Carrying extra fluid for long solo rides....
Discussion
Due to my frame size I can carry up to 1700ml in the form of a 950ml bottle plus a 750ml bottle. This is fine for now when my longer rides are only up to 60 miles or so, but when doing longer (and in the summer heat) it's not enough.
What's your preferred method of carrying extra water? Money to buy something not an option as that would involve leaving the bike outside somewhere. I've got a camelbak rogue which I've never truly got on with.... I have taken the bladder out and used it to store another drinks bottle but it's not especially comfortable..... Likewise carrying another bottle in a jersey pocket (especially if you need room for gels, some food, spare tube, phone etx)
I've seen some people with rails under the seat post.... Are these any good? I've heard mixed reviews RE them often "dropping" bottles?
Cheers
What's your preferred method of carrying extra water? Money to buy something not an option as that would involve leaving the bike outside somewhere. I've got a camelbak rogue which I've never truly got on with.... I have taken the bladder out and used it to store another drinks bottle but it's not especially comfortable..... Likewise carrying another bottle in a jersey pocket (especially if you need room for gels, some food, spare tube, phone etx)
I've seen some people with rails under the seat post.... Are these any good? I've heard mixed reviews RE them often "dropping" bottles?
Cheers
Surely you can find somewhere on most routes to stop where the bike can be left safe enough for you to nip in and out again - or ask someone to nip in for you if you really can't leave your bike out of your sight for 30 seconds round your way?
Or carry a tie wrap and tie the bike to something with it, then cut it free when you are done in the shop, that would be enough to put the opportune thief off for the time it takes to buy a bottle of water from a corner shop
Or carry a tie wrap and tie the bike to something with it, then cut it free when you are done in the shop, that would be enough to put the opportune thief off for the time it takes to buy a bottle of water from a corner shop
Buy a little lock like this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/abus-combiflex-202-90cm-ca... and stop and refill. Just think of the extra weight you'd be humping around with you. Water weighs 1KG per litre so with that setup you are already carrying 1.7KG. Just take a couple of standard bidons or if you want a bit extra the Camleback bidons carry 610ml. If you use stuff like high5 4-in-1 then stick a couple of sachets in your pockets and you are good to go. I was out yesterday and I saw someone with 5 bottles on his bike, fine if you are on some epic ride through no mans land or training for such a ride, but overkill for Lancs\W Yorks moors. paulmon said:
Buy a little lock like this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/abus-combiflex-202-90cm-ca... and stop and refill. Just think of the extra weight you'd be humping around with you. Water weighs 1KG per litre so with that setup you are already carrying 1.7KG. Just take a couple of standard bidons or if you want a bit extra the Camleback bidons carry 610ml. If you use stuff like high5 4-in-1 then stick a couple of sachets in your pockets and you are good to go. I was out yesterday and I saw someone with 5 bottles on his bike, fine if you are on some epic ride through no mans land or training for such a ride, but overkill for Lancs\W Yorks moors. Food for thought, though. Thanks chaps!
May order a seat bracket and of it works, great, of not.... No worries. I'm hoping it's simple enough I can just take it off and just put it back on the night before a longer ride, as it'd only be once a week or so I'd need it.
Ordered the tacx one. Comes with mixed reviews, many saying that bottles fall loose.... Others say they don't have that issue. I've ordered a seemingly tight fitting cage and I can always fold up some paper in with it, or even sellotape it to the cage until I need to remove it!
The "behind the saddle" ones are for aero-obsessed triathletes, not as a way to add an extra couple of kilos to your bike.
A small light lock won't stand up to much but it'll give you peace of mind while you nip into a shop.
Look at the setups that people doing big long self-supported races like the Trans Am (4400 miles across the USA) use - they need to cross mountain ranges and deserts and stops for things like water cost them time. None have more than 2x750ml bottles, and the quick guys are doing 300+ miles a day.
A small light lock won't stand up to much but it'll give you peace of mind while you nip into a shop.
Look at the setups that people doing big long self-supported races like the Trans Am (4400 miles across the USA) use - they need to cross mountain ranges and deserts and stops for things like water cost them time. None have more than 2x750ml bottles, and the quick guys are doing 300+ miles a day.
I've been riding for 10 years, done loads of longer rides, never felt the need to carry more than two 750 bottles. If I've ever needed a top up I'd either refill one at a cafe stop, or find a shop I can go in and buy a bottle of drink. Most shop keepers will keep an eye on the bike for you if asked.
It's really not a big deal.
It's really not a big deal.
S10GTA said:
I've been riding for 10 years, done loads of longer rides, never felt the need to carry more than two 750 bottles. If I've ever needed a top up I'd either refill one at a cafe stop, or find a shop I can go in and buy a bottle of drink. Most shop keepers will keep an eye on the bike for you if asked.
It's really not a big deal.
I'd agree with this too. I ride in Sussex and Surrey, and there are areas I wouldn't want to go in a shop and leave my bike outside, but not many. Surely you can't have too far to go when empty to find somewhere you can refill?It's really not a big deal.
Thanks for the suggestions. RE stopping off somewhere, it is, of course, an option....but many of my routes can be "middle of nowhere" which would mean a fair detour (extra miles, I guess 
) but, especially when riding on my own, I generally like to keep going. Though I find when doing 4 hours or more, I do like a quick stop, even if it's for just 5mins. Did a ride Thursday, only 51 miles but with over 4000ft climb and a few poor road surfaces so only a 16.5mph average and wasn't pushing too hard but that was a couple of mins over 3 hours and didn't once get off the bike....which is how I like it. I find if I stop it takes me a while to get going again!
) but, especially when riding on my own, I generally like to keep going. Though I find when doing 4 hours or more, I do like a quick stop, even if it's for just 5mins. Did a ride Thursday, only 51 miles but with over 4000ft climb and a few poor road surfaces so only a 16.5mph average and wasn't pushing too hard but that was a couple of mins over 3 hours and didn't once get off the bike....which is how I like it. I find if I stop it takes me a while to get going again!sjg said:
The "behind the saddle" ones are for aero-obsessed triathletes, not as a way to add an extra couple of kilos to your bike.
A small light lock won't stand up to much but it'll give you peace of mind while you nip into a shop.
Look at the setups that people doing big long self-supported races like the Trans Am (4400 miles across the USA) use - they need to cross mountain ranges and deserts and stops for things like water cost them time. None have more than 2x750ml bottles, and the quick guys are doing 300+ miles a day.
There's riding, and then there's riding comofortably. If I'm doing an 80-100 mile ride in the summer, 1.5 litres simply isn't enough to stay well hydrated from my experience. I've done longer rides before, and not taken enough fluid and it never feels great.A small light lock won't stand up to much but it'll give you peace of mind while you nip into a shop.
Look at the setups that people doing big long self-supported races like the Trans Am (4400 miles across the USA) use - they need to cross mountain ranges and deserts and stops for things like water cost them time. None have more than 2x750ml bottles, and the quick guys are doing 300+ miles a day.
neenaw said:
What size seatpost does your bike have?
I'm sure I've got a couple of the clamps in the garage that Specialized supplied with my Epic to add an extra bottle cage to the seatpost. If they're the right size for your bike and I can find them then you can have them.
Hi there, I'm sure I've got a couple of the clamps in the garage that Specialized supplied with my Epic to add an extra bottle cage to the seatpost. If they're the right size for your bike and I can find them then you can have them.
I Think it's something like a 31.8mm....? That's very kind of you to offer if you can find them
I learnt the hard way not drinking enough when out on the bike. Ideally your pee should be no darker than "Pinot Grigio" wine colour, any darker and you are dehydrated and putting your kidney's under strain.
The last few weeks I've gone through 2+ litres over 4 hour rides.
Here's my account from last year.....
"My thread has arrived....
Upto the 23rd June I was cycling c75 miles a week.
On the 24th June I started getting kidney pain during the morning, by lunchtime I was vomiting and the pain was getting worse. My next door neighbour who is a practising nurse thought it was appendicitis, and ran me to A&E.
I was wheeled in, in a wheelchair as I was unable to walk. More vomiting, and I had a diagnosis of a water infection and was prescribed anti biotics and Co-codamol.
The pain never went away, constant 24/7, it affected my appetite and I didn't eat for 9 days. I lost 8 kg in this time.
After a week I revisited my GP who decided it was a kidney stone and arranged a CT scan.
The following week the pain disapated, and my appetite returned, fortunately as I was then away for a week after in Ibiza.
I had my CT scan on my return and the GP called me to inform me I had an 11mm stone lodged in my ureter (the tube that links the kidney to the bladder).
The consultant Urologist called me the following evening an stated it needed urgent treatment due to the risk to my kidney function. I was booked into his clinic the following Monday, where I was told I would need two operations to resolve the issue.
Two days later I went in to have a stent fitted under GA, and told not to lift anything heavy or do any exercise.
Six weeks later I returned to have the stone blasted with a laser and this time to have a temporary threaded stent fitted again under GA.
They access the kidney from the normal route out, there are some rather unpleasant side effects with the surgery, peeing rose wine is the least worst side effect!
Three days later the temporary stent was removed, a gentle pull on the thread by the nurse pulled a foot long length of tube from my gentlemen's sausage."
In December I had my follow up appointment to determine the stone composition. It was calcium based meaning I don't drink enough. Consultant advised drinking 3l of liquid a day, easier said than done when you spend your life travelling....
Once you've had them, your predisposition to them recurring is raised by 50%. The doctor mentioned it was likely he see me again at least twice before he retires......great!!
The last few weeks I've gone through 2+ litres over 4 hour rides.
Here's my account from last year.....
"My thread has arrived....
Upto the 23rd June I was cycling c75 miles a week.
On the 24th June I started getting kidney pain during the morning, by lunchtime I was vomiting and the pain was getting worse. My next door neighbour who is a practising nurse thought it was appendicitis, and ran me to A&E.
I was wheeled in, in a wheelchair as I was unable to walk. More vomiting, and I had a diagnosis of a water infection and was prescribed anti biotics and Co-codamol.
The pain never went away, constant 24/7, it affected my appetite and I didn't eat for 9 days. I lost 8 kg in this time.
After a week I revisited my GP who decided it was a kidney stone and arranged a CT scan.
The following week the pain disapated, and my appetite returned, fortunately as I was then away for a week after in Ibiza.
I had my CT scan on my return and the GP called me to inform me I had an 11mm stone lodged in my ureter (the tube that links the kidney to the bladder).
The consultant Urologist called me the following evening an stated it needed urgent treatment due to the risk to my kidney function. I was booked into his clinic the following Monday, where I was told I would need two operations to resolve the issue.
Two days later I went in to have a stent fitted under GA, and told not to lift anything heavy or do any exercise.
Six weeks later I returned to have the stone blasted with a laser and this time to have a temporary threaded stent fitted again under GA.
They access the kidney from the normal route out, there are some rather unpleasant side effects with the surgery, peeing rose wine is the least worst side effect!
Three days later the temporary stent was removed, a gentle pull on the thread by the nurse pulled a foot long length of tube from my gentlemen's sausage."
In December I had my follow up appointment to determine the stone composition. It was calcium based meaning I don't drink enough. Consultant advised drinking 3l of liquid a day, easier said than done when you spend your life travelling....
Once you've had them, your predisposition to them recurring is raised by 50%. The doctor mentioned it was likely he see me again at least twice before he retires......great!!
Sorry to hear of your story, it's always best to keep hydrated. If drinking 500ml/hour (and this can be more if it's 25degrees of more!) then being able to carry 1.5L will last you, at most, 3 hours.....let's say 50 miles (give or take)....if you want to do 70/80/90 mile rides then clearly that's not enough.
I ALWAYS carry too much fluid with me, I'd rather have too much than not enough.
Appreciate the input everyone
I ALWAYS carry too much fluid with me, I'd rather have too much than not enough.
Appreciate the input everyone
E65Ross said:
Many of the long rides I do don't, surprisingly, have shops along the way. A nice 70 mile loop I do does.... But with around 10 miles to go. If I'm going to stop for a quick break I'd like it around 35-40 or so. Carrying an extra 1kg through 1 more big bottle wouldn't really concern me as on my longer solo rides I'm more fussed about getting the endurance in, rather than outright speed.
Food for thought, though. Thanks chaps!
I can sympathise with the "in the middle of nowhere" feeling. I used to live in North Essex, and lots of my longer routes were through rural Suffolk/Cambridgeshire. It can be a VERY long way between shops in that part of the world, and even then they're not always open when you need them to be. Nor are they always in villages directly on your route. Detouring to a small market town can add 10 or more miles, but is the only way to (almost) guarantee finding a source of fluids.Food for thought, though. Thanks chaps!
Having said that, what I do is stop and re-fill any time I have space in one bottle, or even stop and neck the contents before re-filling. I don't always have a fixed plan for my routes so frequently don't know where/when I'll find the next shop, although they seem to be more common in Surrey/Hampshire than they ever were in deepest, darkest Suffolk.
Lastly, a word of warning re: twin saddle mounted bottle cages. Fit them properly, and check they're secure between rides. I saw a man walking down Leith Hill after the RideLondon event, carrying what looked like a pair of binoculars from a distance. It turned out to be one of those rear-facing bottle mounts, complete with two bottles, which was the rider's loss and this chap's gain.
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