doctor j

Heat indices in my neck of the woods lately have been in the upper 90s and very low 100s.

I checked the weather before today's ride. Heat index was 107F. I loaded the camelbak with as much ice as it would hold and then added cold water to fill. I suspect this is a fashion faux pas for a road cyclist, but when it gets this hot and humid, I don't care about "the rules"

The camelbak/ice keeps my back a little cooler as well as providing a cool drink every now and then.

Heat index at the end of the ride was 110F. I felt better after this ride than on a few previous rides and lost less weight than I've been losing in the high heat indices.

canklecat

A lot of cyclists I ride with in Texas use Camelbaks. Works for them. I've never seen them dehydrated or overheated, just sweaty.

I'd try it myself but I can't take any pressure on my upper back and shoulder -- bum neck from old C2 injury. So I always carry two bottles unless there refill stops along the way.

I started using NUUN tablets a couple of weeks ago based on feedback from other forumistas. Seems to help. I recover more quickly with brief rests during rides and don't feel exhausted afterward, compared with the past couple of summers.

Only problem? I'm sweating a lot more crusty white stuff. Never happened when I was younger, possibly because I always avoided adding salt to foods. But now my bandannas, helmet straps, jerseys and shirts, all look like I've been sugar frosted. It's pretty gross when the ride includes socializing during rest breaks, so I have to ease up a notch to avoid sweating so much.

On the plus side, sure beats heat exhaustion.

DeceptivelySlow

I use a Camelbak all the time; I certainly stay better hydrated using one and it provides 100% sun block for at least some of my back.

John E

My Camelbak gets a lot of use, either as a regular backpack or with the bladder installed and filled with ice water.

My elder son bought it for me for Fathers Day 2014, when our annual family reunion took us to Zion, Bryce, and 100F summer heat. He thoughtfully held out for the bright yellow color, since he knew I would be using it extensively for cycling as well as hiking. I have been delighted with not only the basic concept but also the well-configured zipper pockets and pouches, which are perfect for cycling tools.

_ForceD_

I have one and use it on rides from time to time.

Years ago...not long after they became widely available...I read there there were riders (racers in TT and triathlon mostly) who were inflating them with air and wearing them in races, sometimes under their jersey. It said that it made you more aerodynamic. Don't know how factual that is.

Dan

az_cyclist

I wear a camelbak for club rides (50+ miles) in the summer (here in Arizona) and for century + rides

OldsCOOL

Good for you! When it's those kinds of severe conditions, ride how you want, wear what you want and grin at rule #9 which supercedes ALL other rules. Why is 9 the king of all rules?? Simply, because you are riding. Period.

RonH

Good for you. When its hot who cares about "fashion" rules. Here is sunny, hot, humid Florida I see lots of roadies with Camelbaks when it is really hot. I'll be using mine in 2 more weeks when the doc will let me start rising again.

Mountain Mitch

I use the camelback (Mule) all the time - of course I mostly mountain bike ride. The pack itself can get awfully hot on my back. In the heat I find that first swig of the water from the pipe after riding awhile can be disgustingly warm until you end up drawing from the pack itself. I've tried insulated pipes but they don't seem to be much help. Oh well, at least it's wet!

Wileyrat

I haven't gone the Camelbak route yet, but I was thinking on this morning's ride how a bag full of ice water sitting on my back might cool me down better than just the what used to be ice water in my water bottles.

rob214

southern Louisiana here and i use my camelback in the hot months on long rides as well. love ice cold water on hot days.

rob

revchuck 

One of the many positive lessons I learned from my Army days is that you can only carry too much ammo if you're swimming. The same logic applies to hydration on the bike. During the summer, I plan on one 24 oz. bottle every 45 minutes. I can stretch that if I need to, but that's the plan. I've been dehydrated to the point I've fainted due to low blood pressure and required a ride to the ER and two bags once there, so I don't mess around.

Rider51

I'm with everyone else. If the Camelbak keeps you hydrated, go for it. Dehydration is a killer. It can lead to all kinds of things, heat stroke and kidney stones maybe being the worst (aside from death).

A little tip an athletic doc once told me. Every morning you get up, drink a very large glass of water. More if you're going to exercise in the heat. Hydration isn't something you only do more of when exercising. Filling the tank early on can pay dividends down the road.

It's really hard to overhydrate, you can do it, there's a nasty ailment named hyponatremia for example, but that's very hard to get. You have to really guzzle a lot of water, and be low in electrolytes, sodium specifically.

doctor j

Unfortunately, I've been there, done that, and got the tee-shirt... in 2016. Same exact thing happened to me. Those rides in the meat wagon aren't cheap, but I'll have to say, they took good care of me and called my wife.

InTheRain

I'm glad I live in the Pacific Northwest at this time of the year. Today was "hot"... 85 degree high temp. We started out the morning at 48 degrees. Back towards closer to perfect tomorrow as the high will be 76 and the low 49. No camelback for me... unless I'm planning a century... I'm not.

outashape

I was on RAGBRAI one year with a fellow from my bike club. He was older (70's) and had a 8,000 custom Serotta ti bike and always wore a matching kit even though our bike club is a touring club with a lot of overweight riders. Anyway, he would not wear a camelbak and started having trouble grabbing a bottle and keeping his eyes on the road at the same time, so he didn't drink enough. Bright red blood in soupy poop. Hospitalized 2 days with IVs due to dehydration. Oh, well, he looked "too cool" to have a camelbak.

zjrog

If I'd had my Camelbak the day I crashed, I might only broken my neck and not my back too. Seriously though. I have several, ranging from just the water bag to one I can carry a days food...

camjr

I'm not out riding 50 or 100 mile rides, but I'm generally out doing 25 mile rides a couple of times a week on a Fuji Absolute hybrid in the North Texas heat. I've got a Camelback Mule with a 100oz bladder, but have never used it when riding-I've just used it when hiking in Big Bend. Normally, I'm just using a Camelback Podium insulated water bottle in the cage. I guess I'll try the Mule it for it's intended use!!

beechnutC23

I used mine but the bag is not really usable anymore. So instead I keep the backpack part, I fill a 1 L bottle with Gatorade the night before, and I put the Gatorade in the freezer overnight. I have a slushy for the ride! I only do it on rides beyond my normal water consumption, which in 25C weather is a large (750 ml) bottle every 40 km. Hotter weather can reduce that one every 25-30, and of course longer rides than 80 km need a water source. Some of those rides have water on the route, so no issues some do not, so out comes the camelback if riding solo. If riding with my wife we just stop and buy water and we buy food along the way. Otherwise both extra fluids and food go into the camelback.

rumrunn6

I shud wear one at my 2nd job cuz it's all physical labor & I always feel terribly hot. but that would certainly be ridiculous

Siu Blue Wind

Moved to Road from 50+

deapee

I take mine on rail-trail type rides...where I intend to be out for greater than 2 hours.
I've run out of water on 90+ degree days in the middle of nowhere and it definitely sucks.
When I take a camelbak, I normally also bring two water bottles filled with 50/50 gatorade/water.

hunterr41

I use a camelbak with NUUN tablets in hot weather. It is a lot easier in a group ride because riders don't want to wait for me to drink. If I don't use a get extreme cramps. I mean extreme enough that I can't get off bike without help. I sweat a lot so extra water is needed.

Da Reef

I wear my Camelpack for long training rides and centuries. In some circumstances function is far more important. If you can ride longer/faster/better, why not?

OUGrad05

I left this morning at 7am it was 80 and humid when I was done at 8:40 it was 87 and still humid, I try to get going before the heat gets too rough, heat index was probably close to 100 when I was done. Drinking enough water this time of year can sometimes be tough. So far today I've had 64 oz and will probably put down another 32 or 40.