Having just looked through the "Show me your steel hardtails" thread, what struck me, was the lack of bottle holders on the bikes.
I use a Camelbak for rides of an hour and a half or more but if I am just popping out for an hour, I just stick a bottle in the bottle holder.
So out of curiosity
Do you have/use a bottle holder?
If not, do you always use a hydration pack?
Or do you not take neither when you ride?
Bottles on a bike are OK until you ride through shit.
Bottles on the bike are OK if you have mudguards. I do. I almost never use a bag on my back
Yes, definitely
I have a bottle and a camelbak. I just put water only in the bladder as I don't like putting other stuff in there. Then I have electrolyte stuff in the bottle.
If I'm popping out for an hour I don't bother taking a drink at all..
jam bo - MemberAnd that. Just have a drink before you go for a ride. You'll not shrivel up and die in an hour.
If I'm popping out for an hour I don't bother taking a drink at all..
Bottles on a bike are OK until you ride through shit.
Don't ride through shit then.
I'm with Teej; I don't like owt on me back if I can help it. I only use a CB if I'm going for a proper long ride, and can't guarantee water supply replenishment facilities en route.
I
mtb bottle holder is mostly for toolkit in a bottle shaped holder, unless it's a short summer ride where I don't need tools or lots of water
I use bottle holders I only use a hydration pack if out for longer than 4hrs
I've only got one bottle on the 456, which is good for an hour or so in summer and longer if cool. If I use a camelbak for longer rides, I always have a bottle in reserve when it's run out.
I cant stand camelbak type things. I much prefer a bottle or two on the bike. I never ride through shit and a bit of mud never hurt anyone.
Always use bottles unless on a major expedition requiring the Deuter pack. Got some snazzy Elite Ciussi Inox cages on the hardtail.
A bottle in the pocket of my wingnut is far more convenient for most rides for me.
Bottles on bike = muddy, even though I use mudguards.
Two bottle cages on mine, I have a camelback but haven't used it in years.
Considering how few people still use bottle cages, it's amazing how many rides I've been on that have been disrupted by someone losing a bottle out of a cage.
I use both, but the Camelbak approach just seems enormously and obviously better, to me, so I only usually use the bottle for short rides (yes, I know you don't need a drink at all on a short ride; that doesn't mean it's not nice to have one)
I'm not a fan of bottles, for most of the reasons above. Camel bak all the way for me I'm afraid, and do you guys sometimes take NO tools at all?
If I'm riding with others who carry lots of stuff with them, what's the point in burdening myself unnecessarily? 
Pump in clip on mount under bottle cage, multi-tool in pocket or saddle pouch, ditto puncture kit and tyre levers, spare tube, energy geys/Haribo etc. Warmer top maybe tied round me waist. Waterproof in little bayg what attaches to frame.
Longer journeys, maybe small pack with stuffs inside like spare/warm clothes, food, cam etc. But I've done fifty+ milers with minimal kit. Makes me laugh when folk have huge packs for a short bimble round Swinley or somewhere.
bottles for racing, camelbak for trail riding
dont like camelbaks I thought it was a fad that had died away always use bottles unless its a really long ride and my tools go in a jersey pocket
For anything up to two and a half hours, unless it's blazing hot, you probably don't need to carry more water than you can fit in a bottle (you probably don't need to drink anything in the first hour). A surprising amount of gear fits in my pockets too, so I only take my CB on major expeditions.
Andy
I use bottles for shorter rides, I've got the Elite ones with the cover over the spout which saves drinking sheep poo. I've a wingnut for longer rides which I find a big improvement over a standard pack.
bottle holder for lumis so yes.
bottles any time it's dry enough to do so without eating shit. Camelbak the other times. in winter I tend to remove the cages as I don't use them for the reasons above and they catch mud.
Winter rides I get home and can't see my frame for mud so bottles on the frame are not for me. But I don't like weight on my back either. I'd like to try a wing nut or a bum bag with bottles.
Camelbacks are great for those 5 hour+ or overnight rides but they really have no place in a 3-4 hour local ride where 2 750cl bottles will more than suffice and tools, tubes and CO2 all go in pockets or a saddle bag as usual.
i often wear a large bag, as it fits more securely than a smaller one for knarr stuff!
also my large dakine has straps for spare shin guards if i lend them out.
i can also take my helmet off and secure it on the backpack for a push up.
so basically apart from xc my small endura has little use.
I usually use a camelbak, but on a hot day + my bodyheat, a warm drink is not very refreshing.
My problem is having fs there is nowhere for a bottle to go on the bike, apart from on the seat post.
I have seen a double cage by profile design, but don't think it will stand up to much offroad?
Yay.
I'd like to try a wing nut or a bum bag with bottles
As well as the wingnut I've a Karrimor Raid 5 which is a bumbag that holds around 5 litres and has pockets for 2 bottles which is very good. Like the Wingnut after a few minutes your not aware it's there.
With an old full susser, I used a seatpost (not tri saddle mount, mind) mounted bottle cage which worked fine eg never lost the bottle.
If you don't need to drink in an hour's ride you're not trying.
I can manage 2 bottles in that time.
What pinches said.
I usually use a camelbak, but on a hot day + my bodyheat, a warm drink is not very refreshing.
My local loop nearly always includes sheep shit. that and past experiences of bottles always falling off.
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