You Century Riders..
KaktusJaque
Posts: 141 Member
What do you do for water when on a non sanctioned century ride? Do you just use two water bottles? I can’t see that working for me here in Arizona as I can use up one water bottle on a 30 mile ride. I may have to have a camelback to do a larger ride.
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I'm not used to the heat here in the Flathead Valley. When it's really hot and I'm needing to carry more water, I can carry two bottles on my bike and two in my jersey. If I need more, I'll drop the two in my jersey and go with a Camelback. It's a bit harder to clean since I can't just run it through the dishwasher like the bottles so I keep electrolytes in the bottles and just water in the Camelback.0
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2x750ml water bottles on the bike and a couple of foil wrapped "nuun" (or similar) tablets in the rule #29 breaking European Posterior Man Satchel just in case I have to dive into a shop/petrol station and buy an extra litre of water. Of course, in good old sunny Yorkshire, it's seldom that bad, but if all else fails, well - frankly, I call in a pub and buy a pint and sit in the beer garden and enjoy it, then get the barmaid to fill one of my bidon's for the rest of the ride.0
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2 x 750 ml bottles, one with water, one with electrolyte (Zero High5's is my 'weapon of choice').
I don't like stopping, but if I have to I will...0 -
This type of supposedly aero bottle holder was developed for Tri riders to keep the bottles in the riders wake (it attaches to the saddle rails). They dont look great and can be a bit rattley, but if used in conjunction with your two frame holders, that should give you plenty to drink. I can imagine that if I was riding around Arizona, I would need a trailer with a couple of gallons on it.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/profile-design-aqua-water-bottle-system-standard/rp-prod46011?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CjgKEAjwuMmdBRDljdfi2_qQpxkSJADDCRwsz5U9gD1uUZ_3H5un6-XVj8TKH5h9E4AjtT_i1Vc7ifD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds0 -
Zéfal make an oversized bottle called "Magnum". Supposedly 1 litre capacity but seems more like 900ml to me.
It would only fit in one of my bottle holders though.0 -
This type of supposedly aero bottle holder was developed for Tri riders to keep the bottles in the riders wake (it attaches to the saddle rails). They dont look great and can be a bit rattley, but if used in conjunction with your two frame holders, that should give you plenty to drink. I can imagine that if I was riding around Arizona, I would need a trailer with a couple of gallons on it.
I was thinking the same thing, but if the OP goes through a bottle every 30 mins, it's going to be unrealistic to carry enough bottles for a century ride.
Either
- learn/train to not need so much water (which will only help the problem, not solve it).
- make friends with a big camelbak
- accept that you're going to have to stop a few times to refil.0 -
not minutes, but miles.0
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not minutes, but miles.
Ah, totally misread that. In that case, a holder like above may well be a viable option for you.0 -
First if you are only drinking on bottle every thirty miles you are not drinking enough. One bottle an hour with moderate temps. When it gets hot you need more. What I do is plan my routes to include places I can buy water as needed or stops where there is a public source such as a developed campground or park. Some rides I set cache of water in gallon jugs in places that make sense.0
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First if you are only drinking on bottle every thirty miles you are not drinking enough. One bottle an hour with moderate temps. When it gets hot you need more. What I do is plan my routes to include places I can buy water as needed or stops where there is a public source such as a developed campground or park. Some rides I set cache of water in gallon jugs in places that make sense.
This. I don't think I would do an unsupported century without knowing there are guaranteed sources of clean water. I'm not sure it would be possible to carry enough water for 100 miles in the Arizona heat. Platypus makes reservoirs that hold 2 and 3 liters but you pretty much have to have a frame pack to carry that much.0 -
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It doesn't look like you have the handle bars but when I road a century ride back in earlier June all these folks had this huge square bottle stuck between those handle bars that stick out straight in the front with big rubber straws. It looked very weird but they sure had a lot of water. I wish I had a picture. I've also seen double water bottle holders on the frame plus double water bottle holders under the seat. And unless you are riding where there is no where to stop to fill up, many places will let you fill a bottle with water for free. And I saw a lot of people who had saddle bags that they stashed their extra water in. Its weight at first but as you ride, that weigh it going to be gone.0
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Plan your routes where you can obtain water (either purchased at a store or somewhere you can refill your bottles). It gets hot as the sun here in the swamps of south Louisiana. I've been known to kill as many as 8 to 10 bottles on long rides. At most I'll have 3 bottles (2 on the bike and one in the jersey pocket). But typically just 2 bottles and I make it a point to stop at my favorite places along the way (usually bodega's that carry fruit!)0
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In GA, 2 bottles will only get a person through about 50 miles. You could put a couple bottles in your back shirt pockets and disposing of the bottles when empty. That will give you 4. I would just plan a stop.0
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I always plan a stop when riding long distances. I carry two bottles and if it's really hot then I need to stop around mile 30 to refill.0
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Ha Ha thank you for this Archon, i might have to forgo the beer cans tho.0 -
Plan your routes where you can obtain water (either purchased at a store or somewhere you can refill your bottles). It gets hot as the sun here in the swamps of south Louisiana. I've been known to kill as many as 8 to 10 bottles on long rides. At most I'll have 3 bottles (2 on the bike and one in the jersey pocket). But typically just 2 bottles and I make it a point to stop at my favorite places along the way (usually bodega's that carry fruit!)
^^^ This. I don't like using a camelbak on my road bike so I generally try to plan my ride so I pass some gas stations or convenience stores. It's nice to have some places for potty breaks if needed too.
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By the way, who bothers to bring a heavy lock and lock up the bike when making such convenience stops for water and such?
My road bike is old, so I usually don't bother, but the thought has crossed my mind someone might steal it anyway by just tossing it in the back of a pickup truck. What a pain to be stranded then.0 -
It’s funny to me how simple the solution can be, but eluded me. I have always had the mindset to ride and not stop, like I'm in some race or something. So stopping at a convenience store never occurred to me. I would be concerned about someone making off with the bike as Archon stated, I would have to keep a close eye on it.0
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I've also ridden on with increasing dehydration because I dont have the confidence to leave my bike outside a shop on a busy road. Earlier this year I road the last 30 of an 85m jaunt with no fluids at all , just because all the shops I passed were facing straight onto the road. I favour forecourts generally, as they are glass fronted and allow me to keep an eye on my steed, plus they have security which would hopefully deter most opportunists.0
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I've also ridden on with increasing dehydration because I dont have the confidence to leave my bike outside a shop on a busy road. Earlier this year I road the last 30 of an 85m jaunt with no fluids at all , just because all the shops I passed were facing straight onto the road. I favour forecourts generally, as they are glass fronted and allow me to keep an eye on my steed, plus they have security which would hopefully deter most opportunists.
I know what you mean - as most of my rides are solo, I don't have the easy option of "watch my bike while I grab a bottle mate", and the prospect of leaving £3k+ worth of eminently nickable bike leaning against a shop window that's completely obscured by marketing stickers etc for the duration is scary to say the least :frown: .0 -
I've left my bike unlocked & unattended on several occasions in metro New Orleans (crime capital) to the swamp by roads. I never had a problem nor thought I would. I think most crooks would not be interested in doing "work" to make off on a bike. Of course larger cities like NYC there is a unique problem (even to those that lock them).
Moral of the story, pick your stops wisely. When in doubt, roll your bike in the shop and ask the cashier to keep an eye on it (you are a paying customer after all). I tend to stop at the same places often--so much they know who I am (workers and patrons) so they are pretty kind to me (always have bananas for me, etc.)0 -
I'm with Stu. I just pick my places and go to the same places. Granted, I live in Montana so crime isn't like New York, but I've never had a problem leaning my bike against a window where I can see it while I'm inside.0
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Lot depends on the ride and the time of year. In the winter, two bottles can easily last me 50+ miles but in the summer with temps often in the mid 90's and humidity north of 80%, I'll go through 2 bottles in 30 miles or so, especially if there is a lot of climbing. As most of my rides are rural, I try to pick routes that go past a petrol station or convenience shop. When those are unavailable I look for churches. They almost always have a tap outside and are happy to let a cyclist fill their bottles.0
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When I do a century ride, I carry three bottles and iodine tablets along with extra Cytomax and Saltsticks. But I'm riding on rural forest service roads with towns that are 30-50 miles apart, and don't usually have the option to refill at a store or gas station... I probably drink more water than most people, though, because I HATE cramping.
Speaking of century rides... that's a good idea for what to do on Sunday. Thanks for putting that in my head.0
