[Closed] How much faster will I be without my camelbak...? Road bike content

a) 5
b) 92%

Keep it on and wind them up. Snobs. 🙂

do the same as me.
wear baggies - more pockets to put keys, coins, etc. in.
😈

do feel like i've forgotten or lost or missing something when the back is free though

How much stuff are you carrying to need a camelback? Just get a proper jersey with back pockets, all I carry is mini pump, tube, co2, multi tool, food and phone. Water goes in bottles on the frame.

a) how much faster do you want to be....
b) sod em!

I'd be looking for a new riding group if they get upset by someone wearing something they don't like. If you want to wear a CB, why should it affect them? Or is it slowing you down that much they have to wait for you?

The 'funny' thing is men in lycra plastered in advertisements in no way linked to them look stupid.

They then feel the misplaced arrogance to question what someone wears.

Ive never looked at male road cyclists and thought 'wow what trendy stunners they all are'. My bike/my kit my rules. 😀

granny_ring - Member
Keep it on and wind them up. Snobs.

If i doesn't bother you, bollox to 'em.

And it won't be 'your local road riding community'.
It'll be a few sad, middle class tossers judging others by their own, self imposed rules.

See also 'slammed' stems, lack of mudguards, 'lookalike' race bikes, not drinking enough, riding like a cock, throwing gel wrappers at sheep etc.

There is an argument to say wearing a camelbac could make you quicker. Aren't they supposed to help with aerodynamics? Like a TT helmet kinda thing?

Rule #32 // Humps are for camels: no hydration packs.
Hydration packs are never to be seen on a road rider’s body. No argument will be entered into on this. For MTB, they are cool.

That is all. However no idea if that applies to your tripster type gravel bike.

See?
🙂

Cycling - it's all about [s] freedom [/s] buying into a 'lifestyle', because you're too scared to live your own life.

Rules... are there to be broken 😉

There is NOTHING cool about an ugly rucksack full of water, tools and 3 changes of clothing incase the weather becomes a little... well.. weather like.

WTF do you need a camelback for?

Of course, you should never ride with people who take the Rules seriously.

I was determined to use mine on my road bike, then stopped as it made my back hurt. I also like the uncluttered feeling of road riding.

Same reason why i use a Deuter hip pack for mtb

Usually a camelback lobo if i do wear one. Quite small.
I use the excuse that my road bike is really a CX bike.
Baggies and camelback usually. Baggies and saddlebag sometimes.

edit: and camelback pocket is far more convenient to carry the mobile phone now that phones are becoming a bit oversized again

I also like the uncluttered feeling of road riding.

Surely having everything neatly stored away in a pack is as uncluttered as you can get. Rather than having pockets full and stuff hanging from the bike?!?

Haha, nice answers so far! 😀

I should have said that all the mates I ride with aren't bothered (mainly because they mostly ride mtb anyway). I've just had some funny looks from some other chain gangs and even comments from roadies that I've overtaken whilst wearing the back pack!

I finished in the top 5 in my category at last year's Southern xc series so have a semi decent motor to push the road bike along with, I just quite like the security of knowing that I've got all my spares (and a spot of lunch!) packed in my camelbak. 8)

Ignore the snobbery, camelbacks, like baggy shorts, just don't work well on a road bike.

Roadies don't use a camelback party because of "the rules" but mostly because there is no need at all, you can get all you need in a couple of bottles, you jersey pockets and a saddle bag if needed. It's more comfortably, you'll get less of a sweaty back and there is something very pleasant about having nothing there as well.

Lycra is the same, I wear it because it works. Yes, I may not look overly pleasant to other people but I'm a grown man on a push bike, I look like a tit anyway, I may as well be a comfortable tit.

Yikes... how much do you need to carry??
I dont even use a saddle bag in the summer...

take money and lunch out. Road cycling isn't for povos you know

Phone and a few quid in pockets. Spare tube, pump and water bottle on the bike. Any more than that and you're 'touring', in which case baggies are perfectly acceptable.

I just think it's sensible not to wear them. Why put stress on your arms and shoulders with the weight, and at the same time cover up your main radiator (back) for dumping heat?

Saddle bags, bottle cages and back pockets were invented for a reason, use them 🙂 Plus they are cheap and easier to clean also.

Dont ditch the camelbak......ditch the road bike! Problem solved!

The OP hasn't mentioned comfort.
I assume he's not uncomfortable.

I don't wear a bag on a drop bar bike as I find it uncomfortable.
I have a saddlebag, panniers or a bar bag instead.

If your poncing around on a fake Tour bike, living out a fantasy, then fine, you probaly enjoy being cold/wet/dehydrated and suffering as much a possible - that's what the pro's do, isn't it?
Oh, remember not to smile at anyone either.
😉

Modern 'road riding' is all about the martyrdom - it's self flagellation for those who can't admit that they'd be happier pootling along to the owl sanctuary on a nice tourer.
😀

It'll be a few sad, middle class tossers judging others by their own, self imposed rules.

I'm confused. The road group, or Singletrackworld?

if you are also wearing 5.10 impacts that is going to make you super cool and faster

Both.

If the overpriced Rapha cycling cap fits..................
😀

ha ha.... 😀

I call bull. The op reckons he's had funny looks 🙄 and no roadie is going to make a negative comment about a faster riders gear !! Thier more likely to think "will I be as fast if I get one" . Honestly no one out on the road could careless how you carry a drink.

Both.

If the overpriced Rapha cycling cap fits..................

incase It gets a bit chilly later you can stuff that in the camelbak with the other crap 🙂

taxi25 - Member
Honestly no one out on the road could careless how you carry a drink.

Oh yes they do - this place is full 'em:
Banging on about how they never drink water - just absorb it out of the air, how triples cause impotance and that enjoying yourself is cheating.
🙂

Probably not at all if you're upright enough for it not to slide into the back of your neck / helmet or that the waist strap digs in due to aero positioning 😆

I still don't get the need to wear 'baggies' on the road, at the very least they're damned uncomfortable and all flappy in the wind.

I still don't get the need to wear 'baggies' on the road

Through most of the winter one or two layers of lycra just aren't enough to keep your knob from freezing on long rides.

Caring too much about what others think,will slow you down.
FACT! 😉

Through most of the winter one or two layers of lycra just aren't enough to keep your knob from freezing on long rides.

I thought that was when they used the turbo trainer :-p

Mostly Balanced - Member
Through most of the winter one or two layers of lycra just aren't enough to keep your knob from freezing on long rides

What about nice wind proof water repellent fleecy lined bibs longs over a set of padded bit shorts?

Can't say I've ever had an issue to be honest.

a) at least this much -->| |<------- *
b) 7.876%

* not to scale

HTH

What about nice wind proof water repellent fleecy lined bibs longs over a set of padded bit shorts?

Roubaix bibs? That's what I use, and comfort "down there" is noticeably better on cold rides.

More to the point, how much faster will you be on your MTB from putting in the road miles 🙂

On the MTB I carry way more kit than I do on the road bike - and it gets used - spare tubes, toolkit, food etc.
On the road bike everything I need fits into my shirt pockets + 2 bottles on the bike.
You don't need anything like the amount of kit on a roadbike that you need on an MTB a) much less goes wrong b) you're not in the middle of the woods if it does so you can just limp back to the nearest cab/train station...
I suspect a heavy pack on your back for the position you're in and for the length of time you ride a road bike for, will do your back no good at all.

A couple of spare tubes, wallet, phone, pump and food will fit into your shirt pockets and you'll be right

IME roadie comments are 99% tongue in cheek

You wear a shirt on your road bike, are you Alan Partridge?

I find a camelbak more comfortable than having my jersey pockets weighed down with phone, keys, tube, multitool etc. Going bakless is a lot easier now I have the pump on the frame and tube and tool in a minimalist saddle pack.

I still use one on a long ride if I want lots of water though. The weight doesn't bother me at all, but then I am a strong alpha male not an emaciated roadie.

Oh look, another them and us thread.

[img] [/img]

If I really need to take water on my road bike I use a Camelback Hydroback. There's enough room in it for a bunch of keys and a phone, but the mini pump and tube still has to go in my back pocket.
I really don't like using bottles.

[url= http://www.camelbak.com/en/International/Sports-Recreation/Packs/Hydrobak.aspx ]http://www.camelbak.com/en/International/Sports-Recreation/Packs/Hydrobak.aspx[/url]

I tried ditching camelbak and baggies on the road and it does make a difference, at least to me. Not so much speed or drag but comfort, I have a dodgy back and not having any weight on my back whilst crouched down on the drops defo takes away back pain. That along with dialling in saddle angle perfectly and stretching before and after every ride.

And I definetly FEEL faster without baggies on, and hate having keys and stuff in the pockets anyway.

I still don't get the need to wear 'baggies' on the road, at the very least they're damned uncomfortable and all flappy in the wind.

That's ok, because some of us don't understand the 'need' to wear lycra anywhere 🙂

You must have been wearing some really odd shorts if they were damned uncomfortable.

Serious question - those wearing baggies on the road;don't you find they simply 'parachute' the air when going at speed??

I'd much rather be in lycra for road/xc racing (unless I'm in fancy dress) as baggies catch/flap about.
But yes, baggies look better and I feel more comfortable in the pub in them..

DrP

Endura ones are adjustable
Altura ones are a bit more "body fitting" and stretchy.
so no, not really noticed much, if any, flapping or parachute effect.
someone with stick legs might though

edit: and the only "catching" I find is baggies on the MTB with a quick release seat post clamp lever

Nope, but then i'm not wearing MC Hammer style baggies. They are fairly fitted TLD Skyline/Ace, or similar style short.

Might try to hunt those out and bin my day-glo hypercolour parachute pants I take on the MTB then...!!

Any models you recommend?

Dr

Serious question - those wearing baggies on the road;don't you find they simply 'parachute' the air when going at speed??

No.

HTH

Put it under the jersey and it will be more aero. I know a hardened rider who rides the Fred Whitton with his camelback just so.

Serious question - those wearing baggies on the road;don't you find they simply 'parachute' the air when going at speed??

Yes, plus they ride up and offer little warmth to my thighs. They just aren't the right tool for the job IMO. Fitted shorts have been used for bike racing for over 100 years for good reason.