handlebar bag fluid

I've done several long gravel events this spring, all in cooler weather here in the midwest, and I've been a bit surprised with how little fluids I've needed to get through 110 miles and feel good at the end.  This past weekend, though, I did my first hot 100 miler (80's F) and used the same strategy but imploded at mile 70 - I suspect from being too dehydrated.  

As of now, I've got two water bottle cages on the bike.  I'm not interested in a camelback type fluid reservoir on my back because my butt gets sore as it is, and I don't want any more weight pressing down on the seat.  Also, I thought it made more (?) sense to carry a camelback type fluid reservoir in a handlebar bag - like the one that Cedaero makes.

So, my question is, why don't more riders put fluids in a handlebar bag?  Concern for the drinking tube working its way free and into the spokes?  Bag straps taking up real estate on the bars?  What am I missing?

I think the weight of the water at that position on the handlebars would make the bike difficult to control. Lowering the weight to the lower forks dramatically reduces this, and that is why you see many riders with cage mounts on the lower forks for water bottles. 

The other common option is to put a blander in a half frame bag under the top tube. This also keeps the weight off of the steering, and still allows for bottles in the lower triangle, under the half frame bag. 

 

nellborg wrote:I've done several long gravel events this spring, all in cooler weather here in the midwest, and I've been a bit surprised with how little fluids I've needed to get through 110 miles and feel good at the end.  This past weekend, though, I did my first hot 100 miler (80's F) and used the same strategy but imploded at mile 70 - I suspect from being too dehydrated.  

As of now, I've got two water bottle cages on the bike.  I'm not interested in a camelback type fluid reservoir on my back because my butt gets sore as it is, and I don't want any more weight pressing down on the seat.  Also, I thought it made more (?) sense to carry a camelback type fluid reservoir in a handlebar bag - like the one that Cedaero makes.

So, my question is, why don't more riders put fluids in a handlebar bag?  Concern for the drinking tube working its way free and into the spokes?  Bag straps taking up real estate on the bars?  What am I missing?

I've done a number of long distance events on my mountain bikes, "gravel" bike, and road bikes. Through those events, I've also tried all manner and method of carrying hydration. Very often, on the long distance MTB and gravel events; finding potable water is near impossible without carrying a personal filter (have also done this but it ain't easy).

I've run a Revelate Tangle frame bag with hydration reservoir inside and standby reservoirs at mileage intervals to replace it. That worked okay, but the real problem with that setup became how to safely stow the drinking tube and keep it out of the front wheel/spokes. I tried zip ties, velcro strips, and gave brief thought to trying a magnetic cable reel, but never followed through. The thing I did like about that setup was keeping the weight centered and low on the bike.

More often than not, when I want/need to carry more than two bottles; I'll use two mountain feedbags up at the stem-bar intersection. One bag will hold the current bottle from which I'm drinking and the other bag may hold a full spare, or may just hold other solid nutrition for ease of access. Then two more bottles in their respective cages. I've never had any problems with steering when two full bottles in those bags up at the stem-bar. That's a little over a pound each bottle in a 26oz full size.

2015 DK200 bike
 
2014, 2016, and 2019 DK200 bike setup:
 

That looks like a very good option, thanks for the input.  Would putting the bottle bag on the front of the bars be better or worse....?  I'm thinking out front might mess with steering a bit...

It all depends whether you are riding to win, or just for yourself. I'm in the latter category, so this has worked well for me:

1) Drink a full large bottle before you start.
2) Carry two full large bottles (or 3 if it's really hot- most gravel bikes have a 3rd bottle mount)
3) Repeat at midway point.

Simple, but effective, for me at least.

nellborg wrote:That looks like a very good option, thanks for the input.  Would putting the bottle bag on the front of the bars be better or worse....?  I'm thinking out front might mess with steering a bit...

Any weight in front of the bars and closer to the invisible line that intersects your front axle will negatively affect your steering input. Always try to keep weight as centered to the bike's C.O.G. as possible. That maintains as neutral an input as necessary on the bike's handling and steering.

Not as critical for the rear axle and steering but excessive weight up high always has a disproportionate effect on the bike's handling. That negative effect can transfer to fatigue on your part as you are having to put more effort into keeping the bike stable and tracking. Think Zen and the art of balance...

Afolpe wrote:It all depends whether you are riding to win, or just for yourself. I'm in the latter category, so this has worked well for me:

1) Drink a full large bottle before you start.
2) Carry two full large bottles (or 3 if it's really hot- most gravel bikes have a 3rd bottle mount)
3) Repeat at midway point.

Simple, but effective, for me at least.

This might work for a little while but your body is constantly expending energy while riding (even at "just for yourself" pace). Not only will you need to replace those calories at some point, your body is like a huge battery; it requires a certain level of electrolytes to maintain basic functionality.

Throughout all of my events; I've reached a level of comfort with consuming one, 26oz, bottle of 200-300 calories for every 1.5 hours on the bike. That's regardless of pace. The body simply cannot absorb nor process but so many calories per hour anyway. That number varies slightly per person but is pretty average around 2.5x your RMR.

Ultimate limit of human endurance found

Totally agree. I should probably add that I'm not at the totally pointy end, but I'm not that slow either.

Before I ride 100 miles (or more), I drink a large bottle containing one packet of Skratch Hyper Hydration mix (just a sh*tload of sodium citrate). I have found this to make an enormous difference for me, in terms of keeping up my intravascular fluid levels, and avoiding cramping. Then I bring with me two large bottles, usually with a fairly dilute electrolyte mix (either purchased or homemade, depending on what I have around). Then, if it is really hot, I will typically drink another bottle with the Skratch HH mix, and repeat the entire process, or I will take one packet of the Skratch HH mix and divide it between two bottles to carry with me, while drinking one more large bottle of plain water before I set off again. We're talking like a 10 minute hydration stop in the middle of a 100 mile effort. For the DAMN, I repeated this whole exercise x 4.

I don't like to drink very caloric things. I prefer solid food, either Clif bar kind of stuff, or Skratch portables, or just ham and cheese sandwiches or something. "Salt in your bottle, sugar in your pockets" works for me.

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