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Writer's pictureGerhard Wanninger

Bicycle Water Bottles - Plastic, Alloy or Stainless Steel?

Updated: Sep 6, 2019

Riding bicycle everyone has at least one bottle cage mounted on his or her bike, in it is one bottle. For convenience some people put small water, carbonated or sports drink bottles (500 ~ 600 cc) as they buy them supermarkets or convenient stores.

Experienced cyclists buy specially made cycling bottles or bidons (French for a bottle) in which they pour their drinks of choices. These could be an own mixed sports drink, juice or even plain water and everything in between.

I carry two bottles; in one I pour only water while in the 2nd bottle I throw one Effervescent Tablet. These tablets are cheap, convenient and came in different tastes and contents. From her last trip to Germany my daughter bought three different Effervescent Tablets:

- Vitamin C with Lemon taste

- Calcium with Peach-Passion Fruit taste

- Magnesium with Orange-Grapefruit taste

Be aware that by buying too many of these German made tablets President Trump might view them as a 'security threat' and enforce punitive tariffs on them like on German cars!

Vitamin C, Calcium and Magnesium Tablets

Bicycle Bottles are made out of different materials like plastic, alloy, and stainless which I want to describe below.


Plastic:

is 'the' common material for drinking bottles - no professional rider in the ProTour or World Tour either enters a race nor do drinks from plastic bottles during a competition. They are so cheap and so convenient that riders just throw them beside the road after usage; lucky fans pick them up for their personal shrine at home. Or other riders, like Mario Cipollini, use plastic bottles as projectiles for race officials.

During my own cycling life, I had so many plastic bottles with different brand names on them that I do not even try to count them. Some have been made out of a solid color, some had a clear window while some were completely clear to visualize how much fluid is still left. A current trend is 'insulated' plastic water bottles in which an insulation material (alloy foil, 'nanogel' or even cork) is manufactured between the inner and outer wall of the bidon thus keeping it cooler or warmer over a longer period of time.

For me, as a mortal cyclist, plastic, in general, is not great material for cycling bottles. Not only because of the material itself (see BPA below) but also because of its influence on the contents. I live in Taiwan, a hot southern country with a often very high ultraviolet (UV) index. The result is that whatever plastic bottles I use the contents becomes 'plain' or 'spiritless' after a while. Water does not have a refreshing taste; even when you drink it you feel thirsty.

The above-mentioned pros have a constant supply of fresh drinks, either from a domestique (a cyclist whose job is to support the higher-ranking members of the team, by carrying water etc. ) or from team members waiting beside the road for the riders to pass. I would and could not ask my wife to wait for me on a certain point at the road only to handle me a bottle of fresh water...

Furthermore, plastic bottles can not easily be sanitized and scratch on the outside by moving them in and out from the bottle cage; they look 'worn out' very fast.

A warning about BPA (Bisphenol A) in Plastic

BPA is a common building block in resins and some types of plastic. It's what's known as an endocrine disrupting compound. In the body, these chemicals can act like hormones or disrupt normal hormone functions. Public pressure pushed companies to move to “BPA-free” products. But the FDA only officially bans the compound from use in baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula packaging.

- How to Identify BPA Products?

Consumers can also take steps to avoid BPA and BPA alternatives entirely, steering clear of plastics with the recycling numbers 3, 6, and 7, which all contain compounds of concern.

- How to treat Plastic in general?

Don’t put plastics in dishwashers or the microwave, which can damage them and cause them to leach more BPA or its alternatives. Throw away plastic when it looks aged or scratched.

(BPA information courtesy of https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/09/news-BPA-free-plastic-safety-chemicals-health/)

!All plastic cycling bottles should be BPA free!


Alloy or Aluminum:

could be without inner coating a healthy dangerous material for food and drinks. Generally aluminum has a very low level of toxicity to humans, meaning, in general, it can be considered safe. The concern comes from overexposure, a problem that could occur more easily in the modern era. Studies have pointed out that increased amounts of dietary aluminum may contribute to skeletal issues in preterm or at risk infants. Additionally, in higher doses, the metal can cause neurotoxicity (a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system) of the blood-brain barrier.

(courtesy of http://www.isustainableearth.com/green-products/understanding-the-health-risks-of-aluminum-water-bottles)

That's why alloy bottle manufacturers use a coating within the aluminum bottles. I don't have any information about the material on these coatings but in my humble experiences, every coating will sooner later dissolve.

I personally do not use alloy bottles on my bike; our family has 'banned' everything made of alloy out of our kitchen and even replaced our beloved old rice cooker incl. the aluminum pot with a newer model plus stainless steel pot a long time ago.


Stainless Steel

is for me the material of choice. All professional food- and kitchenware is made from this material, a hospital operating without sanitized stainless steel cannot be found in this world! It does not leach chemicals, is corrosion resistant, is neither affected by hot nor cold temperatures and can cleaned easily and safe.

On my training rides, I use one stainless steel bottles with a plastic spout (BPA free). Surely I can not squeeze stainless like plastic and therefore a sip might take seconds longer; but a fresher and 'safer' drink makes his additional time worthwhile.

During cycling tours longer than one day I a pair of two stainless steel bottles:

- one single wall bottle for refreshing drinks

Black unnamed Stainless Steel Bottle with 'Sports Cap' in 'sparkling white' paint for my Training Rides.

- one double wall (thermos) stainless bottle for hot and cold drinks (mainly coffee) or as storing liquids for the single-walled bottle. This thermos bottle has a screw cap made of stainless steel with a rubber ring; I don't mind to stop for my fresh coffee beside the road to enjoy the scenery or the camaraderie of fellow cyclists ...

My Stainless Steel Bottles, one single Wall and one Thermos Bottle (with Bamboo inlay), on my Touring Bike

Conclusion:

If someone does not believe my experience concerning 'taste differences' I suggest to use two different bottles on your next ride: one made of plastic and one made of stainless steel. Fill both with the same liquid at the same temperature, leave in each bottle some rest during your ride and compare the taste of both bottles near the end of the ride. You will surely notice a taste difference after riding three hours in the sun.

Above details are valid for all different kind of bottles and is not only limited to cycling bottles, my choice is obviously stainless steel.


A Word of Caution

Always ride with a helmet and in a way that you are in control of the bike and not the other way around. It is senseless to gain some seconds but spend weeks to recover in a hospital and at home! Ride responsible, defensively and safe; I am sure your body, parents, family and friends will appreciate your precautions during a bike ride.


Take care, Gerhard


I've owned and own these bottles, used and use them over a period of time. I've paid for them and I am n o t endorsed by anyone. Subscribers or followers are more than welcome!

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