Cages + Water Bottle Clearance = Advice

[OakLeaf]

too much weight up too high. It's never been an issue on the mountain bike or hiking.

What happens if you just loosen the shoulder straps (and possibly tighten the waist/hip strap)?

I don't really like to wear a hydration pack on the bici, just because when it's hot enough to need one, it's too hot to have something on my back - but on hot days, I really, really need the extra water. I'm the queen of sweat and it can be 30 miles or longer between water stops.

I basically have three settings for the straps: short for walking/outdoor events; low on the hipbones for cycling; and blow it all out when it has to go over a motorcycle jacket and armor.

[MartianDestiny]

What happens if you just loosen the shoulder straps (and possibly tighten the waist/hip strap)?

I don't really like to wear a hydration pack on the bici, just because when it's hot enough to need one, it's too hot to have something on my back - but on hot days, I really, really need the extra water. I'm the queen of sweat and it can be 30 miles or longer between water stops.

I basically have three settings for the straps: short for walking/outdoor events; low on the hipbones for cycling; and blow it all out when it has to go over a motorcycle jacket and armor.

No dice. They make packs where the bladder is horizontal around your waist and I bet those would work, but it doesn't matter how I adjust the vertical pack it's too much on my back on a road bike.

This doesn't bother me as going to bottles wasn't a big problem. But it's not just "snobbery" that keeps roadies away from camelbaks and I imagine the "n00b" comments associated with them occur far more often on internet forums than on actual bike rides.