You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Been considering going back to a bottle cage after years of a backpack and trying to get rid of the pack especially for shorter rides. Not used a cage since old road days in youth, never off road.
So trying it out on the hard tail and fine on a nice day, but one muddy day and the thing is caked in mud, meaning having to get the gloves filthy taking the bottle off and trying to wipe the mouth piece each time. Then at one point I can smell dog shit on it. Nice.
What do people do about this, or is it just something you put up with?
Though the next thing to try is a hip bag as it's the trendy thing to do. Water in bladder maybe or just the type with a bottle pocket.
One thing I do like about a backpack is it tends to keep the water insulated so can remain cool for a while during a ride on a hot day. Bottle is just warm. Though could get an insulated bottle I guess.
I have mudguards.
Camelbak podium dirt.
Get a bottle that has a cover over the nozzle.
Downtube mudguard keeps most of the crap off mine. Plus a lid over the nozzle.
But then, if I'm regularly riding through places covered in dog shit, I wouldn't have it on the frame TBH. Sticking out of a hip pack would be no cleaner, so it would be a bladder inside a pack.
Mudguard on the downtube is the way to go. Keeps most muck off but you still have to be careful - a strong side wind or your mates riding to the side will circumvent it. Then as Martin notes, there are some rides/conditions that are so bad that you'll be better off with bladder in a pack, though if your frame takes it you could put a small (2L or so) bladder in a frame or partial frame bag and just have the hose handy. There's still the occasional day when the bite valve will get covered in crap as well.
There is also scotroutes patent crapguard
Few people talking of bottles with caps. What you using the podium dirt is pretty rubbish and the only other one I can find is from Halfords?
Decathlon do bottles with pop open lids - works for me. Halfords had some in recently
[img] 
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/46882841115/ ]Pooguard[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/22384952@N02/ ]Colin Cadden[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode ]Flickr2BBcode[/url]
[img] 
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/46882840965/ ]Pooguard1[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/22384952@N02/ ]Colin Cadden[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode ]Flickr2BBcode[/url]
Decathlon do indeed have £4( roughly) capped bottles. Always used them.
Just unscrew the shitty lid and drink from the clean bottle.
I've no idea how any can ride without a Crud Catcher. I certainly can't, in fact on any bike with front suspension I seem to need a Crud Catcher and one of those thin plastic ones that zip to your fork brace otherwise my eyes are full of crap in no time.
And the Crud Catcher keeps the bottle clean of course so I have never had this problem in all my years of biking.
Camelbak podium dirt or Elite Fly MTB are my suggestions
Exactly what Molgrips said!
Why TF would you F about & just not put a Crudcatcher on?
the only other one I can find is from Halfords?
I use the Halfords one. It's a water bottle, it holds water and the lid stops me getting mud/poo in my mouth, so what if it's from Halfords?
So after umpteen years of moving away from crap-covered unsecure bottles we've come full circle.
If anybody wants one (or three) I've plenty from the last enduro I marshalled.
Best throw it down the trail beforehand so at least you'll know where it lands..
How can the podium dirt possibly be rubbish? it's a water bottle ffs.
Deal with it. Chances of you getting dog shot on it again are very slim. You’ve had your bad luck...It’s never happened to me once; as far as I’m aware anyway!
I’ve had a bit of cow shot before but generally just mud and enough of that ends up in my mouth anyway when the trail is really wet!
If not, a mudguard should sort you out.
Elite Corsa for me. The cap can be removed and fitted to other Corsa bottles.
Scotroutes - thats bloody genius mate