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.