Bidon or Backpack?

[LordNikon]

So which way to go?

Hydration is one of those things you can't avoid while riding and the fitter I seem to get the more I seem sweat, which means I gotta drink even more. :shock:

Personally I like having plenty of luggage space to carry things while out riding the trails. But I did the recent 8 hour endurance race with bottles and a seat bag and really enjoyed the lack of sweaty back.

What do you guys think?

 

[LTR]

neither.... isnt there another option??

anyway... who needs water??

 

[wombat]

Wow, now that we've had our quota of stupidity...

I used to be a bottle man but I finally made the switch to a pack the other week; a MULE (on the advice of this board) and I'm never going back. The most I've carried in it is 2.5L plus tools and tubes and with it nicely tied down I don't even notice it. Water storage is HEAPS better than bottles, and it's great to be able to carry the camera/tools/spares without a seatpack making my bike any more rattly that it already is.

Probably the best thing I've invested in in a while; I whole heartedly say pack.

 

[Rik]

Ummm... bidon in a backpack :lol:
My bladder died, my frame doesn't have room for a full size bottle, so 2 + 2 = 3

 

[CHEWY]

Ummm... bidon in a backpack :lol:

hahahaha... thats actually what I do! My frame doesnt have bidon cage bolt holes and I dont own a camelback so I have to make do.
I am buying a hydration pack soon tho, actually, a small backpack with a bladder in it...

 

[Mommers]

I use a small camelback hydroback then a cheapo bag on top of that.

 

[Velophile]

I went to a hydropack when I got my first FS bike, no room for bidon cage/s. Prior to that I'd always used bottles. Now I won't ride without it. I even used it touring & on my road bike. I still use a bidon for energy drinks as I don't put anything other than water in the bladder. The bladder gets enough pond scum in it with only water.

 

[Saint George]

If l am going out for a couple of hours l take a drink bottle and chuck a muesli bar or two in my jersey pocket. But if l'm going out for for anymore than three hours then it's the backpack. At least that way you can carry a camera, extra parts and tools, food and heaps more H2o.

 

[SPyX]

I wouldn't vote either side, but if I could afford something other than I got - just a south face backpack (small), then I would buy something better..

But I cope with a backpack - sure I get a sweaty back, but thats going to happen whatever you have!

I wanted a camelback, but for me, it is too much, so I'm gunna buy a bladder and shove it in my backpack, so it'll serve as a CB.

A backpack is useful when you need to put something in it, like some part thats come off or, maybe a drink or food or something as a one-off whilst riding..

So I guess backpack gets the vote for me, but depends what you do!

 

[Daver]

i have a mule and i love it.. although i still have a bideon on my frame for sport drinks...

 

[ellemenophee]

I also have a old Mule camelback.
It is the best way to ride. It is hell crusty from sweat.
Although i have heard some people clean them with dried packets of rice, i go with the piece of cloth tied to some string & pull it thru- just to stop the algae build up in the tube. That algae will make you hella sick Velophile.

 

[DEVLIN]

bidon for racing and anything shorter than 2 hours. planned epics always the balckburn hydropak (i think that is what it is called)

 

[Cúl-Báire]

Both! Generally I use my Pak for MTB and the Biddon for road miles (normally getting to the trail head), the bottle is almost always filled with some kinda energy drink, Poweraide usually 8)

 

[Mommers]

sorry to hijack, but can someone tell me if its normall to have a slight mould in your bladder, and how do you clean it??

 

[Cúl-Báire]

Fill it with watter and then some Bi-Carb soda, say 2 or 3 tb spoons. shake it up, then let it settle.

Another alturnitive is Water and a heap of rice thrown in, then shake the hell outa it

Rinse the bladder out afterwoods, the watter will taste shit for a bit, but heyy it's watter

 

[SPyX]

Which would probably be more benefitial, getting a camelbak or just the bladder - and put it in my backpack?

 

[Velophile]

I also have a old Mule camelback.
It is the best way to ride. It is hell crusty from sweat.
Although i have heard some people clean them with dried packets of rice, i go with the piece of cloth tied to some string & pull it thru- just to stop the algae build up in the tube. That algae will make you hella sick Velophile.

Yeah, the pond scum isn't too good.
I think you can buy a cleaning kit for CB bladders. They have a tube cleaning brush & "thing" for holding open the bladder so it dries.
The pack straps are slowly turning white with salty crust, gotta wash it!

 

[Rik]

If you wanna clean your pack, you can also use dissolvable tablets that are meant for cleaning babies bottles. Dry it by using a bent coathanger to fit inside.
Don't clean yours with chlorine, unless you like drinking pool water... the taste never washes out.

 

[SPyX]

lol Rik!

I don't think it would be too good for you either

 

[schmook]

I just bought a mule a few weeks ago. I think i've got a crush on the shop boy. He has a interesting french accent and I like he pronounces "slalom".
apart from that the mule is cool.
and my recommendation for water bladders is to go to joynt venture or some other shop that sells "paraphenalia" and buy some bong wash! Its works beautifully in bladders. If theres a bit of scum that is hard to remove fromt he sides, put a little (uncooked) rice in and rub it about.