Xlab Carbon Wing hydration system

[sarahspins]

There is a version that clamps to your seat rails and not the seatpost... you'll probably have to google for it though, but it does exist

[tctrek]

Here's the one that mounts to your saddle rails: http://www.rei.com/product/768770 . DH and I both have them and they have proven invaluable on long rides where there aren't convenience stores where you can purchase water. And they keep the bottles very secure.

[sarahspins]

And they keep the bottles very secure.

Yes they do.. I even took the rubber bands off the cages, and they still work great. I did read a couple of reviews that said bottles were prone to "bouncing out" of the profile racks, but honestly I don't see that being a real possibility unless you're doing a lot of off-road riding, or using bottles that just don't fit well. My camelbaks fit very snugly, which is why I took off those bands - it was actually kind of difficult to put the bottles in one-handed.

The cages are replaceable if you have some specific need for something else (lighter, fits different bottles, etc)

[Miranda]

There is a version that clamps to your seat rails and not the seatpost... you'll probably have to google for it though, but it does exist

Here's the one that mounts to your saddle rails: http://www.rei.com/product/768770 . DH and I both have them and they have proven invaluable on long rides where there aren't convenience stores where you can purchase water. And they keep the bottles very secure.

Thx for that info and the link!

OK... now what about the saddle bag for flat tire supplies etc.? Will a saddle bag mount underneath the bottles in back? Or do you have to figure something else out for storage for your saddle bag stuff?

Btw, I just go back from driving a new route in my vehicle to add onto my current one. Same thing... good route / low traffic... just no water places *sigh*. Hmmm. Seriously time to buy more H2O carrying capacity.

[OakLeaf]

Have you tried re-positioning the straps on your Camelbak? I can ride in my Platypus as long as I loosen the straps so that it rides low on my back. If I leave them in "hiking" position, they really hurt my back on the bike. Also, my packs are the kind that have the waist strap as well as the sternum strap - it does seem that some of the Camelbak brand packs ride very high.

A really dorky solution would be to stow a hydration pack in a handlebar bag. Better than running out of water. You'd probably be limited in the amount you could carry up there, though, just because of weight considerations.

[Miranda]

Have you tried re-positioning the straps on your Camelbak? I can ride in my Platypus as long as I loosen the straps so that it rides low on my back. If I leave them in "hiking" position, they really hurt my back on the bike. Also, my packs are the kind that have the waist strap as well as the sternum strap - it does seem that some of the Camelbak brand packs ride very high.

A really dorky solution would be to stow a hydration pack in a handlebar bag. Better than running out of water. You'd probably be limited in the amount you could carry up there, though, just because of weight considerations.

Hey Oakleaf... thx for that tip...

Actually, that is another thing I did on my outting to map the route... went to sporting good store to look at diff CamelBaks. My mtb one is the ladies Charm. Just as you say: sits high w/sternum strap only.

The store had one other pack that caught my eye initially cuz it was hot pink. Plus, cuz it had more pockets which my Charm CB does not have so much. This one was called "the Mini Mule". I'm thinking about getting it for mtb just for extra storage. And it does have a waist strap, plus sternum. But, maybe I could try it on the roadie on a short ride to see how it felt.

My last fleeting thought on the drive home was to take the CamelBak bladder and strap it to the back of my saddle bag as a desperate H2O storage measure. Well, at least until I figure something else out.