Riding a bicycle is a sport, and every rider should refuel during a ride. For convenience, some people buy small water, carbonated, or sports drink bottles (500-600 cc) as they are easily available. Some stuff them in backpacks or on racks, but experienced cyclists have bottle cages on their frame. They buy specially made cycling bottles or bidons (French for a bottle) in which they pour their drinks of choice. These could be their own mixed sports drink, juice, plain water, and everything in between.
I carry two bottles; in one, I pour pure water, while in the second bottle, I dissolve one effervescent tablet in water. These tablets are cheap, convenient, and come in different tastes and contents. Here in Taiwan, they are quite expensive. My daughter bought three different tablets from her last trip to Germany:
- Vitamin C with Lemon taste
- Calcium with Peach-Passion Fruit taste
- Magnesium with Orange-Grapefruit taste
Be aware that buying too many of these German-made tablets could alarm President Trump, leading him to view them as a 'security threat' and enforce punitive tariffs, similar to those imposed on German cars!
Bicycle bottles are made of various materials such as plastic, alloy, stainless steel, and titanium which I will describe below.
Plastic:
It is the common material for drinking bottles - no professional rider in the ProTour or World Tour enters a race without them. They are so cheap and convenient that riders simply discard them by the roadside after use; lucky fans pick them up for their personal shrine at home. Other riders, like Mario Cipollini, use plastic bottles as projectiles towards race officials.
Professionals have special feeding zones, get bottles or even musettes (small bags used for carrying food and drinks), bottles from the team car, or drinks supplied by domestiques (cyclists whose job is to support the higher-ranking members of the team by carrying water, etc.). They have a constant supply of fresh drinks. But even for professionals, a musette might be dangerous to handle during a race. And I would not ask my wife to wait for me at a certain point beside the road to prepare bottles...
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 sandwiched between the inner and outer shell of the bidon or bottle. This should keep the contents cooler and/or warmer over a longer period of time.
For me, as a mortal cyclist, plastic is not an ideal material for cycling bottles. Not only because the material could contain dangerous BPA (see below) but also because of its influence on the contents. I live in Taiwan, a hot southern country with a strong sun and a very high ultraviolet (UV) index. The result is that, whatever plastic bottles I use, the contents become 'plain' or 'spiritless' after a while. When you drink, it neither tastes nor refreshes.
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. Recycle plastic bottles when they look aged or scratched.
(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 an intact inner coating, a health hazard 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. (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 in these coatings, but in my humble experience, every coating will sooner or later dissolve.
I personally do not use alloy bottles on my bike; our family has 'banned' everything made of alloy from our kitchen and even replaced our beloved old rice cooker, including the aluminum pot, with a newer model with a 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; hospitals 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 be cleaned easily and is food-safe.
On my training rides, I use one stainless steel bottle with a plastic spout (BPA free). Surely I cannot squeeze stainless like plastic, and therefore, a sip might take seconds longer, but a fresher and 'safer' drink makes this additional time worthwhile.
During cycling tours longer than one day, I carry a pair of two stainless steel bottles:
- one single-wall bottle for refreshing drinks
- one double-wall (thermos) stainless bottle for hot and cold drinks (mainly coffee) or for 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 stopping for my fresh coffee beside the road to enjoy the scenery or the camaraderie of fellow cyclists...
Titanium
I did not mention titanium because of its price. This material has superior properties to stainless steel. However, it is just too expensive for us ordinary people.
Conclusion:
If some riders do not believe my experience regarding 'taste differences', I suggest using 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 some rest in each bottle 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 for three hours in the sun.
The above details are valid for all different kinds of bottles and are not only limited to cycling bottles, but my choice is obviously made of stainless steel.
I hope you can take something away from my bottle tips for your next bike ride. We don't think about health or environmental impact of plastic bottles.
Be cautious while riding, your loved ones will feel reassured!
Gerhard
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