Camelbak vs bottles on audaxes/ pbp

[mattc]

Like downtube non-indexed shifting, it's probably also a skill that we found really easy to learn as kids, but takes a bit longer with our adult brains.
 
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[Flatus the Almighty]

IMO there is a lot of hype about rehydration, you definately need to rehydrate when the temperature is high but at this time of year it's not a matter of life or death.

Of course it isn't a matter of life and death, but if you don't drink adequately, even on a winter 200, your performance will decrease and you will suffer the consequences over the following few days, fatigue, constipation and various other little symptoms.

I drink much less in the winter, but I think I don't drink enough... four 750ml bottles on a 200.  Of course your level of exertion is also a factor.

[border-rider]

To be fair, signalling doesn't require fine manipulation of a heavy object down between your legs and out of your line of sight

It's entertaining on fixed

The bottle on the down tube is OK, the one on the seat tube a little more tricky and the third one, down below the downtube and between the cranks, well, that's a bit of a bugger.  MO is to swap them around as they empty; downtube one first, then swap that for the seat tube one, then finally for the under-the-seat-tube one. 

I'm guilty of not drinking enough - anything like enough - and I often suffer for it.

[Chris S]

It's entertaining on fixed

I was about to post the same. I've belted a bidon from the seat tube clean across the road with my leg before now, causing considerable mirth and pointing amongst my colleagues.

It's not enough of a thing to make me consider a Camelbak though. I cannot stand anything on my back other than clothing when riding.

[Phil]

Last PBP a few American riders gave themselves stomach problems, ostensibly by drinking too much.  They tended to be using camelbaks. 

[MattH]

Not something I suffer from, but this even has it's own name - exercise-associated hyponatremia or EAH.

[valkyrie]

So my question is why do audax riders not use camelbaks ?

What lengths of rides have you done? If you're happy doing 600s with a camelbak then stick with it for the 1200 and you'll be fine. Personally I think bottles are more convenient to re-fill - specially on PBP where there will be roadside spectators giving out water.

Re Americans -  I once went on an Alpine climbing trip with an American, who'd been told that he'd dehydrate at altitude and needed to drink X litres of water every day. Which he did. Which meant the rest of us got to listen to him getting up at least twice every night to go relieve himself 

[Feline]

I actually have trouble drinking from a bottle while riding

If you have trouble drinking from a bottle, how do you manage to signal?

I'm sorry if this sounds patronising but my club had a serious crash (see here: Clicky) on a club ride a couple of weeks ago, and the universal feeling among the old lags like myself is that a contributory factor was poor bike skills.
We have had a massive influx of triathletes and newbies who can't/don't (for example) signal, hold their line, indicate, drink enough.
It's not enough when riding to turn the pedals quickly. You (we) need to do the other stuff too, and that means basics like being comfortable drinking from a bidon on the move without too much wobble.

I manage OK in groups, most of my riding is with the CTC and a couple of other local groups, although as a rule we stop every few miles to make sure everyone is there and so I can drink then. I guess I am just clumsy with my bottle, I have even been known to drop it when I am drinking it while stationary 

As for signalling, I am fine when going in a  straight line (i.e. before the junction)  but I generally don't try and turn corners with only one hand on the bars. I think my present set up with flat bars with bar extensions (which are very wide) makes this bike a bit unstable holding just one end. When my new bike with drops is built I might find I am more confident letting go. I'm expecting my new frame to arrive any day 

[arvid]

I guess I am just clumsy with my bottle, I have even been known to drop it when I am drinking it while stationary 

Let me give you a link of the bottles I use:
better-bottle-75L - CamelBak.com
Bite-valve+tube means no need to keep it upside down, it has a membrane so it doesn't pull vacuum. I can drink from these while holding them between my teeth.
The bad part: price, of course. And I'm not entirely sure how well they fit in bottle holders.

[CrinklyLion]

I reckon it's easier than changing gear in a manual car.

I can't do that either.  One reason I refuse to learn to drive is that I'm enough of a klutz on foot or on two wheels and would rather not test my co-ordination whilst in charge of a large metal box!

Like everything else, a little practise is all that's needed. My point is that it's something you really ought to learn unless you plan to spend all your riding time alone.

I'm generally pretty clumsy.  I can, just about, drink on the move (although I only managed that for the first time last summer!) but wouldn't ever do it in a group because of the potential for going-wrongness of an extremely unpleasant nature.  However I only go on group rides of a more sedate nature - I think the furthest I've ever gone without a cafe stop was 35 or so miles from York station to the Humber Bridge in the excellent if speedy company of Mr Legg - so this really doesn't pose a problem!  I also, generally, tend to hang around at the back so that nobody gets stuck behind me on a descent.  The fact that descents are very frequently preceded by climbs does make this a fairly easy thing for me to do, of course...  I certainly don't plan to spend all my time riding alone, but you won't be seeing me on any club runs.

[Mr Bunbury]

Crinkles, Easy Riders is waiting for you!

[Feline]

I guess I am just clumsy with my bottle, I have even been known to drop it when I am drinking it while stationary 

Let me give you a link of the bottles I use:
better-bottle-75L - CamelBak.com
Bite-valve+tube means no need to keep it upside down, it has a membrane so it doesn't pull vacuum. I can drink from these while holding them between my teeth.
The bad part: price, of course. And I'm not entirely sure how well they fit in bottle holders.

That actually looks quite good. I will have a check when my new frame arrives to see what size bottle(S) will fit. being female riding a small frame there is not that much room for bottles, on my Fuji I can carry 2 just, but the small 500ml one on the seat tube is virtually inaccessible. I use it to store tools, tyre levers, gloves and an inner tube at the moment.

[Mr Bunbury]

Crinkles, Easy Riders is waiting for you!

By the way, what are you doing looking at the PBP board?  Are you expressing an interest for 2011, or are you going to leave it to 2015?  I can suggest another ride to do first, quite close to you, though the organiser's a bit funny at times.

[chris n]

I guess I am just clumsy with my bottle, I have even been known to drop it when I am drinking it while stationary 

Let me give you a link of the bottles I use:
better-bottle-75L - CamelBak.com
Bite-valve+tube means no need to keep it upside down, it has a membrane so it doesn't pull vacuum. I can drink from these while holding them between my teeth.
The bad part: price, of course. And I'm not entirely sure how well they fit in bottle holders.

They're expensive, they leak, they're difficult to clean properly, the bottle doesn't fit properly in a bottle cage, the plastic scratches easily and it cracks if you put them in the dishwasher.

On the plus side, you could tie a piece of string to the loop and put it round your neck so you don't drop it, Feline.

[CrinklyLion]

By the way, what are you doing looking at the PBP board?  Are you expressing an interest for 2011, or are you going to leave it to 2015?

*Falls off chair laughing*

Nah - I'm just a nosey bugger

[Kim]

I assume it's the standard accessing-the-forum-by-reading-through-the-list-of-unread-threads method, which is how I end up on so many Audax threads myself.  I tend not to notice what board things are in, and read any threads that sound interesting.

[Mr Bunbury]

Yebbut it's a chance to get a poke at Crinkles and also advertise the Three Bridges 

[Notsototalnewbie]

I assume it's the standard accessing-the-forum-by-reading-through-the-list-of-unread-threads method, which is how I end up on so many Audax threads myself.  I tend not to notice what board things are in, and read any threads that sound interesting.

Yep, that's how I noticed it

FWIW I used to struggle drinking on the bike but I can do it now. This is probably because of the LHT's long wheelbase; it's not exactly a fast, twitchy bike.

[damerell]

Last PBP a few American riders gave themselves stomach problems, ostensibly by drinking too much.

I've had a similar problem for a few events - at least once because Hummers joined us in the pub the night before.

More seriously, when I was doing the E2E I learned to drink without stopping pedalling (as one might on fixed) because I was on the front of a tandem and we liked to keep plugging on. Admittedly, the water bottle was on what I guess I'd call the middle tube, but as a result I find it's simplicity itself when I'm allowed to stop pedalling without explaining why.

[frankly frankie]

... I find it's simplicity itself when I'm allowed to stop pedalling without explaining why.

... which is just what you can't do, in a big PBP bunch. 

[Greenbank]

Continuing to pedal whilst trying to drink makes it so much easier to keep the bike balanced without having to think about it.

[damerell]

... I find it's simplicity itself when I'm allowed to stop pedalling without explaining why.

... which is just what you can't do, in a big PBP bunch. 

I've read enough accounts in Arrivee which go "I rode in a big fast group until two $NATIONALITY riders touched wheels and X people were injured" to be very cautious of any big fast group I don't know very well. It ain't gaining time if you have a fatal mechanical.

But anyway, I _can_ do it while pedalling.