Hydration pack

[PamNY]

This came up in the thread about "what you consider necessary on a ride" so I hesitate to mention it, but here goes...is there any argument against using a hydration pack?

I'm considering it because of poop. Horse poop, goose poop -- usually I can avoid it, but yesterday I had to choose between riding over poop and colliding with a pedicab in Central Park, and I picked the poop.

Having the weight of the liquid on my body instead of on the bike would be easier when carrying the bike up stairs, and I object to the expense and waste of bottled water.

Again, not looking for an argument; just wondering if I've overlooked something that's apparent to everyone else. Also, are hydration packs something people will make fun of on bike club group rides? Not that I care very much, but I like to be prepared.

Pam

[BikeDutchess]

I would consider that entirely personal preference. Whatever works best for you. Some people may have physical limitations why they cannot use hydration packs. I like using one on longer and hotter rides because I drink more that way. For shorter rides I do just fine with bottles.

Making fun of hydration packs on club rides? Hasn't been the case on the club rides I've been on, but I guess that would depend on the club.

And if horse poop, goose poop, or other poop were a risk on my rides, that would certainly fall in the "pro" hydration pack arguments!

[OakLeaf]

They're heavy and hot and make your center of gravity higher. The straps can chafe. I have three, I use them all the time for outdoor events and running, but I use one cycling ONLY when it's extremely hot or when I know I'm going to be riding more than two hours somewhere that I won't be able to refill my bottles.

No one will make fun of you. Lots of people use hydration packs, you're just in the minority is all.

Re: expense and waste, when people talk about water bottles we're talking about reusable bottles. Any bike shop or sporting goods store has polyethylene bottles that fit in bottle cages. Some people prefer other materials like stainless steel, aluminum or other plastics, but those can be harder to find, and also harder to hold and drink out of since they're not flexible.

As far as cleanliness goes though, I'm not sure a hydration pack is any more sanitary than a bottle unless you use a bite valve cover, and those can be pretty unwieldy on the bike. My experience is that the bite valve is always dragging in something, which is why I use a cover.

[Blueberry]

I have a clip that keeps the bite valve for my hydration pack on my shoulder. I like my fanny pack hydration pack.

People will make fun of you for whatever they want to. I don't let it bother me. Seriously, maybe 1/4 of the people on rides here wear them. The only crowd likely to say anything is the super-competitive lycra-clad racing bunch. And even then - maybe not.

Seriously - I'd worry about the poop. A bunch of people got sick on a ride here a few years ago. It had rained, and the poop from livestock trucks sprayed up on their bottles. ICK!

CA

[ASammy1]

PamNY-

I'm so glad you brought up this question! BF and I are looking into getting hydration packs after our 90 degree plus ride this past Saturday. Our water bottles were just barely enough even with 3 stops! Just enough to make me nervous...

All-

Any tips on which one to buy?

[jobob]

If you have a smallish road frame, you might be able to attach only one water bottle to the frame. Then it would be a good idea to use a camelback if (pick one or more ) you're going on a longer ride, if it's hot out, if you don't know where the next water source will be, or you want to use a sports drink in the bottle.

And although I can carry two water bottles on my frame, I was planning to start wearing my camelbak on my longer road rides as the weather got warmer, to see if I liked it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared - especially for something as essential as water.

[PscyclePath]

Here in the South they're popular, especially during the summer months. On a lot of our rural rides it can be "a fur piece" between places/opportunities to refill your bottles.

Many riders like them for convenience... especially if they're not comfortable reaching down to get their bottle out of the cage, drinking, and putting it back while pedaling down the road. And as you noted in your original post, there's that issue with "Belgian toothpaste."

They can be heavy, sweaty, etc., but it's a matter of personal choice and comfort. I've been using just bottles for the past year and a half or so, but still have my 70 oz. CamelBak stashed away for those long summer training rides before the Hotter 'n Hell Hundred...

Tom

[sundial]

Like the others have suggested, I use my Camelbak when I'm going for a long ride on a hot summer day.

There are bottles with a covered lid to protect the mouthpiece from dirt and debris.

[Kalidurga]

They're heavy and hot and make your center of gravity higher. The straps can chafe.

As far as cleanliness goes though, I'm not sure a hydration pack is any more sanitary than a bottle unless you use a bite valve cover, and those can be pretty unwieldy on the bike. My experience is that the bite valve is always dragging in something, which is why I use a cover.

I use one all the time and have rarely, if ever, experienced any of those issues. And if anyone ever laughed at me for using my Cambelbak, I'm sure I could find something to laugh at them about in return

The Dream is a good one (though Bicycling is silly as usual in their review of it )

And, hey, this is yet another thread about which I should be grumping about the search function. I must be in a good mood today or something

[sundial]

Kalidurga, lol.

[Cataboo]

I tend to always use a hydration pack. I'm coordinated enough to drink through a tube, I'm not so sure about bottles on the bike, I use a frame pump, so having 2 bottle cages isn't possible, adn I definitely use more than 1 bottle on some rides.

I;ve got the Deuter Race X Air I with 3 Liter Hydration Pack:
http://www.altrec.com/deuter/race-x-...hydration-pack

No, I don't always fill it with 3 liters, it depends on how long I plan on riding - all day, yeah, I'll fill it up. halfway or less if it's just a short ride.

The nice thing about this one is that the frame of the pack arches the pack away from your back and there's kind of a mesh area that goes directly against your back - so you get airflow back there & no sweat.

I also don't really have handy friends that live near by that I can call and say, hey, come rescue me... So I do tend to keep it packed with whatever I think I might need worst case scenario. Cooler weather it'll have an extra wool layer, it always has a light windbreaker/rain shell, arm & leg warmers if that's necessary, some cliff shot blocks, cliff bars, spare innertube, some first aid stuff, lights, and tools.

[Cataboo]

As for chafing - I've never had a problem with it, but I tend to leave the shoulder straps loose - and buckle the waist belt so that it's sitting on my hips - so the majority of the weight is on my hips and not my shoulders.

[smilingcat]

I don't know of any lycra clad riders making fun of riders with hydration pack. Good for them for being out door and riding.

[Kiwi Stoker]

I have balance issues so ride with a camelbak. I have sometimes ridden with a bottle and no camelbak (but stop to drink) and find I don't get anymore cooler or hotter when I have one on or not!

I am eagerly waiting to get my hands on the Camelbak Racerbak, a 2.1L bladder that sits in an undershirt and your cycle top goes over it. They are really pushing it for TTs but I would love to have one so people can see that back of the shirts and to not get the little napping the straps of the camelbak does.

In regards to buying, not all are created equal and I have heard of some brands bladders leaking etc. I think you get what you pay for. So even if you don't want to pay Camelbak prices consider at least buying the bladder and putting it into anothers bag (if it can fit of course!)

[OakLeaf]

I really prefer the Platypus bladders, because of the large ziploc opening. MUCH easier to clean and dry (and put ice in, if you like ice). Unfortunately they no longer make a carry pack, but most third party hydration packs will fit one of their sizes.

If you run, I can't say enough good things about the Nathan Intensity pack. But I don't know how well it would work for cycling - my instinct is that one of my Platypus packs would be better.