Clinton1

Ha ha, phew, so I can scratch the camelbak now I just need to find the best cycling label with shirts with extra large back pcokets! And the audi for my GF to follow me with spares...

Some reckon I don't read what is being suggested. How wrong they are. I've just been doing extensive research on Camelbaks (yip, work is suffering) and besides the vast choices I am regularly greeted with people asking about heat and sweat. The answer usually comes back that it is not too bad which immediately makes me think it MUST be worse than no camelbak. This is what worries me. Getting hot when I ride is one of the things that ruins my enjoyment the most. It was for this reason that I got a new helmet recently. If I do get a Camelbak I just ensure it is of great use to me so I was looking at the Octane XTC which is great for trail running too. Problem is I now can't find out if it'll fit all I need to fit (especially the spare tube)

NOOOOOOOOOOO!! And I'd need the latest carbon bike but must ensure I get the right brand. And what is that best label clothing brand again? And drop the cycling shorts and wear baggies. And I'll need an audi/bmw too. And I might need to move house to a "cool" area! Damn, this being cool is hard work...

There are lots of those here it seems.

This forum would be SO much fun if you two had your way. First answer that came alone, accept it, buy the camelbak and move on to the next topic.... Fun!

Think you might have hit the nail here. Too many on here watch the TdF and Burry and wanna be like them but are far from it! Of course I amseen as the arrogant/stubborn/argumentative one because I do not buy into this "I must own the best and then people will think I am the best" mentality.

Of course your arrogance would mean that it could not possibly be as a result of what you are writing not quite coming out as you had it in your head! And heed your own advice. More than one person has pointed out that I was referring to using a bottle to keep tools etc but you keep flying off on a tangent about cow and dog crap.

Well Buycycle will not budge on delivery which was confirmed in a telephone call now. I am considering an order with Olympic Cycles as the goods I am wanting are cheapest from them and they only charge R50 delivery which falls away if you order over R500.

Legislation currently under review to ban towing on a bike... otherwise I'd get two

I have not discarded any ideas and have considered all presented. I ask questions, or indeed just question some of the advice given, so that I can get the person to argue their case and see if it stands up well. You tend to get far more usefulness out of a topic by countering what the person says rather than just agreeing with it. We have ended up with two seperate discussions here, in my opinion. The one is hydration, which I fully agree is better suited to the camelbak when riding long distances but can be remedied far more cheaply with some bottles. The second, is carrying tools. Now unless I get a large camelbak it seems most still resort to attaching spare tubes, bombs etc to seatposts and the like, with the camelbak being used for extra clothing and the like (now this is not a factor for me at all as we have just gone through the middle of winter and I am yet to ride with anything more than shorts and a cycling shirt). A negative to the saddle bag which no one has mentioned, probably because they do not use them, is the bag swaying from side to side while standing and pedalling. I know from the past that this can annoy me. It was for this reason I was considering the clip on ones but then I risk them breaking. It really does seem you cannot find one item that fulfills all your needs

That sounds about right although I'd obviusly be swopping the tubeless repair kit normal repair kit. I'd probably also have a second water battle as I psychologically hate the idea of running out of water. Fully agree with the choices just a matter of how to carry it. I'm not a fan of having things poking into me in my back pockets. Perhaps I must give it a go and see how it feels. I also worry about damage to the expensive cycling shirt caused by tools etc. Suppose I'd need to buy a protective pouch for those then anyway so we are back to deciding on value

When researching Camelbaks I constantly had multi sport use in my head. Unfortunately as with everything as soon as you start looking for a jack of all trades you lose out on specifics in some areas. Packs ideal for running are often not ideal for riding. Fully agree with your sentiment that there is hardly ever one solution that solves everything. I often think this is by design so the manufacturers can sell more! Unfortunately if you are trying to keep a reign on expenses you need to try and seek out that solution that best meets your needs and ensure you don't spend money on something you won't use. At the end of the day I am looking at the following: A camelbak for around R1k that can deal with hydration and carrying tools (with some negatives in my opinion) OR Two water bottles at around R20 each and a saddle bag for around R300 which would fulfill the same needs. I need to decide whether the pros of the camelbak are worth the almost R700 extra expenditure

Ha ha, badly timed response.... please note the post above yours...

So perhaps the solution is a camelbak (for it's intended use of hydration) AND a saddle bag (for it's intended use of carrying things) is in fact the ideal solution.... I still reckon until I start pushing 4 hour rides the camelbak would spend a lot of time lying around not doing anything. That's probably my concern.

Baggies, t-shirt and..... a camelbak! I have correctly stated that appearances are not the ultimate for me but there is no denying that would look a little silly Also I mentioned that a Camelbak is pushing towards a grand. I am looking at around R300 for a decent saddle bag. I need to weigh up usefulness. A saddle bag will be useful on any ride (in my opinion, but part of the reason of a thread like this is to find out why others think not).

Wow, I do find it quite bizarre. When you throw back some challenges to solutions offered in an attempt to reach the ultimate solution you are immediately referred to as stubborn. It appears many on here think their solution should be immediately accepted without question. Please list the negatives for a saddle bag if you would seeing as though you feel this is not a good solution to carrying tools. I eagerly await your apology when ytou realise that you are just not getting it....

Does such a thing exist? Surely all are guestimates at best?

Lots of responses, thanks guys, you are giving me plenty to think about Not sure what you mean about the bottle option being unhygenic? I presume you are referring to using the same bottle for drinking and tools? If so, this was never the idea, I'd have a bottle specifically for tools but I have scrapped that idea now anyway. Camelbak is the most costly option and one which cannot be used in every scenario (eg the social rides) Yip, you are right in that you would not need plenty tools but I would also probably not be riding with a cycling shirt on so with baggies and a t-shirt I'd have no back pocket. I have broken a chain on a leisurely ride at Giba before. Put the power down going up a steep hill, after being slowed by other social riders, and broke it. I had no tools at the time but someone else did. I want to be self sufficient though. Fully agree but, as mentioned by someone else, when you get up off the pedals you need to lift that weight when it is attached to you. Much of a muchness I suppose but when factored in with other things like sweat and, one which has not been mentioned yet, far greater cost, it just has more crosses than ticks for me, Believe me I have been contemplating a camelbak for months and always talk myself out of it For me the other options seem to have negatives. Thus far I cannot think of one negative for the saddle bag besides perceived lack of coolness. Even the breaking negative above can be overcome by getting the velcro instead of the clip version. Also a damaged saddle bag will be cheaper to replace than a damaged camelbak. Fully agree with you on this and thanks. Ha ha, now I need to factor in the safety aspect of each option too

Ah, look Dangle is back! Yay.

I have read such conflicting reports on this specific one. Some say it is really hardy others complain about breakages. The reason I considered the clip is that I like the idea of less movement of the saddle bag. I have also had problems with the stitching on the velcro ones coming off on an old bag but I suppose at least that can be restitched.

I don't see mention of overnight delivery on any of those websites? I have read elsewhere that you run a cycle business. Does this perhaps affect your responses? Should you not perhaps be listening to what your (possible) customers are saying are obstacles to purchasing? I am sure I am not the only person in the world who is thinking this way. Another point... there are postnets (and the like) all over the place. A business should be going out of their way to be competive. Why should the consumer be making the effort to get the business. So how much effort is it really, as part of your business, to make one daily trip to the local postnet (or like) once a day to drop off stuff that needs to be sent? Why should I have to pay for a courier to come and fetch it from you? A business probably goes to the bank daily anyway so what would a stop at the local postnet cost. And I really do not care about having to fetch it at the post office or anywhere else. I also do not care if it takes a week. So why not offer these options to customers? Feel free to throw more retailer excuses at me but bottom line is the business has to go out of it's way to get my money, not the other way around.

It was late and I was probably a little grumpy too. Apologies. This is something that I always think. It makes far more sense having the weight on your bike. I did further looking last night and considered the camelbak option but there were a few things going against it: 1. You look even more silly when you go on a social (ie beach front) ride with a camelbak on your back. You are, however, not immune to having breakdowns on these rides so I'd still want to take tools with. 2. As mentioned above, having the weight on your person rather than on the bike seems like a negative. I know these camelbaks are well designed to distribute the weight but the thing it is is still being held up by you. 3. It gets hot in Durbs in summer. I want as little as possible creating heat against my body. I can only imagine the sweat between the camelbak and my back. Seems that a saddle bag is the only sensible option. I considered the tools in a bottle in a cage option but I already carry two water bottles with me so it would mean the need for a third cage (possibly behind the seat) which I don't really fancy. So the next question I suppose is which one you chaps use and would you recommend it. I have my eye on this: http://www.olympiccycles.co.za/uploads/e4cb09160ffc49a8afc2562b0710f4bb-30092011-1211_400_max.jpg

Do I? Apologies, I hadn't even noticed. It was the first time I've come across your name as far as I am concerned. The fact you state we have discussed things before makes me now realise why the tone of your response seemed condascending. Perhaps a little chip on the shoulder? I appreciate opinions but when it is put across with a certain tone it tends to be taken wrong. And I already apologised up front if this was the case. Ah yes, this is where I could make "derogatory" comments about weight weenies and the like but I'll refrain. How so? Unless you are getting punctures all the time then tubes are just as easy to maintain (ie you never have to do anything) I covered this already. There we go again sprinkling little words like stubborn in to show that you actually do not accept any opinion other than your own. I have stated categorically that I am yet to see the need for going tubeless. It'll cost me and I have only had one puncture in 7 months. So why? For the few grams weight saving. No need thanks. When I see the need I'll do it. It has little to do with being stubborn. Oh come now. No wonder you reckon we have had "run ins" before on here. You were the one that said only those "who break down often enough" would require tools as if to insinuate that myself/my bike were inferior and thus suffered more breakdowns than usual. Perhaps do a little work on your tone then. The advice is appreciated, which I also already said, but your delivery sucks.

....and here I was just considering buying from Olympic... you'd think these stores with an online presence would hang out online to see what is being said and answer queries!

By the way, a note to all those that always say rather buy from your local bike shop.... I do my window shopping online on my couch. I am happy to walk into a bike shop and grab the goods I want but you need to allow me to do my window shopping online first. So all those bike shops out there should get with the times and have their pricing readily available online.