Water Bottles

[Jamesman]

I’ve tried a few different bottles, insulated ones are great for hot days, and wide-mouth Nalgenes are easy to clean but don’t always fit standard cages. Adjustable holders like the one Jeremy mentioned can help with that.

Whichever bottle you choose, staying hydrated is key, especially on longer rides. This article on why water does a body good https://bottledevents.com/water-does-a-body-good/ has some solid info on how important it really is.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Camelbak hydration pack and you need no water bottle anymore.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Wow. I feel like I should have a water bottle. I mean, I have the bottle cage. Problem is, I only ride 4 miles to work. I feel like I could use a generic plastic squeeze bottle and fill it with bike tools as storage. Then again, I’m only traveling 4 miles.

 

[Chazmo]

Wow. I feel like I should have a water bottle. I mean, I have the bottle cage.

What’re you waiting for, slap?!

 

[Slaphappygamer]

What’re you waiting for, slap?!

Ok. Feeling the peer pressure now. Imma gonna burn some Vado to relieve the pressure. Haha

 

[Frank/Delaware]

Wow. I feel like I should have a water bottle. I mean, I have the bottle cage. Problem is, I only ride 4 miles to work. I feel like I could use a generic plastic squeeze bottle and fill it with bike tools as storage. Then again, I’m only traveling 4 miles.

water is great for flushing gravel out of scraps and wounds after a fall

 

[Slaphappygamer]

water is great for flushing gravel out of scraps and wounds after a fall

Truth! I can’t tell you how many times I went to a neighbors yard (back when neighbors didn’t mind) to hose off my elbow after I fell in the street. Us kids all played flag football on a loose gravel street.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I only carry a bottle (of diluted orange Gatorade) on rides longer than 25-30 mi, or when I'll be stopping to eat. Still use the aforementioned Any Bottle Cage on my 70 lb hub-drive commuter.

But to keep my 38 lb mid-drive gravel bike as light and nimble as possible, went to a lighter side-loading Specialized Z-cage and corresponding squeeze bottle. Clever design, works well. Bottle has a triangular cross-section to make it easier to pull out and stow on the fly.

The bottle never, ever leaks. This temporary top tube placement was safe and secure.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Camelbak hydration pack and you need no water bottle anymore.

So it has been roughly 14 months since I bought a Camelbak M.U.L.E. 14 Pro hydration pack. Since I learned closing the lid of the bladder properly, the backpack became my companion on all rides when I would need water bottles otherwise. Even on hot a race day, I never needed replenishing the contents on a long ride.

There is, however, a little thing that is not on par with the rest of the otherwise excellent product: it is the Big Bite mouthpiece/valve. As the system can be totally dismantled for washing, the Big Bite is removable, too. It may happen that the mouthpiece would slowly slide off the tube, and you can lose that part! In such a case, you are sprayed with your drink unless you close the external valve immediately!

Camelbak sells replacement kits (the price is reasonable). Just last night, I recollected I lost a next Big Bite on my latest ride. OK, I knew i had a replacement somewhere but exactly where? Well, turned out I kept the kit in my photography drawer as a rare but important spare part It was the single time I didn't need to look for a spare part long!