cages on your frame.   You can fit one on the top tube and one on the seat tube.    If there isn't room you can throw one under the down tube.   Cheap, easy and effective.

I would have to stop to reach a bottle and cage mounted under the down tube.

I contemplated sticking a bottle on the top tube.  Ideally it would hang under the top tube holding the bottle, and I could attach it with some of those adjustable clamps over the tabs.  The problem is that my rear brake cable is routed under the top tube, so the brake cable would be in the way of where the bottle would sit.  If I stick it on the top of the top tube I'm kinda concerned that the weight of the bottle will make it constantly fight to fall to one side or the other.

[kendallf]

Just stop.  I personally hate Camelbaks and the like; when I'm riding hard I overheat if I have my back covered, the weight on my body is not a good thing either.  The behind the seat bottle cages work but, depending on the cage used, can eject bottles over bumps.  We call them rocket launchers.  You can rig up all sorts of solutions to carry more water but why?

FWIW, I regularly ride 70-80 mile rides in Florida heat with two bottles.  Anything longer, I stop to refill.

[greaper007]

Don't be a weight weenie, just put a couple more cages on your frame.   You can fit one on the top tube and one on the seat tube.    If there isn't room you can throw one under the down tube.   Cheap, easy and effective.

I would have to stop to reach a bottle and cage mounted under the down tube.

I contemplated sticking a bottle on the top tube.  Ideally it would hang under the top tube holding the bottle, and I could attach it with some of those adjustable clamps over the tabs.  The problem is that my rear brake cable is routed under the top tube, so the brake cable would be in the way of where the bottle would sit.  If I stick it on the top of the top tube I'm kinda concerned that the weight of the bottle will make it constantly fight to fall to one side or the other.

You could switch out the bottles as you go through them.

[mmuhlenkamp]

My husband needs a lot of water on longer rides so he uses a camelbak (even though it's against the "rules"). He's a bigger guy and we live in Texas and he sweats a lot, he'd run out water even on short-ish rides if it weren't the camelbak (he has a smaller one and larger one depending on what he thinks he'll need). If you put ice in the bladder it helps keep your back and the water cool for much longer (he also has two water bottles on the bike).

I don't like carrying a backpack, but if I'm riding that long I'm totally fine with taking a pit stop (or 5).

[patrat]

bladder carrier of some sort. Use a hydration hose if you want to drink while on the move, but expect your consumption to increase. You may be able to tie the bladder directly to the topbar of your frame, saving the weight you currently have in a mounting system for bottles.

I like MSR dromedary/dromlite, platypus is good too.

[Glenstache]

First preference is to just fill up along the way... and that can be anywhere from 1 bottle down to just after your last one goes dry. That's many 10s of km to find something. If away from water pipes, just bring a purifier tablet (that's what I do on long MTB rides where even the mtb-approved camelback is not enough).

I have a small camelbak in the garage that I don't use anymore if you need one. I think it holds about a 1L reservoir, but is about as small as they make.

[sol]

All of the serious badasses I know use something like this:

[dilinger]

You're welcome.

[enigmaT120]

I carry my water in 1 liter steel bottles so I always have to stop to drink anyway.  But I could carry 5 on my Fargo if I wanted to.  So far I've only carried 3, and had a park to refill at about 20 miles before I got home.