Do you use a camelbac while riding?

[coho]

I have a Platypus bladder that goes in the tankbag.  Mostly just for longish rides.

My Rapid Transit tank bag has a plastic lined sleeve with a rubberized opening for the tube.  It's clever, because the bladder is at the bottom so the stuff in the bag presses down on it, lightly pressurizing the water, but that bag only fits on the R1100R (magnet bags won't stick to the RT and it's bigger than the tank on the TW).

None of my other tankbags (there are many, I have more tankbags than bikes.  I know it's a problem, I'm trying to cut down   ) have any provision for that, so I just toss the bladder in and run the hose out the zipper.  Works a treat.

[photomd]

Yep...I put one in the right side chest pocket of my 'stich. Filled with ice, it's a little air conditioner when the heat gets above 95 and it keeps me hydrated. You can see the tube stickin' out here:



I only use it on longer trips, but is great to keep fatigue at bay and keeps me feeling better while riding. I think the pocket in the 'stich is one of the great features of the suit. That pockets keeps me from adding one more thing to my bike or body making it easier to get suited up and on the road.  

[cbsnbiker]

Yep...I put one in the right side chest pocket of my 'stich. Filled with ice, it's a little air conditioner when the heat gets above 95 and it keeps me hydrated. You can see the tube stickin' out here:



I only use it on longer trips, but is great to keep fatigue at bay and keeps me feeling better while riding. I think the pocket in the 'stich is one of the great features of the suit. That pockets keeps me from adding one more thing to my bike or body making it easier to get suited up and on the road.  

JOOC, which one are you using in your 'Stich?

I had two old ones that fit great in there. One broke, the other one is getting tired.

(Nice bike, BTW. I used to have one.)

[photomd]

The best one I had was from Walmart. It had a roll up seal at the top and was thin and long. It fit the 'stich pocket perfectly. Its outlet wasn't very good so I cut it off and put on a straigtht Camelback bit thingie. It worked very well. It wore out and died on a long hike several years ago.

My current one is a 2L Pladypus with the 90 degree locking outlet. It fits OK, but the hose is hard to adjust properly and the outlet is difficult to use. I may swing my Walmart before my next trip.

[stromgal]

Platypus wide-mouth (allows me to easily add ice) in the tank bag. A few pulls/swallows every 10 minutes or so. I was amazed some years back, when I first started using it on trips, by how much longer I could ride while still feeling alert.

[Squareman357]

Yup.  3 liter CamelBak.  If temps are high, I carry it on trips.  Don't use it locally, I can always stop for water somewhere when local.  Doesn't bother me having it on my back, and I like being able to take a pull whenever I feel like it.  Went to the Ozarks a week or so ago with 100 degree temps and 115 degree heat indexs.  Went through 2 full bags every day we were down there.  I needed ever drop.

[Cageless-in-Seattle]

I also have a CamelBak.  I always used it on my longer trips.  However, since buying a Shoei Multitec helmet, I've been taking the 'Bak along more often.  I can now get quick drink just by flipping up the front of the helmet.  No more snaking the drinking tube under the helmet or taking off the helmet for a drink.  

[maddjack]

I just started using one when I go on longer rides.  I start out with water and ice and when that is gone, I stop at McDonolds and fill it with ice and tea.  The nice thing is when it is hot out and I pack it full of ice, it helps keep me cool.

Not yet but I want one

[WBBG]

I tried it on a long run once and found it great when riding in hot weather. I kept it in my tail pack and it worked fine and was nice to have. I also found it to be a pain in the ass to maintain and it was condensing in my tail pack. I also don't have patience to deal with it in my day and now just carry a bottle of water and stop to drink.

My brother and I started using it as a water supply to wash our hands durring breaks.

[cbsnbiker]

Years ago, when crossing the Nevada desert on my way to California, I had five gallons of water in a collapsible container bungeed to the back of my bike. I wanted water JIC I broke down somewhere.

As it happens, I came upon a fellow rider who had run out of gas in between gas stations in western Utah. I shared water with him.

[Justin]

As it happens, I came upon a fellow rider who had run out of gas in between gas stations in western Utah. I shared water with him.

Sharing is caring  

Did you then split, and leave him there?

[cbsnbiker]

Sharing is caring  

Did you then split, and leave him there?

No. While we were trying to figure out how to get some gas out of my tank into his, a guy stopped by in his pickup truck. He had a jerry can in the back. He filled the other guy's gas tank. Not only would he not take any money for the gas, but he wouldn't even let the guy refill the jerry can for him. Nice guy.  

[chosemerveilleux]

I've thought about it.

But I wonder about comfort in regards to feeling tight around the shoulders and the weight wanting to make me want to slouch over the tank.

What other options are out there besides water bottles?

Having a camelback on never bothered me either mountain biking or snowboarding, so I can't imagine it causing discomfort (properly adjusted, of course) on a motorcycle, when I'm doing a hell of a lot less moving around.  I use them whenever the temps are over 80 degrees.  In fact, I fill my camelbak bladder about a third of the way and then put it in the freezer;  The ice block lasts for hours and there's the added bonus of the coolness on your back.

I have a bad back and the little bit of additional weight 100 or 70 ounces adds never caused me to slouch over the tank.  But I bet getting dehydrated could cause someone to slouch, or worse.

Its entirely too easy to get dehydrated when you're out all ATGATTed up and the temps are high.  Sometimes the ride gets good enough that one forgets to pull over and pull out a bottle until its too late.  With the Camelbak its right there, all the time.

[Justin]

No. While we were trying to figure out how to get some gas out of my tank into his, a guy stopped by in his pickup truck. He had a jerry can in the back. He filled the other guy's gas tank. Not only would he not take any money for the gas, but he wouldn't even let the guy refill the jerry can for him. Nice guy.  

Damn, where exactly was this? I'm gonna see if I can get some free gas too.

[bomber]

I had a 1 litre bag that fit my stich pocket perfectly -- on a recent 95+ day long ride, 1 litre wouldn't even last long enough to get from one gas stop to the next -- picked up a 3 litre backpack like device -- in this case, less is not more.

[ConPilot1]

A must for a long trip. Steady, small quantity hydration is key to beating road fatigue. I didn't pay a dime to refill mine and keep it topped off with ice on a 10 day trip.
I have an original 70oz 'Bak. It's comfy and once you're used to it being there you don't even know it's there. Hanging on my driving light on the Connie.
I had no problem with the 90° bite valve getting up under the Scorpion EXO700 and now I have a Multitech it's much easier.

I got to meet Punky + Lew with my Bak also. Little dog was thirsty and the water supply to the campground was shut down.
Lew approached me and noticed my Bak and asked for some water for the pup.  

[cbsnbiker]

Photo of pup?

[Major 662]

I had no problem with the 90° bite valve getting up under the Scorpion EXO700 and now I have a Multitech it's much easier.

I could get the bite valve in under my Arai Signet easily, but with my Shoei Qwest, it's a bit of a trick.  I installed the noise-reducer chin shroud that came with the helmet, and it doesn't leave much room.  On top of that, I'm a little worried that if I just jam the CamelBak bite-valve into the helmet, the chin shroud (or whatever it's called) will pop off and fly away.  Still definitely worth the hassle on a long ride, though.

[ConPilot1]

Photo of pup?

This is Punky, Lew, and I think the chick on the back is someone he picked up in South America on the ride. I'm pretty sure he married her.
I guess the dog traveled 50Kmiles with Lew on a KLR650 from Fla., to Prudhoe Bay, and all the way down to Tierra Del Fuego.

pretty impressive.

[cbsnbiker]

Awwwww....

(No helmet -- for the dog?   )