buddy

Please forgive for breaking rule 32 "humps are camels; no hydration packs".

I am the first one to admit without rules we're are just mere riders on a bike.

This summer I been training for the Hotter'n Hell 100 miles. I got the idea that a hydration pack would be nice for HHH.

I really enjoyed riding with the pack. I could hydrate while I was in a group ride. I even though it was safer rather than fumbling with a bottle.

I rode the HHH with the hydration pack. Even though the weather was very mild I still enjoyed riding with the pack. I think I will keep on using the pack.

I am asking for a special disenstation to resolve me from rule 32.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Dave Cutter

The rules are the rules. There are no "special dispensations".... as there no need for dispensation. The rules are perfection.

However if you review the rule in question... you may note that this rule applies exclusively to "road bikes". This rule is apparently either dated... or for brevity... other forms of bicycles were excluded although not listed. I think it would be safe to assume that the "gravel bike" (or cross bike) you rode on the HHH was exempt from rule #32 (see below).

Rule #32
Humps are for camels: no hydration packs.
Hydration packs are never to be seen on a road rider’s body. No argument will be entered into on this. For MTB, they are cool.

Obey the rules.

CliffordK

I have a Mule without a bladder. Does that count?

atwl77

My hydration pack is hidden inside the Camelbak pack, only the hose if visible so technically, it's not in violation of the rules...

redlude97

as someone who obeys almost all the rules, I say break the rules if it means you enjoy riding your bike.

berner

Rules are meant to be broken; otherwise they wouldn't have them.

ksryder

The man speaks the truth.

Gravel bikes: What's fred is cool again.

I have my gravel bike loaded down with all kinds of things I would never be caught dead with on my road bike - aero bars, top tube bag, third bottle cage, and I have a 100-oz camelbak for 100+ mile rides. (I draw the line at a helmet mirror, though.)

Nothing but bottles and a computer on my road bike.

Wildwood 

30 lashes from the rubber tube and valve.

Rollfast

Another reason we obviously can't have nice things.


Or maybe why I stay within 3 miles of my cat normally.

Campag4life

Always easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission.

Words to live by....

British

Wow. I don't think I could do a long ride on my own without my Camelbak. Last weekend I did 75 miles, and I went through that plus 4 24 oz bottles.

GGDaddy

So Rule 66--No Mirrors...

When I'm in suburban traffic with cars passing me at 40-45mph, I like the opportunity to get some advanced warning that I might get smacked without swiveling my head every ten seconds.

Are the rules just for racing? Or no kidding, people here don't use mirrors on the street either?

(Or am I just overthinking this?)

wipekitty

The rules are the rules. No exceptions.

FWIW, I frequently break 14, 31, and 66. I try to redeem myself with heavy doses of adherence to Rules 5 and 9.

GGDaddy

Great answer and good education--thanks.

gsa103

Special dispensation is allowed for rides occurring under Rule 9 conditions (including heat). Special dispensation is also granted for rider exceeding two bottles without water re-supply (Merckx had a team car).

Gaelen

My hydration pack is the only way I can keep going around here. And I personally think it looks less weird than having a ton of bottles strapped to your frame and tucked into pockets. It's a very practical tool. If we never broke the rules music and plenty of other things would be terrible.

Also, I'm glad you came out and rode!

draganm

all kidding aside, I don't know how anyone can stand these things? big bag of water strapped to your back and trapping all your body-heat, then when you go for a drink you have 95 degree bath-water , even on a 78 degree day
or have they somehow solved this problem with new tech?

Canuk1w1

Kein mehrheit für die mitleid.
Rule #5!!!

Psimet2001 

They are easier, safer and make a ton of sense. Therefore no self respecting roadie would ever embrace them. No forgiveness. Alas....it is our lot in life.

RJM

I use a pack for mountain biking and find it is the best innovation for water carrying there is especially when bouncing along a trail with dirt and crap coming up from your front tire onto a bottle. Gross. If you fill the bladder with a bunch of ice and then cold water, the pack will keep you cool on hot days and you get cold water for hours.

Usually the bigger packs have systems for keeping the pack off the back and allow airflow, so it doesn't heat you up so much.

topflightpro

This was my issue as well, though I mostly use mine when on the MTB trails.

I did HHH once, many years ago. The temps never dropped below 98 the night before and we hit 104 by about 10 am. By the time I got to the mile 50 rest stop, there was nothing cold left - all ice had melted and they only had hot water to refill bottles. Also, someone crashed bad enough to need to be airlifted out. It was so hot, people were puking on the side of the road and huddling under whatever shade they could find. They closed the race down about two hours early and had to send a series of flatbed semi's out to pick people up and bring them back in. It was awful.

Also, "The Rules" are dumb.

bunkerman

Grr rules aren't meant to be broken only records are. LOL

Van Nostrand

Yeah HHH this year was incredibly mild. I hadn't even gone through 1 water bottle by mile 40. It did warm up about 20 miles later, however, but it wasn't bad at all. The fact that there are rest stops every 10 miles should probably mean that no one wears a hydration pack.

I will say though that there were so many water bottles laying on the road from dummies who couldn't figure out how to put it in their bottle cage that maybe hydration packs aren't so bad of an idea for some.

Did see some weird stuff on that ride...

Wileyrat

While you certianly reserve the right to break the rules, I will think less of you for doing so.

Bomb Komodo

The rules are about aesthetics. If you don't care about aesthetics than you can Camelbak to your heart's content.

One thing about the rules that I like is that they instill some toughness if you follow them. Cycling is a sport of managing discomfort and I believe the rules are quite good at training you to do that while looking good on your bike. They also are entertaining to read.