I am off on my first long tour (of Spain and Morocco) early October. Tour organiser (BMW) suggest taking a 'Camelbak'or similar so in hot climates you can take water as you ride.

However, with a full face helmet, gloves, and both hands occupied riding the bike, how can you do this?

I do have a Camelbak, and am thinking of removing the bladder and drinking tube and putting the bladder in my tank bag, with the tube outside the bag, so I dont have to have the thing on my back. Any comments?

What do you experienced bike tourers do about staying hydrated in hot climates?

Vince

When riding the dunes in southern Tunisia and the Western Desert in Egypt, I was emptying my 3L camelbak three or four times a day. I even ended up using rehydration solution in it for a few evenings when it was 50oC plus and I was camping in the desert.

I had a MULE bag for mine, which has a few cunning tricks to keep the pipe on your shoulder and within easy reach. I was using an MX lid, and found that it only took half a second with my left hand to pop the valve in my mouth; after a bit of drink I could just drop it and it would sit on my shoulder.

Worked perfectly, and the bag was big enough / small enough to carry a personal first aid kit, in case I was seperated from the bike and horribly injured. I also kept a bit of cash and some ID in there. I have used the bladder in other situations, without the bag, and wouldn't recommend it. They are actually suspended in the camelbak bags so they don't fold up & block the tube.

...so not worth putting it in the tank bag. Use a dedicated backpack, IMHO and experience. HTH

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HI, been wanting to post a similar post,

Also been thinking of taking my camelbak's bladder into a tank bag but I do now agree with POB that the baldder is suspended by the CB, nevert thought of having the bladder getting mangled in a tank bag. They are not really the strongest...had mine voiding its contents in interantional flight, not fun having 2 litres all over ....in a airplane.

But my follow up question is, where do one store the extra replacement fluids?
POB mentioned that he was filling up his three to four times a day, I am planning to go through Mozambique, Tanzania in February *(not as hot as where you guys have been, but will be in areas with little access to clean potrtable water for few days...
Where and in what containers do one strap on 15 litres of H2O, on top of all the other "#¤. Do you guys take water purifying gadgets with or what or do you just buy the water along the way...even if it is suspect?

I ussually end up with 3-4 bottles strapped to the back of bike and then its just tedious with the things shifting etc etc...?

Another comment/question....was in Mozambique a few years ago with my buddy, he was wearing full biking jacket, and I had a mesh summer jacket (just pads on sholders and back) and he actually suffered more of dehydration than me. But then when it started raining (fe days non stop) I was drenched and he was snugg as a dry bug...what do you do in these extreme hot areas, do you compromise on jacket and go for a decent jacket decent protection (with sstaying dry) or do you just use a summer mesh jacket andhave a nice cool ride and just get wet when it buckets?

(sorry post got long!)
Shark

Water purifier gadget
Take a light nylon rain shell to wear over the mesh summer jacket, or go the Rukka Air Power / BMW ?? / Joe Rocket etc route, with a fitted goretex liner for the mesh jacket. I love my Rukka Air Power suit - cool mesh ventilation and goretex liners to keep me warm and dry. Works a treat. Tested on one trip across Canada in major downpour for several hours, rain heavy enough that trucks were pulling off the road, (NO leaks for either of us) and a few days later 33 deg C. with the mesh jacket and pants doing a great job of ventilating.


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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com