BIke Hydration System

Why only an 8oz?  Can you elaborate more on where you can and can't put a bottle and why?

My new Felt B16 only has bosses for a bottle cage on the seat tube and a full size bottle fits there but is hard to reach while riding.  (The top of the bottle is too close to the top of the frame.)  I plan on solving this problem later by buying a side loading bottle cage.

I also purchased an Aero Hammock which allows for a variety of bottle sizes and other items to be placed between the aerobar extensions.

Before I bought the new bike and the Aero Hammock, I was using a Camelbak for longer rides.

-eric

a 70.3 will have 3 handups, which means 4 bottles total since you start with one. 4 bottles for 50 miles is more than almost anyone will ever drink. So one cage is really all you need.  If you want backup to be safe, or to hold extra food/calories, you can zip tie a normal cage between your aerobars and store a bottle there. This is usually the most aerodynamic way to keep a bottle on the bike, and it is cheap and easy.  Chris McCormack used this setup winning Kona this year. I used this setup as my only cage for the conroe half iron race a couple of years ago.  Had more water and gatorade than I needed.



Edited by jackmott 2011-02-10 6:30 AM

There are a few options:

Option 1: The most popular is to attach a bottle cage horizontally between the aerobars - its very aerodynamic and convinient. There are sevral products out there (Xlab Torpedo Mount, Aero Hammock, HED Lollypop, etc.) but what I found to work the best was to buy a $12 plastic bottle cage and simply mount it using wire-ties. Works like a charm.


Option 2: Speedfil Hydration System - I use this big (40 oz.) setup for the long training rides in the country where water stops are rare. I find its too much for races.


Option 3: Behind the seat mounting system. There are several choices - from the light but expensive Xlab Carbon Wing to simple ones like the Tacx Bottle Cage Saddle clamp (probikekit.com sells them cheap).  Bottle launcing is not really an issue if you get a full plastic or carbon cage.



Option 4:  King Cage Stem mount: only $8 and it looks simple, moderatly aerodynamic and convinient. Its simply a little metal piece that attaches to your head cap.


Option 5: Camelback style / on the body hydration systems. I'm not a fan (I overheat while wearing these) but there are people that like them.


For short sprints I use a single 'torpedo' style bottle between the aerobars - typically 750ml. For olympic (40km) races I'll add normal bottle cage on the downtube. For HIM and full IM there are bottle exchange stations every 30 minutes so I'm going with only the 'torpedo' bottle and one bottly behind the seat filled with nutrition (i.e. Boost). I hope this helps.
Cheers,


Edited by mgalanter 2011-02-10 7:32 AM

Hey...

I was about to suggest to you the Speedfil Hydration System...it works perfect for me....I love it...but...you mentioned that you have a small frame...and...you will have problem with this kind of System....

But our friend  magalanter here is suggesting other good options....beside the Speedfil

Good Luck...!!!

 

Edited by velorider62 2011-02-10 7:22 AM

THANK YOU SO MUCH! The pictures are very much appreciated and I now know what I need to get a 2nd bottle on my bike. Although a part of me thinks ya'll just wanted to show off your bikes  Very nice.

Part of the problem with my frame is there are pre-drilled holes for bottle cages but where they drilled the holes on the seat tube, they only left a couple of inches of wiggle room. I can shove a small bottle but getting it out is a different story. So I don't bother with a seat tube bottle cage. The cage on the down tube has a little more room but once again with my frame being so small and where the holes are drilled leaves room only for a smaller bottle.

I also didn't realize there will be an opportunity to replenish fluids every 30 min or so (first HIM). That makes me feel a lot better. Thanks a million!

There are also cages that let you slide the bottle in from the side, for example:

http://bontrager.com/model/08242

... not sure if there are other brands that do that.

There are some systems (Speedfil?) that you can strap on instead of bolt in.  That might give you some ideas.  For a HIM you need a couple spots for fluids.  If you can fit a speedfil in the frame maybe put a bottle on the aerobars that you can switch in and out?  The X-lab mounts are expensive, but Profile Design has an "HC Mount" that is pretty inexpensive.

BTW, love the Kestrels pics in here!

Edited by sand101 2011-02-10 12:31 PM

Tania I know how you feel.  I ride a 48 too so your limited as to what you can do.  For 70.3's and rides ~ 2-3 hours I use a profile aero drink and the use the one holder on the frame.  It wont fit  some of the larger water bottle  but I know I throw a smaller bottle or gatoraide bottle down there.  For myself to get comfortable with the aero drink I had to cut the straw and I also bought some womens hair bands thingys from walmart (Bout a $1 a piece) and put two around the bottle.  It doesn't move anymore.

For longer rides 3-5 hours I went on and bought a behind the seat holder to be able to carry 4 bottles worth of fluids.  I ride rural roads and there sometimes just isn't areas to stop and refill. 

I used an XLab mini rear system with a Aerodrink in the front for my long training rides and Branson 70.3.  Worked great, once I got the right screw length to tighten everything down on the rear system.

I know with the bottle hand ups that you should have plenty of fluids, but in training that isn't necessarily the case and on race day for me it was about 15 - 20 degrees hotter than usual and I not only drank everything that I started with, but took a full bottle at every hand up.  Still ended up with hydration problems on the run. I guess I would rather have fluids and not need them than to need them and not have them.

I've tried the profile designs aero bottle and hatted it. Then I just took a cheep steel bottle cage and zip tied it to my stem between the aero bars. Works great and cheap.
I just got a new Guru and my computer is on the stem so this will not work for me. The bike also only holds one bottle on the seat tube. I'm used to having three bottles with me on long rides. So I ordered one of these http://www.trisports.com/rehysy.htmlThe Revolution Hydration System made by Podiumquest. I have yet to use it because there is two feet of snow right now and that bike is staying inside. But just having it on the bike I can tell it's going to work a lot better then the profile designs one ever did.

This.

I went through the Rev3 140.6 with only 1 bottle holder between the bars and a virtue bottle filled with nutrition (non-refillable) on the frame. I was well hydrated at the end of the bike.

Is this how must people mount bike computers if they have aero bars with some sort of hydration system up front?

I have the Speedfil and it works great, but I only put water in it. if you do put in something like Heed, make sure you clean it out thoroughly !! Pain to take off and clean, and the hose/valve gets nasty after awhile. but otherwise a great system.

also have a dual cage in the rear, which has worked well. be careful when selecting the rear bracket and bottle cages, these systems tend to eject bottles. I found the Beaker Concepts Hydrotail bracket to be awesome with cheap plastic profile design cages.  basically everything else ejected bottles.

I'll add another vote for the Speedfil system. Its great not getting out of aero to drink or moving around too much to reach for a bottle.

Have you guys looked at the new Speedfil AR?  Looks like a great compromise between the standard aerodrink and the bar-mounted bottles. 

I understand it's set to come out this year sometime...does anyone know exactly when?

Edited by bmcgee 2011-02-11 11:11 AM

aero bottle on front and 2 cages on back...this is my HIM setup...the rear cage setup also holds spare tube, 2 C02's, and attachment head for C02...works well for me....good luck!
jb

I guess it's each to their own... if aerodynamics are of importance, some of the pictures on here are horrendous...

...but of course it isn't as important to everyone. (I mean, it's important enough to buy a multiple thousand dollar bike and all...)

New speedfill coming out soon - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=218579&id=281172357239 for inbetween the aerobars. I use the Xlab wing system for training as it means I can train with an about an extra 2kgs on weight on and also a=enables me to attach my rear light. I use camelbak podiums with the gorilla cages and have not yet had a launch. I just am not a fan of having to reach round to get them out, so will probably go speedfill or Torhans http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Torhans-Performance-Hydration/130209810360199 for when the season kicks in. Torhans come with an accessories mount as well for GPS. I currently mount GPS and lights using a bit of pipe between my bars. Will probably use it for racing too as hate having stuff on my stem when aero.

hehe

just remember guys, when considering sytems with straws or tubes:

where would you mount your cycling computer head unit?  That bottle system takes up your entire cockpit. Looks cool, but I like the original downtube version better.

I have a special apparatus I use for all races and training rides. Its called a 'wrist', and it holds my 310XT perfectly. On my road bike, I use the quick-release kit, but I don't have to worry about having a water bottle on my handlebars.

Unfortunately my Joule doesnt come as a wrist attatchment.