Afternoon all.

I'm pretty sure that I need a frame bag of some description as the Pugsley and I have entered the BB200. I've got a selection of other stuff from Beth at Wildcat and see no reason to change.

There seem to be a myriad of options size wise with single compartment, double compartments, gate openings, map pockets etc. What does everyone find useful as I have been known to over specify a bit!

Currently I use a 750ml Camelback podium bottle and a Camelback Volt pack but would be interested in other water carrying options, waist packs etc (I need a fair bit of fluid due to sweating lots), however I have just invested in a Sawyer mini filter which may mean having less on board.

I've heard of people storing the bladder in the frame bag as well but again have no experience of this.

Cheers

Huw

I use either a partial frame for tool with 1 bottle cage, or now more recently a full,frame for food

If you choose one big compartment be vary of the weight shifting and budging at the bottom, especially bladders, a good design helps but still something to keep in mind

I have 2 liters on the bars in feed bags, very easy to reach and fit most cheap drinks bottles as well as Bidons, although many say the weight high on the bars affect handling, I have no issues, your experience may vary

I then carry another 2 litres In a pack or waistbag, waist bag sits and holds weight fine, but with a backpack on my shoulders its strictly for overflow, as the extra weight I find unpleasant

Most of my rides are through towns and villages so filtering isn't a concern for me, but I drink like a sailor so always carry enough to get me to the nearest pup or spar

I carry a single 600ml bottle either on the frame if using a half frame bag (Ocelot in my case), in the bottle pocket of my OMM bum bag or attached to the seatpost, top cap, fork leg or toptube depending what I'm riding.

You're never far from water in the UK and with something like a Sawyer, I can't see why anyone really needs to carry more than 1.5L even if their drinking habits are fish like. I know people do carry bladders in frame bags but I can't really see the point ... might as well save some money and weight, ditch the frame bag and just use 2 bottles on the frame?

I've got a Wildcat frame bag with gate opening and it's great but I think much depends on the size of your triangle ... I'd take some advice off Beth.

After trying lots of options i've now settled on using bottles. Usually carry two 750ml bottles on the frame, but how full they are will depend on temperature and confident i am on finding water.

Advantages of bottles over bladders are they are very easy to fill and its easy to see how much you have left. Knowing how much water you have remaining, is very useful when managing how much you're drinking and when you may want to start looking for a top up.

Thanks for the advice boys.

Perhaps a partial frame bag keeping the bottle in the frame / on the forks and a waist pack with bottle holders is the way forward. The Pugsley has got a pretty big triangle so I should have plenty of room for "stuff".

As for features in a frame bag I will have a chat with Beth (again).

One thing though, I'm using Camelback Podium bottles. Filling these using the Sawyer would be pretty slow but I suppose your not always filling up from a stream as there are usually plenty of tap options en route.

The other option may be to use the Sawyer as an inline filter in the Camelbak.

Thanks again.

Huw

I've always prefered bottles to bladders, just easier to count, refill, ect, I especially like to make sure I can carry regular bottles in a pinch, for me its not how much I usually carry, its having the ability to carry extra if needed,overflow capacity so to speak, for cooking, washing...ect,
Then par down to 1-2 bottles for most rides

I've also stopped using bottles mounted on my downtube as drinks caked in mud are not very appealing, but on road trips and dry days its an easier option

I like to have a fold up water bottle; usually 2l, for filling up before camp for drinking and cooking. My meals are dehydrated and I tend to use loads of water for that and coffee too

My preference has always been bottles - sometimes one is enough where water is plentiful, but having two allows some flexibility in being able to store different liquids: wine/coffee/energy drink/plain water.

A 1 or 2 litre platypus bladder is useful for extra capacity pre-camp if you're aiming for a spot without water.

In terms of frame bags, if you have a large frame, a Clouded Leopard should still give you a good bag capacity and provision for up to two bottles.

A single compartment Leopard might be too cavernous to pack a bladder in easily, where contents would shift as the bladder empties. This could be addressed by having a dual compartment Leopard.

So it probably comes down to how you want to store water; bottles or bladder.

My bikes are all small, so limited space for a frame bag or bottles (limited to one in the triangle), however I finally purchased one from Alpkit for the HT with a single compartment. This effectively replaced a hydration pack and could fit a 2L bladder, spare tube, pump, a few tools, bivi pole and not much else. It was nice to finally ride without a pack, especially in the warm weather, ditching the sweaty, clingy back warmer was rather pleasant.

Bottles are handy; for the reasons already mentioned, and their greater utility for making recovery drinks, etc; I won't put powders in the bladder as they are a pig to clean! The frame bag weighs a little less than a backpack, but probably more per litre of storage. What I want now is a custom Cuben bag for my re-vamped Scalpel 26" to 650b hack; this is a great light short travel XC bike for long single stage events, but not robust enough for anything beyond a weekend (bearing migration on the Lefty is the start of your problems after 24hrs of riding).

So an ultra minimalist setup with only emergency bivi kit is feasible using just a frame bag plus a top tube bag and jersey pockets! Anybody know if this is available or do I have to invest in a sewing machine?