[GRRiders] Re: Managing clothing, etc on long brevets

[rhawks at lmi.net]

Quoting Joe Gross <jgross-dbc at stimpy.net>:

> > It sounds like I will need to get a camelback.  I usually carry two 
> > waterbottles  but this sounds like it will not be enough for this ride. 
> > Does anyone have any recommendations on what to look for in a camelback.
> 
> Since my back and neck are going to hurt enough as it is, I'm sticking
> with two bottles. I did find some larger bottles that hold 33 oz of
> water that work fairly well for me. With two bottles I can hold as
> much as I would in my 70oz Camelbak.
> 
> http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17078&subcategory_ID=4341
> 
> If you want a camelback I've been pretty happy with the Classic. It's
> got a small zipper pocket good for a phone and wallet and some bungie
> cords to hold a jacket.

In reading Jim Bradbury's write up of the 2001 Gold Rush (a great
read I thought) he notes that the use of the camelback complicated
his routines at controls or any time he needed to deal with
clothing changes, etc. Admitting that it is very largely a personal
issue, I myself have lately found that the less on my person,
be it a messenger bag, camelback, or even stuffed pockets, the
better it is for me. As for choice of bag for carrying things,
I'm going with a Carridice Pendle. I don't think the profile
of the Pendle, being wider than 'trunk racks' is an issue, as
it doesn't extend out the sides more than I myself 'extend',
if you know what I mean.

As for water bottles, on the recommendation of my friend Jack Holmgren,
I started using those huge Zefal water bottles and aside from the
minimal leaking when you squeeze to hard and fast when the bottle is
full, they are fine and the extra water (relative to the older,
smaller bottles I used) extends my range on the bike.

Take this all with a grain of salt. I'm a rookie on anything beyond
double centuries.

rob hawks
richmond, ca