How many of you...?

[Saluki]

I have a camelbak for riding and walking with, it has a 1.5l dodad in it, I also have a hiking day bag with a 1.5l dodad in for when I go geocaching or a long hike with the dogs. Room for butties, waterproofs etc.

I don't mind using it on rides, especially if I go off road. The strange feeling of the camelbak is more than compensated for by the fact that I don't have to flick mud off the bite valve. I have had to flick mud off my bidons before now, its not nice. I say mud but it could be cow poo or anything.

 

[akb]

I had a Hydration pack, but got rid for two reasons: 1. Didnt like the plastic tasting water and 2. Didnt like the extra weight it added to my back.

For MTB, I just have a bottle in cage on the frame and have a drink when I stop.

 

[Crackle]

I have a camelbak for riding and walking with, it has a 1.5l dodad in it, I also have a hiking day bag with a 1.5l dodad in for when I go geocaching or a long hike with the dogs. Room for butties, waterproofs etc.

I don't mind using it on rides, especially if I go off road. The strange feeling of the camelbak is more than compensated for by the fact that I don't have to flick mud off the bite valve. I have had to flick mud off my bidons before now, its not nice. I say mud but it could be cow poo or anything.

Must be wet cow poo then. Dried stuff can't be flicked off, you need a chisel.

 

[lulubel]

Having water on hand is much better than groping for the water bottle and there is less change of getting dirt/horse crap etc in yer gob that's thrown on to a water bottle, maybe not a problem with dry trails like you have in Spain, but in UK it certainly is.

In summer, my downtube mounted bottle is covered in a thick layer of dust and grit within about 10 minutes of going of road, but I was brought up to believe "it takes more than a speck of dirt to kill you" so I just have a drink, and the water washes the grit down. It's possible there could be some horse or goat poo on it, but I grew up with horses, so I'm sure I've already consumed more horse poo than most people, and the goat poo doesn't seem to have done me any harm either.

At this time of year, there's sometimes a bit of mud, but that doesn't bother me either. It's just nature.

As you may have gathered, I think hygiene is grossly over-rated.

didnt even know there were different pumps for road and offroad, but it sounds like one of the most brilliant marketing ploys in ages, to me.

As far as I understand it, long, thin pump barrels are better for obtaining a high pressure, but useless for moving a high volume of air. Fat pump barrels are good for moving lots of air, but you can't achieve high pressures with them.

 

[02GF74]

digesting muck from plant eating animals is far safer than from dogs.

 

[Peteaud]

A lot of cheap rucksacks will take a 2L bladder, so if you have any old rucksacks laying about have a look.

I have a Camerbak and its great, stick the tools in, fill it and off i go.

Yes to a MTB pump as well.

 

[lulubel]

digesting muck from plant eating animals is far safer than from dogs.

It's possible there could be some dog poo as well - people certainly walk their dogs on the trails I ride, and clearing up after them is a long way away from catching on here - but I grew up with dogs that liked to lick my face, and we all know that dogs don't just confine their licking to faces. I didn't even think dog poo was worth a mention, to be honest.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I adored my hydro pack at first but now I never use it, apart from anything else it's a lot more hassle to empty and dry than a bottle.

I'll probably use to again if I ever ride my MTB again.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

water bottles. having grown up off mains water, living completely on untreated water off the mountains (where animals frequently die in it) I can usually drink most water.
squirty water bottles also come in handy when you need to get something unsavoury off the bike as well (assuming you have a good water supply to refill with).

 

[lulubel]

water bottles. having grown up off mains water, living completely on untreated water off the mountains (where animals frequently die in it) I can usually drink most water.

Same here. Grew up with an untreated, private supply.

Interestingly, when we first came to Spain, my OH, who grew up with parents who were quite particular about hygiene (and is the same herself - I call her neurotic!), had an upset stomach on and off for most of the first year. I had no stomach problems at all.