camel back vs bottles on bike

[caligurl]

i never use a camelback for supported rides.... no need... the rest stops are always close enough to keep my bottles full! not to mention i don't want the extra weight on my back for longer rides! (i only use my camelback for unsupported desert rides in the heat when i know there's no place to get water!)

[SadieKate]

For supported rides, there is no need for the extra water storage but to each her own. I don't like the weight on my bike and the added heat. Harder to take off and put on layers, and get to my snacks while riding.

Somehow I've never felt they were safer but then I can't get the hose to be in just the right position without leaking or hitting me in the face or flopping around distractingly. I have to unclip and re-clipping the hose means I have to look at it, unlike a bottle. Not to mention, after you've snagged a jersey with the velcro sternum strap you keep them relegated to mtbiking with jerseys that you know will be a risk anyway.

[Grog]

I find the camelbacks heavy, too hot, and they make accessing my jersey pockets difficult. (I tend to put a lot of stuff in there, like a spare pair of gloves (in cool temperature), arm warmers, food, another spare tube if it's not a supported ride or I'm riding alone, etc.)

I usually carry two bottles, one with some drink (lemonade with a pinch of salt) and one with just water (also useful in case of emergency to rinse a wound if you don't have any other clean water handy). I'll arrange to ride where I can find a convenience store or something similar to buy refills if it's a really long ride...

I think drinking from a bottle as one rides is a good skill to learn, but I'm no bottle-integrist. Do what feels best.

[nuthatch]

I've used a camelbak on the MS150 and, although my back did ache at the end of the day, I was grateful for a drink whenever I wanted it. It was over 100F and I'm a big drinker, so I go through bottles really fast.

[Kano]

Not an MS150, but on our first supported ride...

1000 riders, and those of us in the back third didn't get any water or the provided snacks -- the speedier riders drank and ate it all before we got there.

I was sure glad I had my own trail mix and water along!

Karen in Boise

[7rider]

Are you comfortable drinking from a bottle while the bike is moving? You said "safer" - so I suspect perhaps you are not.
If you are not, I don't think the added weight of a Camelbak will be a huge burden. You aren't packing all of your gear there, are you? Just water/Gatorade? Don't go crazy with the storage, and it would be fine. You can always take it off at the rest stops to give your back a break.
If you are comfortable drinking while moving, for an organized ride with plenty of rest stops, I'd say 2 water bottles should be fine - even on a hot summer ride.
Only you can make that call, really.

[roadie gal]

I'm a big drinker, so I go for the Camelbak with water and 2 water bottles with a sports drink, even on supported rides. I've also had the experience of the water/food/etc being gone by the time I've gotten to the rest stop.

I don't notice the heat or the weight of the Camelbak. Then again, I backpacked for years, so it just feels natural to me.

[Duck on Wheels]

I'm not really skilled at getting the bottle out of the cage and back in again. It takes concentration, I slow down, I even have to stop altogether many times. I also have to carry a bit more extra gear than most folks (emergency change of ostomy appliance -- just in case). So I always wear a Camelbak, one with just enough storage space and plenty of water. I put only water in the c'bak, then two bottles with sports drink on the frame. I sip constantly from the c'bak and drink from the bottles at every stop sign or other brief stop, then refill both bottles and c'bak at the rest stops as needed. I haven't done a 150, but I imagine I would do the same regardless of distance. That said ... my reasons need not apply to you. As folks have said already -- if you're fine with bottles, then you probably don't need the extra weight and warmth.