Heed in Camelbak?

[GLC1968]

That's why I like the Platypus Big Zip line. Easy clean and just as important, quick dry. Unfortunately they don't sell packs any more.

But their bladders do fit Camelbak packs just peachy! I just bought one for my day pack and it works in my H's camelbak should I need to borrow it.

I LOVE the huge zip top opening and the valve/tube flows so much better than my camelbak one did! Plus they cost less and are made in the USA. Bonus!

[OakLeaf]

I don't see how those can be cleaned thoroughly, even with special tools.

Have you seen the brushes? They're made for the purpose. You can clean the inside of the drink tube as thoroughly as you clean anything with a brush. Your teeth... your chainrings...



And like I said before, HEED is notorious for leaving traces of flavor. I'm surprised you haven't noticed it in your water bottles. I sure do in mine. But I like the flavor, so I don't mind the traces (and anyway, it's usually more HEED that's going in there, anyway).

[Catrin]

And like I said before, HEED is notorious for leaving traces of flavor. I'm surprised you haven't noticed it in your water bottles. I sure do in mine. But I like the flavor, so I don't mind the traces (and anyway, it's usually more HEED that's going in there, anyway).

Yep - which is interesting as I find HEED quite mild, flavor wise. I really like the strawberry. The flavor sticks around in my water bottles longer than the Cytomax did, which was a surprise.

[kmehrzad]

I hardly use my Camelbak any more because I don't like riding with something on my back. But if I did, it would be water, with Nuun to put in my waterbottles.

Tulip,
I was using Nuun tabs in my water bottles and a good friend pointed out that an ingredient in the tabs, polyethylene glycol, is a product found in antifreeze. That sealed the deal for me ... no more Nuun tabs. I'm now using juice cut with water and adding a touch of sea salt. Maybe you're okay with Nuun, but thought I'd mention this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol

[OakLeaf]

Endurolytes is another option without the flavors, sweeteners and fizzing agents.

Polyethylene glycol isn't the safest thing in the world, I agree, but that it's "found in [low-toxicity "green"] antifreeze" isn't really relevant... so is water. I''m equally concerned about the acesulfame potassium (which is not in antifreeze). I will use Nuun as a "quick fix" - if I do make a homebrew I make sure to include potassium, calcium and magnesium in addition to the sodium - and personally I can't tolerate any fruit or fruit juices during a ride or run. YMMV.

[kmehrzad]

Oakleaf,

What do you use to make your homebrew? Where do you get potassium, calcium and magnesium to add to your brew? Since you can't tolerate any fruit juices during a ride, what do use as your liquid base?

[Dannielle]

I've never used plain water in my camelbak and I've never had any problems. Propel and Crystal light never left a flavor but Gatorade and Cytomax do, to some degree.

I do clean it out as soon as I get home and I have a cleaning kit (the nashbar brand rather than the official camelbak cleaning kit) for it so it's an easy job. Sometimes I fill it with water and add a denture tablet...sometimes I just use a tiny bit of dish soap and the brushes...and rinse really well. I always hang it to dry with the insert that keeps it open.

I guess a taste residue might be weird if you go back to water but if you stick with a flavored drink it's not a big deal.

[OakLeaf]

My homebrew recipe:

1 Cup Sugar
4 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Potassium Chloride (Salt Substitute)
2 Tsp Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

Use 3 Tbsp per liter of water

For calcium and magnesium I just swallow capsules separately, although I know there are liquid forms available.

Mostly I just use HEED and Endurolytes - more expensive but simpler. On longer rides I can get calories from just about anything except fruit. On longer runs I use Hammer Gel and Endurolytes. I tried a lot of natural substitutes for gels (molasses, barley malt syrup, rice syrup, combinations of those), but they were all too high in fructose for my digestive system.

[kmehrzad]

Thanks for the homebrew recipe. One more question:

Use WHAT per 3 TBSP per liter of water? I'm not quite getting that part of the recipe. Thank you.

My homebrew recipe:

1 Cup Sugar
4 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Potassium Chloride (Salt Substitute)
2 Tsp Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

Use 3 Tbsp per liter of water

For calcium and magnesium I just swallow capsules separately, although I know there are liquid forms available.

Mostly I just use HEED and Endurolytes - more expensive but simpler. On longer rides I can get calories from just about anything except fruit. On longer runs I use Hammer Gel and Endurolytes. I tried a lot of natural substitutes for gels (molasses, barley malt syrup, rice syrup, combinations of those), but they were all too high in fructose for my digestive system.

[OakLeaf]

Thanks for the homebrew recipe. One more question:

Use WHAT per 3 TBSP per liter of water? I'm not quite getting that part of the recipe. Thank you.

3 tbsp of the mixture.

[kmehrzad]

3 tbsp of the mixture.

Right! I've got it now. Thank you.

[Catrin]

I have experimented with putting Heed in my 50 oz Camelbak for my rides that are 3.5 hours or longer, taking two water bottles of Accelerade, and powder for both in my seat post bag just in case I need to replenish along the way. That 100 ounces seems to be working for rides of up to 4.5 hours. I suspect that I am still not drinking quite enough, however I feel fine and haven't had any problems with thirst. Of course it matters how hot it is and how many hills there are - hills require more effort AND I find that I drink less in the hills.

The Camelbak doesn't seem to be holding the flavor of the Heed, but I clean it very, very well after the ride. I like the new strawberry flavor.

I still need to get those scales and weigh myself to make sure I am drinking enough...