Water Bottles!

[EvaToad]

I looked for another thread on this topic but couldn't find one -- I was surprised!

I recently bought my first road bike (the 2011 Specialized Dolce, yum!) and am training for a century next month. It's probably going to be quite hot (Portland, OR), so I'm bracing for that and trying to figure out whether to buy insulated water bottles or not. Does anyone have any experience with them? The Polar ones get good reviews on REI.com .

I use a Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottle in my daily life and it fits marvelously into my bottle cage on my commuter, but on my new road bike it's a tight squeeze because the triangle of the frame is so small! I was thinking of getting a smaller sized pair of KK bottles with sport tops, but then I wondered if anyone else has other suggestions? REI now only sells BPA-free bottles and they have a great selection...but I do like the sturdiness of the stainless ones. It also seems like the opaque metal might keep the water slightly cooler than the translucent plastic ones... am I dreaming?

(The KK bottles come in a cute green enamel color that matches the green of my bike quite closely. ;)

[Veronica]

Read this. (http://www.tandemhearts.com/wordpress/water-bottle-show-down/)

Veronica

[EvaToad]

Very interesting and enlightening! Thanks for that link!

I'm concerned about the insulation of my water only for my training rides, really, since the actual century is supported with rest stops every 15 miles. Still, having water that is not the same temperature as your sweat seems optimal!

[EasilyLead]

i have three polar insulated bottles and use them a lot in summer. usually i freeze them(being carful not to fill them to the top, ice expands) and sometimes one i only freeze half of one.

i premix my sports/electro drink before the freeze.

the half frozen i use first and fill the empty half with same drink so it stays cold and melts in half hour(90 degrees). then i grab a whole frozen one at hour two and it will be half frozen just like the first bottle.
at hour three when i grab the third its only slushy but still cold and refreshing.

so people tell you not to drink too cold of drink, but for me it is wonderful and helps me drink one bottle per hour.

some times i put one frozen bottle in my jersey pocket to hold and keep me cool. after a while i can't feel the cold unless i spin the bottle and it will melt faster that way. it never feels too cold like an ice pack.


for longer rides or ones i can have a cooler set up on route, i put frozen bottles in there and switch when i get there. its a real treat to get that cold drink after 5-7 hours on the bike in the sunny heat.

you can freeze regular water bottle, but they won't stay frozen as long. sometimes that works out good as far as timing. getting them to thaw or at least stay cold at the right time to drink is the hardest part.

if you use hammer products like perpepteum or sustain this can really help to keep it from souring in the heat.

[nscrbug]

I use a Camelbak ChillJacket Podium bottle. I definitely like it better than the Polar bottles that I've used in the past. My biggest gripe with the Polar bottles, was that after a short time...they would start to grow yucky, black moldy spots on the inside "dimples" of the bottle. Because of the dimpled texture of the inside, it made it difficult to scrub out the mold (even with a brush). I eventually would end up tossing the Polar bottles (I think I went through 3 of them, before finally giving up on 'em). The Camelbak Chill Podium is much easier to keep clean because it has a smooth surface on the inside.

As far as keeping beverages cool...it's just okay. I put my empty bottle in the freezer overnight, before a morning ride. That helps somewhat, but I usually end up having to refill with ice (at a gas station)...which is fine with me, because it forces me to stop and take a break, when I otherwise might not do so.

[KnottedYet]

I loooooove my "Chrystal PP" bottles from Soma. http://somafab.com/bottle.html

No taste. No mold or cooties, even when I leave them sit too long with dregs in them. They take abuse and neglect well.

I don't mind air temp water on the bike, but then it just doesn't get that hot here in the PNW.

[ccnyc]

I loooooove my "Chrystal PP" bottles from Soma. http://somafab.com/bottle.html.
+1 These are the best. Absolutely no plastic taste!

[Roadtrip]

While watching the Tdf this year I kept seeing the big bottle running along with the riders and thought what a great advertising method for cyclists.

Clean Bottle
www.cleanbottle.com

I looked them up on the internet and it sure SEEMS like a solid concept allowing for cleaning after wards so the bottle doesn't get all yucky.

Anyone have thoughts?

[Owlie]

I have my Polar bottles. I've never noticed a plastic-y taste, and they haven't started growing anything yet (one's a year old, the other's about 8 months old.) The only problem I've had is that if I'm not paying attention and put the bottle in the cage the wrong way, the loop rubs my leg. I could take the loop off, I guess...

The problem with steel is that I imagine it's harder to get into the bottle cages because it doesn't flex. Or is that just me?

[OakLeaf]

I've never had an issue getting to the bottom of my bottles with a standard bottle brush - and the only reason I ever need to do that is when I've left them lying around with HEED in them. :eek::eek: Normally the opening is as big as a drinking glass and they're as easy to wash as a drinking glass. If you don't like to put plastics in the dishwasher, then a wet dish rag or an ordinary bottle brush will reach the entire inside.

The valve can get funky (again, usually if I'm less than diligent about immediate rinsing after a ride), but soaking the lids with a denture tablet takes care of that. And the "clean bottle" doesn't look like it offers any special kind of valve.

I saw something about a bird feeder with a removable bottom the other day, and I thought that was a great idea. I just don't see that it's necessary for bicycle water bottles. Considering that they almost always drip a little bit out of the top lid where it's only road sloshing and not gravity forcing the water out, it just looks like another opportunity to leak sticky stuff all over my frame and bottom bracket.


ETA - I've also hesitated to go to steel because of the stiffness - not because I don't think the cage would flex enough (I'm sure it would) but because I'm afraid I'd have trouble holding on and dispensing water. If you just open the valve on a regular bottle, gravity only does so much, you really need to squeeze it to get water quickly enough. So I would also like to hear from some people who use SS bottles.

[7rider]

Read this. (http://www.tandemhearts.com/wordpress/water-bottle-show-down/)

Veronica

I love this piece. Definitely a classic!

My biggest beef with the Camelbak bottles - either the Chill (http://www.rei.com/product/798806)or the Ice (http://www.rei.com/product/799954)- is that they are only 21 ounces each. The Polar (http://www.rei.com/product/805430)is 24 ounces. It may not seem like a lot, but sometimes those extra 6 ounces (assuming you're using 2 bottles) is enough to finish the ride, vs. having to stop at a store (or a fountain, if you're lucky enough). And I can never seem to drain a Camelbak bottle 100%. There is always a leeeetle bit left in the bottom that I can never get at.

[colby]

I use a Camelbak ChillJacket Podium bottle. I definitely like it better than the Polar bottles that I've used in the past. My biggest gripe with the Polar bottles, was that after a short time...they would start to grow yucky, black moldy spots on the inside "dimples" of the bottle. Because of the dimpled texture of the inside, it made it difficult to scrub out the mold (even with a brush). I eventually would end up tossing the Polar bottles (I think I went through 3 of them, before finally giving up on 'em). The Camelbak Chill Podium is much easier to keep clean because it has a smooth surface on the inside.

I don't understand the inner dimples, there must be some really good reason relating to keeping the water/whatever cold, but it makes them eventually really hard to clean. I've had this same problem.

That said, I can't fit anything taller than the Polar 20oz bottles on my triathlon bike, so I have 4 of the 20ozers and a couple of the bigger ones for our road bikes. I lost a blue tip off of a Camelbak podium bottle (not insulated) because of the tight fit, and was really sad because I did like how easy it was to drink out of them compared to the Polar.

Very interesting test with the stainless, polar, and camelbak bottles. I might have to pick up a stainless to try on my road bike and take with me on our bike trip to make others jealous of our ice cold water. I can handle the handicap when touring ;)

[trista]

DH and I both use CB Podium Chill bottles. We love them.

[OakLeaf]

You can get replacement bite valves for the Camelbak bottles. I think they come with the straw, but at least you don't have to buy a whole 'nother bottle and lid.


ETA: I lied, Camelbak has a 5-pack of bite valves (http://camelbak.com/sports-recreation/accessories/bite-valves-5-pack.aspx) only, no straws, on their site. It says "new" which I suppose explains why I've never seen them at retail.

Also, FWIW, the non-insulated Camelbak SS bottle has the same outside dimensions as the insulated one, but holds 50% more (750 ml vs. 500 ml). Depends whether you prefer to cool yourself by sweating or by ingesting cold liquid. ;)

[Eden]

I've never tried it with cold liquids, but I have a Thermos backpacker bottle (its basically a small stainless thermos with a nifty flip top lid) that I use for hot liquids on winter rides..... I've modified it by making it a neoprene sleeve so it doesn't rattle too much, as I have metal bottle cages on my winter bike. It keeps hot tea hot for an hour or so outside in the coldest of temperatures and warm for 3 or 4. If its not out in the wind, it will stay hot nearly all day.

[soprano]

If you just open the valve on a regular bottle, gravity only does so much, you really need to squeeze it to get water quickly enough. So I would also like to hear from some people who use SS bottles.

My 1L Kleen Kanteen SS bottle has a little opening in the top to allow airflow. The hole originally had a little rubber widget that I *think* was supposed to let air in. It didn't let in enough air for me drink quickly, however, so I took it out. Now I can drink as fast as I want, but if I tip the bottle over, water comes out of the opening.

My .75L Camelback SS non-insulated bottle does a much better job of balancing air flow with spill-resistance. I would carry it all the time and ditch the Kleen Kanteen, but 750 mL is not enough for me to commute home with on a hot day. Otherwise, the Camelback is by far my favorite bottle.

I have Topeak Modula cages for both of these bottles. They are just a hair too large for regular cages.

Both of my SS bottles have acquired a nice patina of wear-and-tear over time. The logos scratch up pretty easily, they've gotten dents from being dropped in the street, and both of them now wobble when set down because the bottoms have bowed out a bit. I think of them as the water-bottle equivalent to a well-worn Brooks saddle - they convey an impression of long, hard use. I don't want to think of how many plastic bottles I would have destroyed at this point!

[sgtiger]

I've never tried it with cold liquids, but I have a Thermos backpacker bottle (its basically a small stainless thermos with a nifty flip top lid) that I use for hot liquids on winter rides..... I've modified it by making it a neoprene sleeve so it doesn't rattle too much, as I have metal bottle cages on my winter bike. It keeps hot tea hot for an hour or so outside in the coldest of temperatures and warm for 3 or 4. If its not out in the wind, it will stay hot nearly all day.

I have one of those, too, and I use mine with iced tea all the time. It keeps liquids with ice cold for hours. I even left it in my car overnight once and, while all the ice had melted, the contents were still cool.