In Russia, you probably pay about 60-80 rubles for a half litre of lipton iced tea (which is everywhere). Local bottled water or , is more like 40-50 rubles for half a litre.

I've not found anywhere in Russia or the stans to get a quality Westvleteren or Tripel Karmeliet

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Hilarious whinging !

Personally I was devastated that the Freddo shop didn't open until after my departure time from Dushanbe. How do people expect one to carry on with a shot ! ? !

The horror . . .

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Orange, it's the new black.

As I couldn't find the answer in the search I'll resurect this oldie

I don't like pop and aren't really struck with tap water that's heated up in a camel back all day. I can however make a glass of tea and drink it over hours and hours, hot, warm, cold. The plan then is to make a few pints of tea on a morning, let it cool off while packing, then get it into a camel back for the rest of the day.

Has anyone tried this? Does over hot drinks or stuff that stains ruin the bladder in anyones experience?

Cheers

Andy

Camelback bladders are tough.They have been used to carry fuel too but you could ruin it over time.
I prefer to stop, take a break and brew up mint tea Andy. It's deliciously refreshing and calming for your battered digestive sytem too.

Indeed. I did once have a long chat with a French border policeman and his spaniel about my store of cammomile. Age and the vibrations of a v twin make comfort breaks a must, but a quick slurp at traffic lights does seem to add additional comfort.

I also have scary memories of Morocco. Having failed to drink enough in the day my thirst and typical lack of self control resulted in an early night and cheap hangover. That first cold one tasted nice. Ever seen that old film ice cold in Alex?

Andy

Yes. Good classic with a frothy ending!
I've rigged a long tube with a bite valve on my MSR dromadery so that I can take sips whilst riding but I do enjoy ( read: need!) a ( or a few!) small comfort stops too so might as well make a brew pref. somewhere with a nice view. Very 'Zen' moments

And ... an empire was built on that !

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Aparently that bar scene took 6 or 7 takes at the end of which John Mills was completely pissed

My experience is that no matter how much I drink, water just fills my stomach up and I dehydrate. If I mix sport drink with the water at about 50/50 or less then I seem to absorb the water quite well. Straight sport drink makes me thirsty. Water makes me bloated.

Not "adventure" riding, but trail riding in 40-50 degree temps.


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Try buying it in Timbucktoo?

And if you mix it with water .. and drink it later .. the residue promotes the growth of bugs in the container .. not good. Plain water is simpler, greatly reduces problems with bugs in the container and cheaper. Don't know how stored tea will go... any tea drinking bugs?

If you need more thingys - get them in your food .. where they should be. Bananas are good for bicycle riders - containing potassium etc and fairly available in hot climates.

We often make several liters of green tea early in the morning and let it continue to steep and cool throughout the day. Klean Kanteens are perfect for this.

Cheap packets of rehydration salts are available in pharmacies everywhere, even small towns in Africa and Asia. On a bicycle this is critical. On a motorcycle, equally so as the wind evaporates sweat which is normally how we know we need to hydrate.

Carrying adequate clean water is also critical. I like the MSR Dromedary bags and the bombproof Katadyn Pocket filter. A piece of inner-tube rubber is great for blocking the sink.

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Latin America & Africa by Volkswagen | Southeast Asia by Bicycle | India by Royal Enfield (ugh!)

I remember this thread

To answer my own question in case anyone else finds it useful, tea stains water bladders but otherwise does no obvious harm unless you count hiding age discolouration. It looks a bit yakky getting clean water from a yellowed bladder, but I think just a case of carry two or knowing what stained it and therefore not caring.

The Klean kanteens look useful

Andy

when I am in India I either use filtered water by my katadyn, or my my sister in law's UV sterilizer, failing that is bottled water!

re-hydration sachets cost pennies in India too! I sometimes use cordial too!

I just fill my camelbak with water. Water does get awful when it is like 40 C so sometimes I mix a weak concentration of Oros in there. This is sweet orange concentrate. Not full strength as the sugar makes you more thirsty. Just a bit to add a bit to add some flavour. I get plenty of salt from the biltong I eat while riding.

Sports drinks, electrolytes... bah. poofter stuff

Being a long distance rider, riding long days, days at end, I've found a routine which makes this easy and enjoyable. Part of this is keeping a constant flow of fluids.

If on any longer day's ride, I allways get out of the saddle every hour or so, just for a minute or five at most. Every other stop I try to allign with a fuel station to tank up, and the stop usually lasts a little longer, and I may treat myself for a coke or something.

At every stop I drink some water and pour some over myself if it is hot. I try to avoid big culps of cold drink to avoid upsetting my stomach. I usually also have a bite of something salty and/or sweet, wether a PBJ sandwich or simply a small piece of candy or a handful of peanuts. The snacks are meant as a treat and for energy, well knowing that the salts, sugars and minerals are good for keeping me hydrated as well. Hydrating a lot in one go is not good, you need a steady flow. So this ritual, keeps me enregized for sixteen hour riding days if I have to. I try to avoid alcohol, coffee or tea... not so much because it dehydrates me, but because it makes me have to piss all the time, screwing with my routine and my mojo... Once I get where I'm going, it is bottoms up of anything.

Remember it is not only the temparature that dehydrate, but also the speed of travel (blowing away your sweat, making you sweat more). Giving the body a few minutes to cool properly can't be bad, right? Think about it, if the air temp is hotter than body temp, the faster you ride, the hotter you will get.

I have a camel back but don't use it. I really enjoy my little routine of getting out of the saddle. The camel back could tempt me to push my 60-90 minutes to the double, and half way through the day I would flatline. Also, why deal with the camel backs when you've got bottles that you can just toss out and never have to fill or clean?

As for sport drinks? I would only drink it if I liked the flavor... as for energy, rehydration... waste of money.

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