Can you refill an aero water bottle on the bike?

[beetle]

Ok, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but I've seen lots of shots and talk in magazines about how good waterbottles on the front of the bike are for long distance rides, HIMs and IMs as you can stay in the aero position and drink. But.....from the look they only hold a litre or so. What do you do when they run out and have to use the other bottles on the other mounts? Is there an easy way to refil them or do you just have to give up your aero position and drink sitting up from the other bottles?

[anakiwa]

It's pretty easy to pour water into the aero bottle without taking it off the bike (the one I have has the yellow sponge- you just pour the water through it). If you're talking about during a race, the one trick is getting the cap off the bottles that are handed to you at aid stations (they can be on there pretty tight).

[Wahine]

Agreed. It's pretty easy to fill an aero bottle. I have an aero bottle and a two bottle carrier behind my seat. I fill the aero with these once it's empty. I find the snap-on type lids best for this. The screw tops are much harder to open as you ride.

[Pedal Wench]

For years I wondered what the sponges were for! Now I get it! Thanks!

Is that their only purpose? Silly me thought they were to give the straw some room to move.

[beetle]

wow, thanks. Sounds so easy.....until I have a shot at it!

[Wahine]

For years I wondered what the sponges were for! Now I get it! Thanks!

Is that their only purpose? Silly me thought they were to give the straw some room to move.

The sponges also dissipate the movement of the liquid in the bottle, thereby preventing it from slopping out the top so easily when you hit a bumpy bit in the road. They are very effective.

[anakiwa]

The sponges are very effective. However, they can bounce out when you hit a really big bump (happened to me going over an unanticipated speed bump in a race last summer). When you don't have the sponge, you realize just how useful it is (otherwise water flies out of the bottle every time there's any vibration in the road).

[Tri Girl]

I ditched the yellow sponge thing that came with the bottle- around here there are too many potholes and bumps to knock it out. The BEST thing I found is those shower loofas/bath thingys. Don't know what to call them, but mine is white, has a rope on it (for easy pulling out of the bottle) and is the same material as the yellow thing that comes with the bottle. It never moves, and is just as easy to pour liquid over. And also- since I lost my straw a couple times when hitting bumps, I found that clear plastic tubing from Lowe's is a great replacement (and at $.25/foot) it's a very cheap fix.

Man- I lose a lot of stuff on the roads....

[beetle]

The BEST thing I found is those shower loofas/bath thingys. Don't know what to call them, but mine is white, has a rope on it (for easy pulling out of the bottle) and is the same material as the yellow thing that comes with the bottle. It never moves, and is just as easy to pour liquid over.

Great tip, I am always losing things too. Not just on the road. I always seem to be throwing those shower puffs out (or whatever they are called) as they are always free givaways with body wash - what a great use!

[KSH]

The sponges are very effective. However, they can bounce out when you hit a really big bump (happened to me going over an unanticipated speed bump in a race last summer). When you don't have the sponge, you realize just how useful it is (otherwise water flies out of the bottle every time there's any vibration in the road).

Yea, on a race course it's VERY COMMON to see those sponges all over the road... wherever there is a bump.

I had a friend who lost her sponge on a ride one day... at the very start of the ride... her bottle was FULL of RED Gatoraid. Yes, she was covered with it in a very short period of time.

[btchance]

What type of set-up do you gals use? I'm looking into getting one for my aerobars on my road bike and have no experience with them. Thanks!