Bottle vs Camelback?

... unless you're doing serious racing.

As you spotted, the pros use bottles. But then pros are super-human and probably don't drink too much (they aren't out on course as long as the rest of us) and probably don't have to concentrate as hard (they can ride at supersonic speeds even in their sleep) so grabbing a bottle is no drama for them.

If you get a decent cage then your bottles shouldn't fall out. Personally I've never lost one but you see them all over the track at big events so obviously some people do. You'd think there is always a chance to reach down and grab a bottle, but if you were at Awaba few weeks back would know it was very hard to get a chance to do that. That said, the pros were there, smashing out the laps and using bottles as usual.

I never ride anywhere without the backpack, even when circuit racing and the next water is just 10km or so away. Just so much easier to grab the tube especially in twisty stuff. Plus, it's handy for all the other bits you need to carry like pump, tube, small parts, etc.

That said, you might as well give it a go, you've got nothing to loose.

FWIW I have a cage on the bike anyhow as I like to put 'food' (sports drink) in the bottle and have plain water in the backpack.

If your out there for a few hours cruising it is great to get a cold drink out of your pack & handy for the nick nacks & car keys & munchie bars . Every time I reach for the water bottle it was not cold just wet & I started on the ride half frozen ?

is simply under an hour bottle , over a backpack . With the only exception being in summer when a backpack is allways used . Some races i do make it hard to get the bottle out of the cage but usually works out ok

Appart from carrying water and extras (tube, pump, hanger, tools, etc) my pack has a semi rigid metal to give it shape and protects the spine in case of a fall on the back...

if you're riding on trails that are muddy or dusty the drinking nozzle of a bottle gets pretty dirty - which does not make for a pleasant experience when you're thirsty as.

Yeah, I can vouch for that... certainly cushions he fall on OTBs.

Don't know if this helps, I have 2 camel backs, one small (1.5ltr), one large (3ltr). They help store your tools, pump etc. And I find them much easier to sip from without having to reach down, which is something I struggle with on short course races especially. Carlgrover told me this and I think he's spot on.

One of the reasons I reckon pros use bottles because back packs are much slower to change. Bottles can be slung when finished. Pros don't need as many tools because they don't ride over stupid stuff like we do.

I well fitting camel back should feel like it's not even there.

Racing at the club rounds where most fast people use bottles I'll normally have my 1 1/2L pack on and if I'm having a hard time passing someone I just wait until they drink from their bottle and I'm past before they can return it! ( they always slow down 'cause they need about 4 mouthfuls)

I've fallen off once trying to get my bottle back in the cage, when I went over a rock with one hand on the bars. Doh!

John.

A hydration pack won't tell you when it's just about to run out, so if you're doing a big trip a bottle could potentially get you out of trouble. If you want to secure it, tie an elastic band around the top of your cage and run it over the top of the bottle - it'll never pop out but you'll have to stop if you want a drink.