Sizes
The first decision you need to make is the size of the bottle. The most common volumes of a drinking bottle are 0.5 to 0.75 litres. It then comes down to two things:
- Do you have enough space on the frame for a 0.75 litre bottle? Often there is only space for 0.5-litre bottles on fullys (because of the additional shock and the special frame construction) and on e-bikes (because of the battery).
- How many litres do you need on your tour? If you are someone who drinks a lot while riding, it makes sense to have 2 × 0.75 litres with you. However, there are also riders who only drink a little and for whom 0.5-litre bottles are sufficient.
Materials
Bicycle water bottles are usually made of three different materials. They are made of plastic, aluminium and stainless steel.
Properties of plastic drinking bottles
- Very light
- Robust
- Large opening for filling
- The bottle can be "squeezed" so that the water is pushed out. This is particularly practical for heavy physical exertion. There is no need for cumbersome "sucking".
- With transparent bottles, the fill level can be seen at any time.
- May contain softeners. Make sure that the bottle is BPA-free.
- The temperature of the drink is not maintained
Advantages and disadvantages of aluminium as a material for drinking bottles
- Very light
- Robust
- Tasteless
- Can hold the temperature of the filling relatively well
- Often small drinking opening and therefore more difficult to clean
- Not suitable for carbonated drinks due to the inner coating
Stainless steel properties for bicycle water bottles
- Very robust and durable
- Tasteless
- Dishwasher-safe, correspondingly easy to clean
- Keeps the temperature of the drink relatively well hot or cold.
- Is somewhat heavier
- More expensive to buy but lasts longer
Weight
Another issue is weight. Especially in the racing bike sector, every gram counts. Professionals always use a maximum of 2 × 0.5 litre bottles made of lightweight plastic in races. In real everyday cycling, however, outside of competitive sport, weight does not play a major role. The differences in weight are marginal. Therefore, you can choose the bottle that suits you best and meets your needs.
Shapes
The bottles are almost all standardised so that they fit into the corresponding bottle holders. The large, 0.7-litre bottles have a waist. This means that all bottles fit into the standard bicycle bottle cages. You don't have to worry about that.
However, there are also bottles in special shapes that are usually sold with special holders.
BPA Free Bicycle Water Bottles
Bisphenol A (BPA)is a chemical compound that has long been used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic products. The WHO considers it proven that it can cause damage to health. In particular, it affects the developing brain and reproductive system. BPA can leach from plastics into food and drinks. BPA-free refers to products that do not contain detectable levels of BPA.
All the bottles we sell are of course BPA-free!
Some plastic drinking bottles smell a little when new. However, this is completely harmless and disappears after repeated use and several washes.
Different closure systems
Since you usually only have one hand free for drinking on the bike, it is important that you can operate your water bottle with one hand. Therefore, you can open most bottles with one hand or with your mouth. A so-called bite valve allows you to pull the mouthpiece out a little with your teeth or lips. After drinking, it is pushed back in and thus closed.
There are also drinking bottles with a screw cap. However, this is difficult to open with just one hand while riding. This cap is particularly suitable for bottles that you tend to keep in your backpack or bag and take out during breaks.
Special functions, special shapes
There are drinking bottles with special functions, such as thermo bottles or tool boxes.
Thermo drinking bottles
Are you often out and about in winter or on cold days? Then it makes sense to take a thermal water bottle with you. The insulation ensures that your warm tea stays warm for several hours. This means you always have a warm drink with you, even during winter training.
It's the other way round in high summer. You can add a few ice cubes to the water or insulated drink and the insulated bottle will keep your refreshment cold for several hours.
Toolbox-bike bottle
If you want to carry your tools, spare tube or emergency money inconspicuously and do not want to use a saddle bag, there is the possibility of using a tool box in the form of a drinking bottle. This "bicycle bottle" looks like a normal bottle, but has a very large screw cap so that you can fill it easily. In this way you can create a waterproof storage space of 0.5 to 06 litres.
The alternative to a bottle: hydration bladder
A hydration bladder is an approx. 1 to 3 litre bladder (bag) that is filled with water and placed in your backpack. You can drink while riding via a tube that reaches over your shoulder to your chest area. This is very practical, especially when mountain biking. You don't have to take your hand off the handlebars and reach for the water bottle. Also, when mountain biking, the water bottle caps often get dirty from mud and dust because they sit very low in the frame. The mouthpiece of the tube gets dirty less quickly.
The correct cleaning of your water bottle
After using a water bottle, it is essential that you clean it thoroughly. Especially the cap or the mouthpiece must be cleaned. This is especially important if you have not only consumed water, but also drinks containing iso or sugar. Most bottles are dishwasher-safe, so cleaning them is not a big job. A bottle brush can be a good help if you want to wash the bottle by hand.
