Hydration Backpacks for Roadies?
#51
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- 2 large water bottles in regular spots.
- add a wolf tooth b-rad to the downtube for a 3rd bottle.
- carry a 4th bottle in a jersey.
If you use a large wedge bag, you could fit 2 in there, or use the tri-style saddle holders for 5th and 6th bottles.
4 bottles is 80oz of water. If you can't come across a water refill in 80oz of water's time in WI, you are actively trying to avoid water spots.
But add those 2 more and now you have 120oz which is a crazy amount.
the last thing I want when riding is a backpack. Insweat enough as it is.
good luck on route planning.
- add a wolf tooth b-rad to the downtube for a 3rd bottle.
- carry a 4th bottle in a jersey.
If you use a large wedge bag, you could fit 2 in there, or use the tri-style saddle holders for 5th and 6th bottles.
4 bottles is 80oz of water. If you can't come across a water refill in 80oz of water's time in WI, you are actively trying to avoid water spots.
But add those 2 more and now you have 120oz which is a crazy amount.
the last thing I want when riding is a backpack. Insweat enough as it is.
good luck on route planning.
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#52
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Yup.. understood. That and roadies are on average a very traditional and peculiar bunch that don't like change. Wearing a backpack instead of carrying two water bottles is change. We don't like change.
I think you're right. One big limitation I see to the Camelbak Racebak is that my jersey's don't like have enough extra room in the chest area to accommodate the hump. I have a feeling like the jersey would fit uber-tight in the chest area when the bag is full. However, I do like the idea that the bag is integrated into the base layer so that there aren't any straps. I have 2 CamelBaks for summer and winter hiking and find the straps uncomfortable and annoying.
I think you're right. One big limitation I see to the Camelbak Racebak is that my jersey's don't like have enough extra room in the chest area to accommodate the hump. I have a feeling like the jersey would fit uber-tight in the chest area when the bag is full. However, I do like the idea that the bag is integrated into the base layer so that there aren't any straps. I have 2 CamelBaks for summer and winter hiking and find the straps uncomfortable and annoying.
I understand where you're coming from. Running hydration vest is 95% there, they
have solved the strap issue by using stretchy breathable fabric instead.
#53
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I thought of a little experiment I should try with stuff I already have. I have the CamelBak Bootlegger backpack which is an insulated pack I use for winter hiking to keep my water from freezing and it's pretty minimal as far as CamelBaks go. My experiment would be to use this pack for the opposite it was intended for.. put chilled water in it and go for a hot weather ride to see if:
- It keeps my back a little cool
- Keeps my water cold a little while longer
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This military pack from CamelBak is what I envision a roadie pack would look like... very minimal and light. Heck, just take the two hand straps off this bag and it's perfect!
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Injust got the Raptor 14 for mountain biking. Wow, the fit and stability are amazing compared to my ancient Camelbak Mule and HAWG.
Seems pretty big for what the OP is looking for, though. Is the 10 noticeably smaller?
Seems pretty big for what the OP is looking for, though. Is the 10 noticeably smaller?
#58
total Newbie
how heavy is that 10 and 14? i have a 1.5 and i don't think i'd want to wear anything heavier.
#59
total Newbie
nevermind, i just read it, comes with a 2.5l udder. I interpreted it as a 14L reservoir tank!
#60
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I thought of a little experiment I should try with stuff I already have. I have the CamelBak Bootlegger backpack which is an insulated pack I use for winter hiking to keep my water from freezing and it's pretty minimal as far as CamelBaks go. My experiment would be to use this pack for the opposite it was intended for.. put chilled water in it and go for a hot weather ride to see if:
- It keeps my back a little cool
- Keeps my water cold a little while longer
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#61
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A Zefal Magnum water bottle is 32oz and the same size as an insulated 24oz bottle.
i do ride with a minimal sized Camelback but only on my gravel bike.
Keith
i do ride with a minimal sized Camelback but only on my gravel bike.
Keith
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#63
Junior Member
Top tube bag
I use a top tube frame bag with a 2l platypus hoser reservoir, replaced the hose with a cap. Can’t drink from it while riding but I do use it to top off my bottles as needed.
Last edited by 2bridges1bike; 08-15-20 at 06:15 AM.
#64
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I thought about making my own camelback, if I couod figure out how.
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I thought of a little experiment I should try with stuff I already have. I have the CamelBak Bootlegger backpack which is an insulated pack I use for winter hiking to keep my water from freezing and it's pretty minimal as far as CamelBaks go. My experiment would be to use this pack for the opposite it was intended for.. put chilled water in it and go for a hot weather ride to see if:
- It keeps my back a little cool
- Keeps my water cold a little while longer
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#66
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I did a little experimenting the past week while hydration... I didn't discover anything earth-shattering that all of you wouldn't already know, but just for the sake of logging my experience...
1. 60+ mile ride using two 24oz water bottles
While I did just fine on this ride with only 48oz of water, it probably wasn't a good idea to drink so little water. It was in the low 80's (F), so not sweltering heat. Since I had planned out the route in advance, I knew where the half-way point was and made sure that I had only consumed one bottle of water by that point. On my way home, I finished off the second bottle when I knew I was within 5 miles of my house, so I only went a few miles with no water at all. When I got home, I had lost considerable water weight which I discovered when I stepped on the scale before getting in the shower. I drank a gazillion cups of water when I got home as I was pretty darn thirsty. This confirms, at least for me, that 48oz of water is only enough for 40 to 50 miles of riding, assuming it's not overly hot out.
2. 40 mile ride using CamelBak
This ride was in the 70's (F) and I rode with my insulated CamelBak (50oz capacity) just to see how annoying it would be to wear it. Quite frankly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. At first, the CamelBak was all I could think about... it felt like my cat was napping on my back I eventually forgot about it as my mind drifted off onto other things. The water does "slosh around" a bit but that is very tolerable. The weight of the backpack and the straps didn't bother me as much as I thought, probably because one's back is mostly in a near horizontal position while riding. The water inside the backpack did indeed get quite warm, so I'll have to remember to put the water in the fridge prior to using it. One of the biggest challenges was that I'm so used to drinking from bottles that I keep reaching for my bottles almost automatically instead of drinking from the CamelBak.
I plan on doing another 60+ mile ride this weekend and I'm going to try using the CamelBak along with my two 24oz bottles. While I'm not sure if this is the perfect solution for increasing my range, it's the cheapest and doesn't involve me having to mount any extra cages on my bike that I only need on occasion. I'll admit that I wish my CamelBak had some pockets. As long as I'm going to have an annoying bag on my back, I might as well use that annoying bag to hold my phone, energy bars, and any other goodies I might need to bring on a longer ride that I normally wouldn't carry.
1. 60+ mile ride using two 24oz water bottles
While I did just fine on this ride with only 48oz of water, it probably wasn't a good idea to drink so little water. It was in the low 80's (F), so not sweltering heat. Since I had planned out the route in advance, I knew where the half-way point was and made sure that I had only consumed one bottle of water by that point. On my way home, I finished off the second bottle when I knew I was within 5 miles of my house, so I only went a few miles with no water at all. When I got home, I had lost considerable water weight which I discovered when I stepped on the scale before getting in the shower. I drank a gazillion cups of water when I got home as I was pretty darn thirsty. This confirms, at least for me, that 48oz of water is only enough for 40 to 50 miles of riding, assuming it's not overly hot out.
2. 40 mile ride using CamelBak
This ride was in the 70's (F) and I rode with my insulated CamelBak (50oz capacity) just to see how annoying it would be to wear it. Quite frankly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. At first, the CamelBak was all I could think about... it felt like my cat was napping on my back I eventually forgot about it as my mind drifted off onto other things. The water does "slosh around" a bit but that is very tolerable. The weight of the backpack and the straps didn't bother me as much as I thought, probably because one's back is mostly in a near horizontal position while riding. The water inside the backpack did indeed get quite warm, so I'll have to remember to put the water in the fridge prior to using it. One of the biggest challenges was that I'm so used to drinking from bottles that I keep reaching for my bottles almost automatically instead of drinking from the CamelBak.
I plan on doing another 60+ mile ride this weekend and I'm going to try using the CamelBak along with my two 24oz bottles. While I'm not sure if this is the perfect solution for increasing my range, it's the cheapest and doesn't involve me having to mount any extra cages on my bike that I only need on occasion. I'll admit that I wish my CamelBak had some pockets. As long as I'm going to have an annoying bag on my back, I might as well use that annoying bag to hold my phone, energy bars, and any other goodies I might need to bring on a longer ride that I normally wouldn't carry.
#67
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#68
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I know it's one of the "rules", but I bought a Camelbak Chase vest for gravel riding. I also ended up using it for summer rides in Joshua Tree National Park when I was stationed there as well as the Mojave Death Race. 2 water bottles usually was just barely enough in between the two entrances to the park where the only water stations are at, but I carried the vest as an insurance policy. The vest is very well designed and I don't even notice it while riding.
https://www.camelbak.com/en/vests/R0...d790590affbe17
https://www.camelbak.com/en/vests/R0...d790590affbe17
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I’m very impressed with the quality of the pack. The bladder has a couple of baffles inside so that it stays flat when filled, and the mouthpiece has great flow.
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After using this pack a few times (for mountain biking), I find it very well designed, fits great while riding, and is well and thought out... with two exceptions:
1- the magnetic hose holder is a bit gimmicky, and ultimately not useful, IMO. As easy as it is to hook up, it is still more than I want to deal with when riding. Better to just cut the hose 4" or so shorter and use a 90 degree bend bite valve like on the Camelbak. Just let the shorter hose hang.
2- No place convenient to hold the phone. The issue I have is not just that there is no easy access to it (unless you have a very small phone that fits in the side pockets), but the way the belt and shoulder straps are constructed, it is not easy to add a phone holder. My old Camelbak has a thick belt, and I was able to add a camera pouch that fit my phone perfectly. This might not be a big deal on my road bike, as I use a phone holder on the bars, anyway... but a moot point since I don't use the backpack for road rides.
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#73
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This one integrates the hydration pack right into the jersey plus it still has pockets!
https://www.bicyclebuys.com/camelbak...ak/0101211PART
https://www.bicyclebuys.com/camelbak...ak/0101211PART
#74
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I've never used the waist belt on my MULE when road riding. If I didn't have it, I'd probably go with a Rouge. Problem with the old MULE is that they don't make straight 3l bladders for them anymore, so I have to get a different brand and hope it fits.
I did a combo road and gravel ride last weekend and completely drained 3l plus a large bottle. fortunately I was about 4 miles from home and fully hydrated, so it wasn't a big deal. You really need to learn the part about having that much fluid with you and drink very frequently. I couldn't imagine riding with only two water bottles now.
I did a combo road and gravel ride last weekend and completely drained 3l plus a large bottle. fortunately I was about 4 miles from home and fully hydrated, so it wasn't a big deal. You really need to learn the part about having that much fluid with you and drink very frequently. I couldn't imagine riding with only two water bottles now.
#75
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https://www.rei.com/product/143336/o...mens-25-liters