Camelbak while riding?

[Twism86]

Does anyone wear a Camelbak or any other type of hydration pack? I used to wear one for dirt biking or mountain biking (not road biking, its un-cool  ). Was thinking of getting one but was wondering about anyone else's experience.

Tom

[kman]

Some have said it is better to stop and get off the bike to have a drink so that you can move around and loosen up a little bit and you get a chance to evaluate weather or not you are too tired to keep going.  If you never have to stop you may not realize how tired you are.  I like to take a few stops on long rides

[Twism86]

True it would be just as easy to have a small backpack with a few bottles of water.

[offcamber]

I use one hiking all the time....I had a motorcycle jackets a long time ago that had one built in...never really used it. I tend to agree with the above posts. Just carry some water on your bike and take a break for a drink on the long trips. 

[DoD#i]

(not road biking, its un-cool  ).

But that's the best reason of all to use one while doing that  - also to put fairings on, ride recumbents, and generally tweak the noses of the "let's keep road bicycles as close to un-evolved as possible" crowd. They may be using carbon-fiber, but the various federations have killed more useful innovation than you can shake a stick at over the past 80 years or so.

I use a camelbak extensively when chainsawing, brush-clearing, etc. Never wanted it much while riding the bike - prefer to stop somwhere that I can offload lite beer in need of chilling and carbonation at the same time I tank up on new fluids to be converted into lite beer feedstock. If you are looking at buying one just for the purpose, I suppose it would depend on how thirsty you get and what impact the price has on your weekly budget as to whether the somewhat cheaper option of putting a couple of bottles in a tank or tailbag makes more sense. If you have one sitting around from dirt/mountain biking, no reason not to just give it a whirl if you like. Might want a good long bleach treatment if it's been sitting unused for a long time, is all.

[bubba zanetti]

Use it, it's the easiest way to stay hydrated in hot weather.

[djkdjk07]

Once I start sippin I can never stop. I'd just bring liquids with me and put them in a tank bag or back pack. I'm going to have to stop either way, cause i'll be peeing a whole lot more if I have the pack.

[rger8]

I use a Hi-Tek ( Magna Model ) backpack with a bladder. I dont drink from it while I ride it's just nice to have on longer trips so I dont have to mess with bottles. Just took it on a 180 miler and it was nice to have as well as hold all the needless junk I take with me. Assuming I keep this bike I will be going to soft side bags soon.

PS- I really like the bike, makes a super nice Mini-touring machine IMO!

[jp]

They're great to use when you're traveling in hot weather. I have one I put in the tankbag, inside of an insulated lunchbag. It holds one quart, and I refill it when I stop. If I'm just out for the day, I'd rather stop and take a break when I want something to drink, but if you're traveling, you're better off staying hydrated than guzzling down water when you stop to re-hydrate. I've done 600 mile days where I didn't need to stop and take a leak, except when getting gas. Much less fatigue over the course of a day than if you drink a quart of water every hour or so when you stop.