Why do the pro's not race with hydration systems?

[swoosh1973]

Yep this is why no one like roadies except roadies .They break all the important rules such as dont ride on the right hand side of the SOLID WHITE LINE" in races.

 

They also look at you like your some kind off alien when you rock up in baggies for the road ride and and off coarse disqualify you for putting yourself at a disadvantage because of your CAMELBACK.

 

Those rules are probably to keep those out who DONT LOOK THE PART

[Christopher Brunsdon]

And don't forget about their anal rules concerning the colour, shape and length of socks 

[swoosh1973]

If you think thats bad watch out for the dudes wearing compresion socks and booties with arm warmers!! And they think we look weird

[CJVDM]

 

The "pro riders dont use hydration packs": is not always correct. Like one fellow said they plan the rauts meticulously ............. Now lets take this passed mtb race in Franschhoek. The 1st rider was in 1 hour 50 minutes or so. Then there were some that took 5 hours.

 

Most informative post yet

 

[EZRider]

 

ouch! but why? you planning to overnight?

 

I include myself here... all we need to do is train harder to spend less time out there and we'll need less water/hydration.

 

I've got all my spares under my seat in a neat strong pack .... 2x water bottles .... and some food on my back... no need for anything more

 

The additional cooling of not having the 20kg disadvantged child I would say is a lot more advantagious than the few litre's of unnessasary water.

 

Have a look at the latest core temp experiments lance was doing ... remember you can chill your camelback but 60min into the ride it's coffee anyways and it will heat you up.

 

If you are doing the Swazi frontier you may as well plan to be staying overnight

Getting fitter and leaner is still not going to get me in under 5 to 6 hours per day. Swaziland is HOT! I am going to need that hydration system and a bottle for my energy mix.

I have a slim Camel Bak that does not weigh much more than two bottles and two cages so I don't quite get the "small child on your back" thing.

There are different systems. Some weigh a lot and some don't.

 

[EZRider]

 

So I rocked up the following morning with my MTB with knobblies' date=' my helmet with a peak and best of all - my camelbak (left the bottles at home) So I rode the race with the camelbak anyway and ended up finishing 6th. The looks on the roadies faces when I passed them was priceless [/quote']

 

If you had bar ends and a riser bar and still beat them it really would have been priceless

 

[GLuvsMtb]

Chatted to a buddie of mine last night that races competitively. He recons that water bottles is neutral on your centre of gravity as well. If you add 2kgs to your back, it affects your balance too much (especially if you weigh 65kgs) and this slows you down. The reason why these guys fly through the technical stuff, is because they manage to get a low centre of gravity, and being alot lighter than us mortals, the bike simply handles better.

[Tumbleweed]

cherry rode to a road tt sa champ title with a camelbak under her jersey. en ek het haar tubbies geplak

[Tankman]

Camel backs is for MTBikers ONLY...

 

read that somewhere in the roadie rule book just below white socks ...

 

[jayz]

Just an aside. High rise bars maybe not but watch carefully at the xc world cup races and you will see a good few now ride low riser bars with a slight backsweep. Also check out the under 23 world champ and 3 in the world and his KCNC bar ends.     jayz2010-01-25 09:23:48

[Jake]

I generally fall on my back, so maybe Camelbak is the way to go.   

[Chubba]

Camelbak all the way.

 

My unit weighs in at just over 400 grams, with a 3 litre bladder and place for all my goodies - pump, spare tube, punture kit, energy packs etc.

 

Most folks have bottles in cages and a crammed saddle bag, so whats the big weight difference?

[CJVDM]

 

Bought my Rogue on Friday and have done a couple of rides.  Keeps the water nicely cool, even during Saturdays heat (4hr ride).

 

Didnt even feel the weight on my back.  But i only managed to get 1.5 L into the bladder (without taking it out of the bak).

 

All in all, a good buy..

 

Hey!  Thanks for the blowing tip.  It wouda propably have taken me a bit longer to figure it out , but thats what the hub's for!!!

 

 

CJVDM2010-01-25 14:51:33

[_Daemon_]

 

With 3 pockets' date=' 2 bottle cages and water points I dont see the need for it really.[/quote']

 

Same here for certain races. But out of interest what's the longest race you have done with just bottles?

 

[_Daemon_]

 

Camelbak all the way.

 

My unit weighs in at just over 400 grams' date=' with a 3 litre bladder and place for all my goodies - pump, spare tube, punture kit, energy packs etc.

 

Most folks have bottles in cages and a crammed saddle bag, so whats the big weight difference? [/quote']

 

Difference in weight comes in at the amount of water your carrying, most people for some odd reason fill their bladders even for a 40km race, that's 3kg sitting on your back. And then it's hotter.

That said I love my Camelbak Mule.

 

 

[Cranck]

I think quite a few of the guys will have different arguments when it comes to what the setup regarding fluid carrying is. Some will say that centre of gravity on the bike is put out and you are becoming more 'top heavy' etc as a result of carrying the camelbak. Other will not like having it on their back whilst racing and don't want to feel 'restricted.' All valid points but it is what you feel comfortable doing.

 

If it fits and you're comfortable - wear it. It's all about trying to make yourself as comfortable and competitive as possible. Find the setup that suits you.... and enjoy the ride.