Santa Cruz Juliana - water bottle?

[Hound Dog]

I just purchased a new Santa Cruz Juliana. I noticed there isn't room for a water bottle cage on the inside tube. They have screws so one can be mounted on the outside of the bottom tube, but it doesn't look to be in a good place.

I have used a camelbak type of pack in the past, but find they are very hot in the summer months. Has anyone tried a 2 bottle pack worn on the hips? (I have one from my ultra running days).

any suggestions?

[Aggie_Ama]

I live in Texas (can't get much hotter) and I find the women's Camelbak Mule to be very comfortable. It vents shockingly well and ables me to carry 96 oz. I have worn it on the trail when it was 95-100 degrees and was pleased with the venting, you are going to be hot no matter what at that temp but the channels in the back make it tolerable.

I previously had a Camelbak from 2004 without the channels and it was pretty miserable in the summer, I think some improvements have been made that might be worth checking out. I have seen people with bottles on the underside of the downtube, looks like you would just lose the bottle.

[Pedal Wench]

I like my Wingnut. It sits much lower than a Camelbak, so the weight is over your bottom and not on your shoulders and arms. Plus, I like being able to access the side pockets without taking it off.

[rocknrollgirl]

+1 on the mule.

[derailed]

While many of the newer hydration packs are much more pleasant in miserable heat, there are also seat mount and handlebar mount waterbottle points which might be worth considering, if you happen to decide that a pack is not what you are looking for. I carry two bottles behind my seat on longer rides, they are not a bad reach.

[emily_in_nc]

I use the Camelbak Flash-flo waistpack. I never even notice it's on, and it gets plenty hot here in the summer in NC. It doesn't hold as much water as the shoulder packs, but it's fine for the shorter rides I do. I find that the bottle gets too dirty on my mtb to be of any use anyway, so I never use one. If I were taking a really long ride (> 1.5 hours of riding), I would need to use a bottle along with the Flash-flo, though.

[jesvetmed]

I also have the Juliana, and mounted my bottle holder below the bar. Bad idea -- I'm eating mud and gunk every time that I take a drink! I think I'm going to use a camelback, or someone mentioned trying the cage that mounts on the seat stem behind your rear and holds two bottles. I did look at one at REI (look here) and it was $50. That's quite a bit for a bottle cage!

[Aggie_Ama]

Jes- Watch for the Mule or other women's made to go on sale at REI (which they often do). I find my women's mule so much better made than DH's men's mule from two seasons ago. The straps are way nicer and his doesn't have the padding vents which I stand by my statement help!

DH has that Profile thing for long road rides where water is limited and we have bounced bottles out on the road, I wouldn't think it would work at all on the trail.

[bouncybouncy]

I highly recommend the women's style packs! Especially if you are at a disadvantage with height. I have used the under-bike bottle cage but only for extra water I use while stopped and have the ability to wipe the top before eating mud (some of my rides can be up to 8 hours with no water supply) If you have the right cage it will stay just fine and not get in your way...just me I tried to hit it on logs many times!!!

I would NOT use a behind the seat cage on a mtbike if you plan on going down hill at any time...gets in your way when you are "getting behind the saddle" to avoid "going over the bars". I do know of a few guys who have them but their seat posts are so long that the bottle sits well below the seat.

Another option used quite a bit around here is a bottle in the jersey pocket...

[Aggie_Ama]

Another option used quite a bit around here is a bottle in the jersey pocket...

DH does this for racing. One in the cage, one in the pocket.

[Hound Dog]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

The Wingnut looks very interesting, but living in Canada it would cost too much by the time I added in shipping, duty, taxes etc.

I have thought about the bottles behind the seat, and I 'think' it would work. We ride mainly double track, forest service roads and any steep downhills we get off the bike. We prefer riding uphill to downhill. I like the look of the Profile RM System Jesvetmed suggested. Our rides are usually 2-6 hours depending on the day of the week. The longer rides I would have to carry more than 2 bottles for sure if the weather is hot.

This forum is great! Thanks again for all of your suggestions.

[Pedal Wench]

I also have the Juliana, and mounted my bottle holder below the bar. Bad idea -- I'm eating mud and gunk every time that I take a drink!!

Nalgene makes a bottle with a cover over the mouthpiece. http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store...?CategoryID=30

I use that for the mount under the downtube.

[Aggie_Ama]

I like the look of the Profile RM System Jesvetmed suggested. Our rides are usually 2-6 hours depending on the day of the week.

My husband has this on his road bike and the bottles do not stay secure on smooth pavement. It isn't all the time but when they are empty he has had problems losing them. They are really popular among the triathletes so maybe he just got a faulty one but you might be hopping off to chase bottles if you mount this system. You might have to be sure you have a really tight fitting bottle? It seems like certain ones fly right out when they are empty. I have not found this product to be worth the $50 (US) price tag.

[kenyonchris]

My SO is a semi-professional road cyclist, he carries all his stuff in his jersey pockets, including an extra water bottle, when riding on the road. He has decided to take up mountain biking on the side, bought a friend's 10 year old Specialized, and decided to meet me at our nearest trail. When I pulled up, I couldn't help but laugh...he had all his road gear on, sunglasses, arm warmers (with sponsor information on it), spandex, and, of course, all his gear in his jersey pocket, including water bottle. As we went down the trail, and he found that the wind on a trail is not usually a factor, off went the arm warmers. The shade made the sunglasses unnecessary. And not a mile into the trail, out popped the water bottle. I thought it was cute, and I tease him about it.
I use the Camelbak smallest women's model...anything bigger hurts my back. Here in Texas hot is the norm, and I don't have any problem being any hotter than I already am. There is no room on my Specialized for a bottle cage, so Camelbak it is.
On my RB I have two Arundel cages. WAY worth the $40.00 per cage.

[Aggie_Ama]

Chris- How funny. DH races Mountain and all the racers wear lycra.

I agree, when it is 90-100 degrees carrying a camelbak doesn't make me any hotter! Having 96 oz of water though does mean I don't pass out from dehydration.