Any ingenious solutions for storing hydration tablets on long / multi-day rides that keeps them dry and intact? Keeping them in the original tube just means they gradually turn into powder due to the constant movement, wherever on the bike I keep them. Have also tried:
keeping them in little ziplock bags but they seem to absorb moisture and then stick together in a big lump
individually wrapping them in foil in the ziplock bag - pain in the arse when you’re tired and creates rubbish
This, I use Salt Stick tabs and they came with a tube the exact size of the tablet. Otherwise I have used a little snap top container that like diabetes test strips come in. I like the containers that the lid is attached to so it doesn’t fall off.
For rides with supply points that use already mixed drink, I take an old tube of the tablets and fill it almost to the top with my own drink mix and add a tablet on top. When I refill at the aid station, I add the contents of the tube to the bottle.
I barely use them preferring a carb drink instead. On really long rides I’ve placed a free sample one which is individually wrapped in my wallet as back up but I’ve not had to use many of them.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I guess I should also clarify that as a small, not-very-salty sweater, I find that a whole tablet (I use Science in Sport) is too much electrolyte for 1 drink for me, so I only use half a tablet, meaning there’s always at least one 1/2 tablet knocking around in the bag or tube. I’ll definitely try experimenting with putting some cotton wool in the tube - that might stop them disintegrating. Has anyone tried using those little silica sachets to keep things dry? Are they safe to have next to food items?
I haven’t tried it myself by some prescription pills I get have one or two silica desiccant packets in the bottle touching the pills so I assume they would be safe with hydration tablets. Just don’t eat the stuff in the pouches and you should be fine.