I've been using Camelbaks on road, gravel and MTB forever. I no doubt look like "a dork" on my road bike but don't care. Ironically, I dislike bladders so only use 2 24 oz camelbak insulatated bottles on all but one of my bikes. For ultra long events I use a bladder too. I carry a shit ton of extra layers, tools, tubes etc in my camelbak and somedays it weighs a lot. So I'm sort of doing weight-training while I ride. I rarely "race" at the riipe old age of 68. I do ride remote and often solo, so I like that I'm prepared for the huge weather changes here in northern New Mexico. I use a Camelbak Mule for road and gravel riding and a Hawg for MTB. I plan to get an USWE Airborne 9 for MTB and maybe a smaller 2L model for road riding. I would encourage you to ride smart and well equipped and not to worry what others think about your attire. I buy plenty of hiviz clothing and you can be sure my new packs will be yellow or orange. Cheers, George, stay safe and hydrated!
Oh trust me I don’t care what people think I look like. Most riders I know don’t don’t the ultra cycling events or long ass training rides I do. They would never be exposed to the remoteness or heat of inland or desert riding that I do. Cheers!
I think my only qualm with hydration packs of the past was how hard it was keep them clean after adding calories or electrolytes. This looks much easier to clean. I also started using Redmond unflavored re-Lyte for my electrolytes which doesn’t have any flavor or leave an residue so that in itself has been helpful. Would definitely like to try this pack on century + rides. Great review George! Doesn’t look dorky either! Safe riding!
Hi George. I got a 3L Camelbak to do Mauna Kea. Filled with water only and doubled the electrolyte concentration in the bottles. It was definitely needed for water, rain jacket, food and a few spare tools. Haven't had a need for it since. Do the same again? IDK. By the time you are packing 4-5 kg, it may be better to find a way to hang that on the bike. TBH, bike kit is pure dorks-ville anyway. So this isn't worse. OTOH, I'm thinking if we get wind-blown, rain-drenched, dirty and salty enough, maybe that begins to reveal a bit of a warrior thing? Ciao.
I just bought a smaller Cambak for last weekend’s ride in the heat. What I like about it filling up the bladder with ice in it to keep my back cool. Also, it’s convenient to drink in the middle of the climb. Wished you had this video out last earlier so I can buy this one. I also have the Osprey for my mountain bike. Btw you don’t look like a dork. You look like a RUclips mountain biker with that on. All you need is a GoPro attached to your chest 😅
Hydration pack for mountain biking but haven't tried one for road/gravel. How much perspiration do you get with this one on your back? I love my CB Lobo but on hot days my back is drenched when I'm done riding. Just water in my pack, the round CB opening makes it tough to clean out. I'll flush it out several times a year with water and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda.
There’s the crowd that frowns at the site of a road cyclist carrying a camelback type setup.. but it’s just a vanity thing. Around here in south Louisiana the temps are in upper 90s every day starting at 1pm. It’s very himid as well. Heat index well over a 100. Carrying a camelback is common here.. especially if riding during this times. I ride around 0630-1100 am so I xan get by with a couple of large bottles in the cages.. but man I wouldn’t mind carrying a camelback sometimes
You would never look like a dork (on your road bike!). I use a small 2L camelback on long rides and on dirt rides. Used it every day when I've done AIDS LifeCycle. Comes in handy. I only put water in it, since it's harder to clean than bottles. Nutrition/calories always goes in bottles.
That looks about as aero as you can get for a hydration pack. I wore one 20 years ago too when I mountain biked. Since switching to road I haven't needed one, but I haven't done a self-supported ultra ride. Looks good👍. Are you going to clip a blinker light on the pack?
I saw a video with Dylan Johnson in the wind tunnel. He was more aero with the hydration pack than without. Yes I will find a light to clip on it. I will have multiple taillights on my bike to satisfy the regulations of PBP
BTW - I have videos on here where I’ve ridden 5 hours no fluids or nutrition. In fact, the last 400 km event with 5200 m of climbing. I only had six bottles in an 18 hour event first to finish as well.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad Not really. On a 65 mile cycle last year I drank 4x 750ml bottles and one 2 litre bottle from a store midway. This is Scotland 🏴. It was about 20C. I guess I’m just massively unfit! I’m not a lightweight 🚴 😎💦
Trust me, I’m totally dehydrated as well sometimes for a couple of days after a hard day or race. But I don’t like to stop during my training rides, which then helps me prepare to stop very few times during my events/races.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad you’re a serious long term cyclist, George 😉. I’m a stimulant junkie who drinks 5 mugs of espresso a day and a big cigar in winter! However, cycling has pretty much saved my life. In summertime cycling becomes my only stimulant, but that transition from winter depression to summertime cycling junkie does mean I need super hydration and I’ve been struggling with severe muscle cramps after long rides. My HR shows I’m in zone 4 pretty much the entire 5 hours. That’s got to take its toll! Laurence
I've been using Camelbaks on road, gravel and MTB forever. I no doubt look like "a dork" on my road bike but don't care. Ironically, I dislike bladders so only use 2 24 oz camelbak insulatated bottles on all but one of my bikes. For ultra long events I use a bladder too. I carry a shit ton of extra layers, tools, tubes etc in my camelbak and somedays it weighs a lot. So I'm sort of doing weight-training while I ride. I rarely "race" at the riipe old age of 68. I do ride remote and often solo, so I like that I'm prepared for the huge weather changes here in northern New Mexico. I use a Camelbak Mule for road and gravel riding and a Hawg for MTB. I plan to get an USWE Airborne 9 for MTB and maybe a smaller 2L model for road riding. I would encourage you to ride smart and well equipped and not to worry what others think about your attire. I buy plenty of hiviz clothing and you can be sure my new packs will be yellow or orange. Cheers, George, stay safe and hydrated!
Oh trust me I don’t care what people think I look like. Most riders I know don’t don’t the ultra cycling events or long ass training rides I do. They would never be exposed to the remoteness or heat of inland or desert riding that I do. Cheers!
Thanks for the review. I want to buy one and doing my research on this model and found you. Not a dork!
Excellent review, I recently bought the same pack in white and you covered all the main points.
I think my only qualm with hydration packs of the past was how hard it was keep them clean after adding calories or electrolytes. This looks much easier to clean. I also started using Redmond unflavored re-Lyte for my electrolytes which doesn’t have any flavor or leave an residue so that in itself has been helpful. Would definitely like to try this pack on century + rides. Great review George! Doesn’t look dorky either! Safe riding!
any Hydropak brand bladder will work. They are reversible for cleaning
Hi George. I got a 3L Camelbak to do Mauna Kea. Filled with water only and doubled the electrolyte concentration in the bottles. It was definitely needed for water, rain jacket, food and a few spare tools. Haven't had a need for it since. Do the same again? IDK. By the time you are packing 4-5 kg, it may be better to find a way to hang that on the bike. TBH, bike kit is pure dorks-ville anyway. So this isn't worse. OTOH, I'm thinking if we get wind-blown, rain-drenched, dirty and salty enough, maybe that begins to reveal a bit of a warrior thing? Ciao.
I just bought a smaller Cambak for last weekend’s ride in the heat. What I like about it filling up the bladder with ice in it to keep my back cool. Also, it’s convenient to drink in the middle of the climb. Wished you had this video out last earlier so I can buy this one. I also have the Osprey for my mountain bike.
Btw you don’t look like a dork. You look like a RUclips mountain biker with that on. All you need is a GoPro attached to your chest 😅
Hydration pack for mountain biking but haven't tried one for road/gravel. How much perspiration do you get with this one on your back? I love my CB Lobo but on hot days my back is drenched when I'm done riding. Just water in my pack, the round CB opening makes it tough to clean out. I'll flush it out several times a year with water and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda.
There’s the crowd that frowns at the site of a road cyclist carrying a camelback type setup.. but it’s just a vanity thing.
Around here in south Louisiana the temps are in upper 90s every day starting at 1pm. It’s very himid as well. Heat index well over a 100.
Carrying a camelback is common here.. especially if riding during this times.
I ride around 0630-1100 am so I xan get by with a couple of large bottles in the cages.. but man I wouldn’t mind carrying a camelback sometimes
You would never look like a dork (on your road bike!). I use a small 2L camelback on long rides and on dirt rides. Used it every day when I've done AIDS LifeCycle. Comes in handy. I only put water in it, since it's harder to clean than bottles. Nutrition/calories always goes in bottles.
Looking like a Dork is better than looking like an individual who sits and eats to the point that you look like a dork in their fat infused eye bulbs.
Aww Thank You Michelle!
Put your jersey over the top of it and you have an instant aero hump. Brilliant!
I think Garmin team used to do that in their TT races!
That looks about as aero as you can get for a hydration pack. I wore one 20 years ago too when I mountain biked. Since switching to road I haven't needed one, but I haven't done a self-supported ultra ride. Looks good👍. Are you going to clip a blinker light on the pack?
I saw a video with Dylan Johnson in the wind tunnel. He was more aero with the hydration pack than without. Yes I will find a light to clip on it. I will have multiple taillights on my bike to satisfy the regulations of PBP
Excellent video, very helpful. Thank you 🫶
You’re Welcome! Let me know if you’re interested in purchasing a USWE or a different hydration pack
What is this sorcery you speak of?
I can drink 5 litres on a 5 hour ride. I’m always dehydrated by the end of a 65 mile road ride.
Wow! Are we talking about a high temperature climate? Unless it is really hot (above 90°F 32°C) I drink 750 mL every three hours or so.
BTW - I have videos on here where I’ve ridden 5 hours no fluids or nutrition. In fact, the last 400 km event with 5200 m of climbing. I only had six bottles in an 18 hour event first to finish as well.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad Not really. On a 65 mile cycle last year I drank 4x 750ml bottles and one 2 litre bottle from a store midway. This is Scotland 🏴. It was about 20C. I guess I’m just massively unfit! I’m not a lightweight 🚴 😎💦
Trust me, I’m totally dehydrated as well sometimes for a couple of days after a hard day or race. But I don’t like to stop during my training rides, which then helps me prepare to stop very few times during my events/races.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad you’re a serious long term cyclist, George 😉. I’m a stimulant junkie who drinks 5 mugs of espresso a day and a big cigar in winter! However, cycling has pretty much saved my life. In summertime cycling becomes my only stimulant, but that transition from winter depression to summertime cycling junkie does mean I need super hydration and I’ve been struggling with severe muscle cramps after long rides. My HR shows I’m in zone 4 pretty much the entire 5 hours. That’s got to take its toll! Laurence