My event is coming up, and although not a race, I do have goals to get it done in ~5 ½ hours total, including stops, which is ~18kph avg. Currently trying to decide on hydration plans, a month ago it’s was clear that packs were the way forward as it was hot, now however the weather has changed to overcast/rain.
The event has aid stations at 30km, 44km and 67km and then finishes at 96km
My plan is to consume over the 100km, three bottles of Styrkr mix 90, and whatever I want of high salt Precision Fuels drink. I’d refill the bottle at each aid station, although with only 15km between 1 and 2, that might be hard!
If I go no-pack, it’s a 500ml bottle for mix and a 750ml for hydration mix. With a pack, I can do 2 carb bottles and not have to empty it before the aid stops.
No pack would require tools in a little keg or bar bag, or top tub bag. It would also look better (fashion is a far second over cramping, mind you!). Pack might be more slippery aero over the bar bag, but probably not different to the top tube bag.
I’m trying to weigh up which options work (pack/no pack and bar bag/frame bag) and opening this up to discussions.
And yes, I know it is only a Sportive, but I’ve tried crits, hill climbs, and TTs, and coming dead last or within a couple of places of last is pretty much where I always end up, so this is it for me this year! So I’ll be putting all my effort into making the best of my equipment (aero socks, here we come), fueling, and the last six months of TR training.
If your goal is to finish, it’s an absolute no-brainer, go for the hydration pack. I’m a big fan, you can fill your hydration bladder with pure water and fill you bottles with highly concentrated sugar water.
In terms of aerodynamics you might even be more aero. If it is good enough for Keegan competing for a podium, it is alright for us peons.
I use a hydration pack on the mtb and some gravel rides as it’s way easier/safer to drink from than juggling a bottle in sketchy condition. On the road, it’s always been bottles, two or sometimes three. The many sportives I’ve done have had aid stations where it was fast and easy to refill bottles when needed. I’d go 30-45 miles (50-75km) between stops. The downside of a hydration pack is the weight and feeling on your body, and it can interfere with cooling in hot wx.
My setup is ;
For road tools in the under seat bag. 2 ea 750ml or 500ml bottles,depending on how hot it is, in the bottle cages. Stop every 30 to 40 miles at refill stations.
For gravel tools in top tube frame bag. Same setup for bottles as road.
If you like packs on your back they work great.
For me they make me hot and having that weight on my back bugs me. You can always spot me in a winter event. I’m the one with no leg or arm warmers on unless it’s below freezing.
I’ve never regretted wearing a pack but I have regretted not wearing a pack before. Even if it ends up cold and rainy and you don’t drink it all, not a huge downside but YMMV as I realize some people hate packs on their backs.
I’ve used a pack on a 5 hour gravel fondo with great success. It made it super easy to take 300g (1200cal) of drink mix along for the ride. Stopping and mixing powder on the side of the road would have been a no go for me and there were only a couple of aid stations. I didn’t mind wearing the pack at all.
With all the sugar onboard, I finished way stronger than my friends because in hour four they both started running out of gas.
As long as you’ve been training with a pack, I’d wear the pack. But I’m a big fan of hydration packs. I run them pretty much year around for any ride/race long enough that I can’t make it on 2 bottles. I run a small uswe and don’t even notice it’s there. That includes fast road/group rides. If someone thinks it violates some cycling fashion standard, I consider that a bonus. Aid stations (and store stops) are great when needed, but I’d much rather keep rolling. Particularly in a race or event (unless the aid stations are a party and that’s my goal for the event).
As long as you’ve got some long rides with one in the past (without discomfort), I’d say run it. If you’ve only used a pack on 1-2 hour rides, I’d be a little concerned about jumping to 5+ if you aren’t used to having something on your back that long. But I tend to shy away from trying new things on race day. Probably would be fine, but I prefer testing things in training first when possible. Maybe not the full 5+ hours, but at least a couple rides that are in the ballpark.
I really hate to stop for longer than necessary on long rides or races. I cool down really really quick.
what’s the difference between your “mix” and hydration mix? Same thing? If one is like electrolytes and the other is fueling, I’d find a way to mix all in one bottle. Enough sugar and salt to go together. A lot of value can come from having some pure H20 separately
Do you want/need to stop at each aid station? If not, I’d bring two bottles mixed with your carb drink and around 1.5L in the hydration pack. Then I’d plan to stop at the 2nd or 3rd aid station to refill for the 3rd bottle. Bring your mix in a zip lock and pour it in.
I’ve never regretted having some pure water with me and some longer/hotter events where I’m drinking 1200+mg sodium per hr, it’s been a real life saver.
When it was looking hot I was going to run ph1000 electrolyte mix to keep salts up and Styrkr Mix 90 for carbs. The plan was for the carbs to be bottled and electrolytes in the bladder.
Since it’s looking like it’s not going to be hot I can probably reduce the Ph1000 mix since I don’t think I’ll be as sweaty. So I might run carb bottles and pure water in a bladder. Then refill carbs at the stops. I’m sure the mix 90 has salt in… should probably check! Mix 90 is flavourless might be able to have the salt tabs in the same bottle.
Looking at your event route I’d go pack, if it’s wet or even damp, your bottles will get covered in crap, had a friend once get e-coli from farm yard run off on a bottle and she had kidney problems for quite a while afterwards.
At big cycling marathons like the Ötztaler or Mallorca312, I hardly see anyone wearing a hydration vest. For my part, I’m thinking about trying one out at the next event.
When you’re riding solo without support, even a quick stop to refill your water bottle is difficult. The 1-2 minutes it takes is negligible. But if you lose a good group, this is painful! (On my last Mallorca312 Race it toke 3x5 Min to fill food and Water)
What always bothers me about hydration packs is the strange taste of the water, but I guess that can’t be avoided.
That shouldn’t be a thing. I have an almost 20-year old Camelbak that I have retired recently, and the water from that still tastes completely neutral. But I have (1) never put anything but 100 % water in it (i. e. no sugars or so) and (2) been very anal about cleaning it immediately and making sure it dries properly (by stuffing it with kitchen paper).
That wouldn’t deter me at all. I vastly prefer drinking from a hydration bladder and it gives me peace of mind, I know I have more than enough water with me and perhaps could stuff e. g. spares or other food in the pack (depending on the pack, obviously).
Last experience with a hydration pack was last June for a 400km by 35°C in full autonomy. While being a heavier rider/sweater I wouldn’t advise it in those conditions because the bag kept me very warm by basically limiting the heat exchange from my back.
The big advantage of the pack is that you can drink very easily and therefore manage your hydration or nutrition if you’re eating liquid.
I would definitly try it out before making a decision, depending on your type of race and the weather conditions.
