This article started off as a Reverence for the Camelbak Podium, and might still be, who knows, it’s late and my mind is scrambled. As often happens when searching for a suitable image for an article, tangents often appear from nowhere and derail the original train of thought. Soon one finds oneself careening out of control towards the only bend in the track where it just so happens the only town within 2000km that has a massive nuclear reactor/fuel refinery is situated adjacent to said bend. (Sorry about that, I was unfortunate enough to witness the worst movie ever recently and it’s really messed with my head. There’s those tangents again. Spoiler: the train really is stoppable, which I deduced by, oh, the synopsis in the tv guide.)
Anyway, bidons. The one piece of cycling equipment that is the most essential besides the actual bike. The one thing that should never be left at home. The saviour, the giver of life, the fuel tank for the engine for the chassis. Just go out for even less than an hour of riding sans bidon, and you’ll be crying like a baby does for bitty.
There’s been much talk about the humble bidon around here already, so in a way this seems even pointless to say. But say it I will: Camelbak Podiums are the duck’s guts. It doesn’t even matter why, just use one and you’ll know. I’ve lost count how many I own, have owned, lost, or finally thrown out when the black, hairy growth is no longer able to be controlled. A dilemna that Pro teams rarely face, as most of their bidons get supped from once, before jetison to the roadside and into the clutches of baying souvenir hunters (or the front yard of a bemused, elderly Italian lady).
The job of the waterboy is probably the most denigrating for a Pro, even if many domestiques are resigned to the fact that it goes with the territory; there’ll still be a pecking order among them and the neo-Pro will be unmercifully sent back to the cars to load up with as many bottles as they have pockets or orifices to stash them. Or maybe the indignity just feels like there’s a bidon or two where the sun don’t shine.
Imagine wearing the Maillot Jaune, the biggest moment of a career spent working for others, a career with very little in the way of wins or the world’s attention, and being told to “go get us some water, will ya?” while every camera in France is trained upon you. It has happened. Or you are a National Champion, or World Champion? Is this the ultimate disrespect to not only the rider, but the jerseys themselves?
Water giveth life, then cruelly and coldly snatches it right out from under you, for all to see. Cycling has class structure, just like life, and the waterboy is decidedly stuck on the bottom wrung of the social ladder, no matter even if they are dressed up in their best for the day.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/waterboys/”/]
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Back on topic: in the Feb 13 velosnooze Lennard Zinn did a nice "what's gonna grow" study on a bunch of different water bottles in which he left a variety of sports drinks for a looong time. After a quick spin in the dishwasher, the camelbaks won overall ratings, taking the "likely not infectious," and "why the hell not, I'll keep using them" categories.
They're all I ever use.
@Dave
You can disassemble those? How? I have three of them and think they are great bottles... even better the valve comes apart for cleaning.
A mate loves his insulated camelbacks but they are taller to accommodate the loss of volume and still don't hold the same amount. Besides that it only buys him 30-45min of cooler water before his is room temp anyway. Not worth it since I prefer the Purist valve and the smaller size.
@HMBSteve
Oh FFS. He's not even time trailing. How hard is it to pick a biddon out of it's cage?
As to the lead photo I see disrespect for the jersey, but I also see someone showing humility and serving others, not one being humiliated. But then WTF do I know about what goes on in a Pro pellet?
@Puffy The mouthpiece slides up and down on pins in three slots around the cap. Twist the mouthpiece clockwise so the pins pop out of the slots. The mouthpiece can then be pulled out of the cap. Flush soapy hot water through it and rinse.
I should also mention that the Purist bottles have some sort of coating inside that keeps them from absorbing color or odor from your mix.
Skip all of this if all you put in the bottles is water or drinks with preservatives. I use Infinit though, which is a great growth medium.
Water bottle mould: Milton solution (the same that is used to sterilize baby bottles) will get rid of it.
stop putting stuff in your water, we all need to loose some weight.
@girl
Second that or dishwasher them after each ride. I prefer clear bottles with a black cap. Black goes with everything! I'm not ashamed to say I buy the £1.50 Halfords cheapies. The look good. Feel good. Work good. And 500ml max so rule compliant to boot. Plus if I loose one mid ride, it' s no biggie.
Has anyone used Elite's Hygene Corsa bottles? They would match my bottle cages and frame design and apparently stay ueber clean by virtue of them having some slick surface. The teat looks like it does the job too.
@rfreese888 Yes. Essentially same as Elite Corsa, but you can see inside. Got one to keep clean and stow in the jersey pocket. It will scratch up faster than a... ??
@Gianni: I believe the Tinkoff bottle gilets were handed out pre-loaded. Seems a very smart solution especially now skin suits are often the rule, not exception, in the pro peloton. Can't see the bottle gilet having any use outside of pro racing. But I'm sure we'll see people wearing them. Looking like prize tools.