I get a little tired of spending the $$$ and then things not turning as expected so i need the expert advice from trifuel. I have moved onto longer rides and two bottles are no longer enough. I dont want to stop for re-fills so what is the best option/brand/product to make me self- sufficent on my ride ? I have a giant road bike. Thanks.
I always just threw a third
I always just threw a third bottle in my center jersey pocket for long rides where I didn't want to stop (or at least stop as often). Also, make sure to get big bottles. That may sound obvious, but they're a little trickier to find, so I don't know if you have big ones already or not.
Have you considered a
Have you considered a hydration pack? They may look a bit goofy but people wear them for a reason...
Seat tube + Down tube cages
Seat tube + Down tube cages = 40oz-48oz
Two rear-mounted bottles = 40oz-48oz
CamelBak = 60oz or more
That's 140oz minimum (ie, 1 gallon, or 4 liters) of hydration. You'll also be carrying around 8.5lbs of water. No thanks. I'll refill.
TriSooner wrote:Seat tube +
[quote=TriSooner]Seat tube + Down tube cages = 40oz-48oz
Two rear-mounted bottles = 40oz-48oz
CamelBak = 60oz or more
That's 140oz minimum (ie, 1 gallon, or 4 liters) of hydration. You'll also be carrying around 8.5lbs of water. No thanks. I'll refill. [/quote]
+1. Weight is the enemy.
Just easier and less taxing to refill...
At the risk of being jumped
At the risk of being jumped on, I will venture an opinion. I have been told by my fellow riders, to use only one bottle and refill. I go with two but I don't ride so long yet! However I noticed the more I ride, the less I rely on the bottles. Where I used to use two over x distance I now use less than one, and I don't notice any loss at all in performance. I am just wondering if you are doing enough distance or intensity to actually need two. I would be interested to learn!
If you are placing the cages
If you are placing the cages on a rear mount, make sure you get cages designed for gripping the bottle to prevent or minimize bottles ejecting. Your normal cage will not do the trick, I learned this the hard way at RI 70.3. Read some reviews of the cages, I went with gorilla grip by xlab, although there are some other brands that also look very good and probably less expensive. But for training most days I just toss one in the jersey pocket or refill on really long rides, 60+ miles. The more I cycle the more I want less on the bike. So I might be getting my HIM setup down to two bottles, and rely on aid stations more.
I just conquered this
I just conquered this problem, man was I hating it too!
Old ITU/Road bike/climbing Bike i had rear bottle aqua rack auxiliary but i kept my vest in one side rolled up then stuffed in a cut off bottle and racked so I only had 3 bottles on the bike. In the heat of summer i could get rid of the rear aqua rack and just carry two bottles in the frame mounted bottle racks but back in Jackson Hole you need a vest as it gets cold, esp. when you descend the mtns.
Both my Aqua racks on both my bikes have the profile design plastic bottle cages and i've never had a bottle launch out till I replaced my areo bike's aqua rack cages with carbon ones. Key i've learned after loosing my tool kit and a bottle is that i taped the tool kit into the cage and the bottle i keep full or empty, never a half full or partially full bottle back there and then their is no surge of water launching the bottle out of the cage if that makes sense.
On the new USAT/Tri/Areo bike i use a hydration tank so as to drink in the areo position-seems safer than fumbling for bottles.
First i had the two cell "aqua cell" or as i called it "The Valdez" which is 19 oz. smaller cell I keep electrolite and 29oz bigger cell for water but since i got my Easton TT attack carbon bar the "Valdez" doesn't fit in this areo bar as it's so compact so now i use the Aero Drink single 24 oz cell as it fits in the bar without rubbing on the front tire.
I have an aqua rack on the back of this bike too.
I use it more for carrying my training gear pack in one side (Spare tire, worn older one incase i need or someone needs a tire, two tubes, patch kit as I fix flats, cadilac a-list pump and tire tool/bike tool rolled up in a plastic bag in a cut off water bottle)
I carry a 24 oz bottle on the other side as i'm training in SLC UT this past summer so I wasn't carrying the vest.
I'm gonna consider the arundel areo bottle for down tube mounting in case i need to carry the vest or to add more water/fluids capacity?
On my 56 mile training ride (HIM distance) I drink about 48oz fluids (1-Vitamin water-yellow energy one 24 oz and 24 oz water) so I'm OK with areodrink tank on the bars and reloading it once with 1 auxiliary water bottle held on the rear aqua rack.
I'm thinking for my IM long course race I will be fine with my areo drink bottle, and use the Arundel areo bottle on down tube and both bottles in rear aqua rack so as I will be OK and maybe using aid station water if need be.
I'm like the others though, less weight is best, don't be afraid to reload if you can, I ride in some very desolate places where it just isn't an option as there are no water sources other than reservoirs but no drinking fountains much less stores plus I'm in a desert.
Look at my profile, I have pics of both bikes there.
I use regular LBS cheap
I use regular LBS cheap bottles for reg rides and the taller insulated ones for long rides. I have a hydrotail on my P2C with 3 profile cages on the rear. I use the cages with the built in o-ring to keep from launching bottles all over the road.
For long rides, (4hrs+) I have never ran out of water (well carb drink, I don't drink just water very often while on the bike) during a long ride. I live in SE FL and I drink every 15-20mins. I will take an electrolyte tab with me in a tiny Ziploc just is case I need it.
I think for my upcoming 1/2 and Full, I will just use 1 or 2 bottles on the bike and take advantage of aid stations during the ride. I figure if I'm used to training with a heavier bike, it will be a tiny fraction easier come race day.
i am riding 90-100k at just
i am riding 90-100k at just over three hours and i am always short over the last 10-15k. i have a ride coming up that is very hilly and 106k and i am not sure about the aid stations. i do have a camelbak and used it this winter in my mtb adventures and they suit that type of riding - hands glued to the handlebars !! my LBS said to stop and refill and taking a vote this seems the better option (although i kinda feel like i am cheating by stopping). i will try putting one in the back jersey pocket. and i really dont want my bike to look like i have so much gear i could camp out. thanks everyone.
i've been able to get away
i've been able to get away with a bottle an hour. two traditionally-located on the frame and one in my back pocket. if rides run longer than 3hrs, i make sure i've got cash or pick a route with a known water source & potty [i haven't had many of those this year tho]
I've considered the
I've considered the hydration pack as well especially after Ironman Louisville where H2O was hard to come by. I guess it depends on if you want to carry the extra weight and not have to depend on the aid stations as much, or depend completely on the aid stations.
Any views on the best cages
Any views on the best cages for rear mounted double cage brackets (Tacx). I started off using standard cages but I lost bottles on corners/rough roads/speed bumps so regularly that I have almost given up using it. Having said that I don't want to spend a fortune on a couple of cages either. All suggestions and observations appreciated.
I recently heard about the
I recently heard about the speedfil hydration system. It holds 40oz and uses tubes that carry the fluid up to your mouth and uses a bite valve on the end. It is supposedly very aerodynamic and good for longer rides. I've never used one, but I'm considering buying one (it costs around $100). Hopefully this helps you.
1 front mounted water Bottle
1 front mounted water Bottle between 20-26oz
1-2 frame mounted water bottles 20-24oz
2 rear water bottles @ 24oz
2 water bottles in jersey pocket
and with all of this, you could always add a camelbak.
Lots of options