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So, it seems to be back to the season where a single bottle isn't necessarily enough for a longer ride and my Top Fuel only has a single set of bottle bosses.
I'm not a fan of a Camelbak on a hot day, and I’ve had a certain amount of "range anxiety" about finding places to refill in the past - big thanks to Biketart where they were happy to refil a bottle last summer when they were trying to close.
So, what's the best (least worst?) option for adding an extra cage? Saddle rail mounts seem popular with triathletes, but there seem to be an overwhelming number of options, many of which look a bit flimsy for mountain bike use. Are there problems with a bottle there and dropper posts? Bottles being in the firing line for, erm, "offensive vegetable matter" thrown up by the back wheel?
Any personal recommendations gratefully received!
From bitter experience, on a full suspension bike with a dropper post, I'd never hang something off the back of my saddle (again) that I wasn't happy seeing flying over my shoulder shedding pieces after landing a huck to flat.
Plus, in my late 40s, I had to ask the young people on the trail with better eyesight to help me look for the pieces afterwards.
Bum bags with hydration bladders work well on hot days. No sweaty back.
https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/accessories-c11/bags-and-cases-c137/bontrager-rapid-pack-bag-p17780
One 750ml bottle on the bike and one 600ml bottle in this does the job for me for most rides
You can get a cheap bar mounted bag (feed bag) that will take a smaller bottle no problem. The likes of Decathlon have them.
No idea where cheapest place to buy them now, but I bought one of https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/topeak-bottle-cage-mount from Halfords in the 2018 heatwave, was great... Just got to find it now in the various spares boxes in the mancave after not using it for at least three years! 😆
Thanks all, some ideas to ponder there!
I'm not keen on the idea of a hip pack / bum bag, perhaps I should get over myself and try one though.
How about a water filter bottle and just source water out on the trail? Depends where your riding
How about a water filter bottle and just source water out on the trail? Depends where your riding
That's my current solution. Works as long as there's some water in the streams.
https://www.millets.co.uk/16203794/water-to-go-75cl-active-water-bottle-16203794
Nice idea, but Kent's pretty dry by the time that the weather gets hot. Sadly it now seems typical to get no rain for 3-4 months over the summer.
I might find the odd sheep trough, but I don't fancy even filtered stagnant puddle water. 😉
I use something similar to this to have 2x 750ml bottles side by side mines an eBay special ...
<p style="text-align: center;"> https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/b-rad-double-bottle-cage-adapter</p>
Crap posting but go google
Yes. Get over yourself and get a bum bag with hydration bladder. 😂
I too was sceptical and mocked a mate with one until I begrudgingly tried it one day. Bought one the day after and use it all the time now. Surprising what you can cram in the as well as the water.
I use one of these on my anthem for longer rides:
https://www.on-lynecomponents.com/collections/the-holy-rail/products/holy-rail-dual-cage-kit
It also lets me put 3 750 ml bottles on my road bike.
I think Fidlock do a mount that straps onto your frame. I love my Fidlock bottle, never lost it no matter what I rattle down on my HT. They also do a universal adapter so you can use any size bottle you want (currently have an 800ml Klean Kanteen strapped to my bike as an extra bottle.
I have a bar bag that takes a bottle and/or a hip pack
Blimey they have gone up on price alot!
https://alpkit.com/products/stem-cell
Both were fine on long days out. Both were fine on some daft stuff
http//ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb19462261/p3pb19462261.jpg
I’m not keen on the idea of a hip pack / bum bag, perhaps I should get over myself and try one though.
Try one, they're a great compromise. Just big enough to hold warm things in winter like some food, down jacket, waterproofs, and 1.5l of water in summer.
I've drunk some fairly sketchy looking water before and survived, but I wouldn't recommend it. Once it gave me a slightly dubious gut for a few hours but got over it, that's the worst in 20 years MTBing. I keep meaning to get one of those filter bottle/straws though.
I don't like wearing backpacks, or even hip packs. I'm really heat sensitive so either doesn't work for me. I have a few of the stem cell type bar bags (I made them though, not sure I'd want to pay 40 quid for one...) and they work alright.
For proper long rides I take a few collapsible water bottles in my jersey pockets. I refill the bottles on the bike as soon as they get low. they then just scrunch up.
Added bonus if you keep them in the fridge or if you are a sadist, freezer overnight you get a very cold back for the first hour or so.
For proper long rides I take a few collapsible water bottles in my jersey pockets.
Which bottles do you use? This has been something I've been meaning to get for a while.