rousseau

For years and years I'd been using those standard issue ice cube trays that produce ice cubes that barely fit through the opening of my water bottles. Then last week I saw this ice cube tray at my sister's place...



...and the heavens opened up, the angels singing in chorus as they heralded my enlightenment.

No more jamming. No more squeezing the top of the bottle into an oblong shape to better accept those large-ish rectangular cubes. This new tray is sized just right. I bought four of them. I am now so happy.

It's the little things.

The naysayers might say that I could have just filled those old ice cube trays with less water, making smaller cubes that would easily fit into a water bottle, but I would counter thusly: ain't nobody got time fo' dat. I'm on ice cube duty in my household, and I take it seriously, but I don't want to mess around with eyeing my pouring to a specific water level for every individual compartment, as that would be taxing and tedious. The top of the ice cube compartment is easily ascertained; not so a level some 2 or 3 mm below said top, repeated twelve times per tray.

My only regret is not having discovered this ice cube tray years ago. So much frustration could have been avoided. I hope that this PSA might be instructive to anyone just starting out on their cycling hobby/obsession. File this one under "better living through technology."

indyfabz

Word.

mvnsnd

The ice cube maker on my fridge makes ice that fits into my bottles just fine. No manual trays needed. Or for really hot days, I pre mix a little water and electrolyte and freeze the water in the bottle. The large chunk of ice takes longer to melt.

tagaproject6

Put your bottles, with whatever liquid you use for your ride, in the freezer over night. Remove lid, leave room at the top for expansion or space to add additional liquid right before the ride. If you are using 2 bottles, make sure the second bottle is full.

TimothyH

Just get wide mouth bottles.

Nachoman

Correct.

Mitkraft

Post #3 and #4 nailed it. People still uses ice cube trays?

ksryder

I prefer the crescent-shaped icecubes the icemaker makes because they're more aero. I do worry about them asploding.

TimothyH

@indyfabz.

It took me a bit but thanks for that.

indyfabz

Add red food coloring to the water supply line and you will increase your drinking speed by 5 ml/hr.

indyfabz

Cut the OP some slack. He's from Canada.

indyfabz

Mitkraft

LOL, I thought in Canada they just went outside and chipped some off.

Like this:

indyfabz

That was my very first thought.

Capo72

The other day my wife used margarita mix to make ice cubes for our margaritas! That's next level thinking right there! #woke

ThermionicScott 

@rousseau, I'm a big fan of those silicone ice cube trays. Cocktails just look so much better with truly cube-shaped ice.

rousseau

You're raining on my parade here. A quick look at the appliance section of Home Depot seems to suggest that ice makers are really common. I've never bought a new fridge in my life, so I had no idea. When we bought our first house fourteen years ago the appliances came with the deal.

And here I was, thinking I'd discovered some amazing secret revelation.

GrainBrain

I never ice down my water, doesn't matter. Now keeping my water from icing? That's a trick.

logical

The convenience of an ice maker but without the price of it and work to put a new fridge in your house:



And the ice cubes fit in any water bottle.

Now if only the bike accessories industry would make a vacuum sealed stainless steel water bottle that is bike specific to keep these ice cubes cold.

jitteringjr

The last time I used an ice cube try, the cold war still referred to the super power nations and not if the cubes fit in a bottle.

Nachoman

Nice. Like coffee ice cubes in iced coffee. I approve!

f4rrest

Ice in bottles is pointless here.

It's warm in 20 minutes anyhow.

​​​​​

gregf83 

I used to try and keep my water cold but now I don't bother. Warm water works just as well as cold water for hydrating. I gave up trying to remember to fill my bottle with cold water at work and now just leave a bottle outside on the bike while at work. Riding home at 29C my water is at 29C and doesn't bother me.

TimothyH

I read somewhere that cold water empties from the stomach to the intestines faster than warm water.

A large bolus of cold water can lower core temperature. The opposite is true of warm beverages in winter.

All things considered, cold water is better in hot weather if you can get it. It isn't always possible.

It is a real treat to fill bottles with ice at a convenience store on a hot day.

Seattle Forrest

I did that on a work night, had about an hour and a half to ride the next day. I really expected and hoped the brawndo would melt faster.