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Water on longer rides

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  • August 16, 2019 at 6:37 pm #30023
    road

    Personally I find it hard to bring myself to add the weight of an extra water bottle 0.75kg on long rides, having spent plenty of time and money on getting my bike light and efficient. But I also know the engine wont function without water.

    So, what to do! What is more efficient – stopping to refill or carrying the extra weight?

    Last couple of long rides Ive done (Yorkshire dales cycleway and Fred Whitton route) Ive taken one bottle and been fortunate enough to refill from friendly locals or public conveniences. But yesterdays 75mi ride I was struggling to find anyone/where to refill, and didnt have my water filter for rivers/streams I passed.

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  • August 16, 2019 at 10:20 pm #948505
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    Simon E
    Pilot Pete wrote:
    Unless you are at your ‘racing weight’ it makes bugger all difference carrying a second bottle. On a flat ride it makes even less difference.

    Even at ‘racing weight’ it’s almost entirely psychological.

    Adding 750ml will ‘cost’ you maybe 15 or 20 seconds on a ride with 1,000m of ascent – far less time than you’ll spend fannying about by a stream or walking into a cafe and sheepishly asking for water, knowing you should buy something while you’re there.

    And once you’ve drunk the water your bike will be light once more!

    August 16, 2019 at 8:29 pm #948503
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    Anonymous

    good call on the puritabs id

    good call on the puritabs id forgotten about those, ill get a few and keep them in my toolbag!

     

    August 16, 2019 at 7:48 pm #948501
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    Pilot Pete

    Unless you are at your

    Unless you are at your ‘racing weight’ it makes bugger all difference carrying a second bottle. On a flat ride it makes even less difference. It all comes down to how much of a ‘drinker’ are you? By that I mean do you tend to need lots of fluids on a ride or very few? I sweat profusely even on a winter ride (and no, it’s not because I over dress) so I need lots of fluid intake to remain hydrated. I ride with guys who barely sweat at all and don’t even drink one full bottle full on a 75mile ride.

    So it’s horses for courses really. I carry two 500ml bottles for anything over 50 miles, one energy drink, one plain water. I will top up at any stop, so often finish a ride with a full bottle of water. That doesn’t worry me in the slightest as I would rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

    Having said that, there are very few places in the UK where you would be unable to get water if you were literally on your last legs, especially if you are riding on the road. If it worries you, why not carry puritabs instead of your full on water filter? Taste is pretty shit but they kill anything in the water and it will have the same effect upon drinking. We used them extensively in the Army when filling water bottles from streams etc. They are tiny and weigh nothing. Believe me, when you are in the Brecon Beacons, carrying 30kg of kit and tabbing over mountain after mountain as fast as you can and have run out of water you don’t care how shit it tastes when you find it!

    PP

    August 16, 2019 at 7:38 pm #948499
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    Welsh boy

    What do you call a “long ride

    What do you call a “long ride”?

    I use one 500ml bottle for rides of up to 75 miles.  Did you know that you are not going to die if you are a little bit thirsty when you finish a ride?

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