I don’t know what it is. Some people go to great lengths to avoid using Camelbaks or any other kind of hydration system on their back, citing spurious excuses like:

• I don’t want to get a sweaty back
• I think it looks stupid
• It’s unhygenic going round with a bag of water on your shoulders

I’ve heard all of these, none of which class as a rational excuse in my book.

Pinch Flat News has also noted this odd antipathy toward one of the most practical solutions in the world of cycling in his article ‘Great conundrums of cycling: Why don’t roadies wear Camelbaks?’.

It’s obviously a bit of roadie baiting but entertaining and possibly accurate all the same. However, some people have to go one stage further. The Singletracks blog reports that Sip Stream have ‘invented’ (if that’s the right word) a half camelbak, half waterbottle device that fixes on your water bottle and feeds fluid to your eager mouth, all without ever taking your hands off the bars! Who’d have thought eh?!

And best of all, it doesn’t look stoopid!

In a parallel universe where Camelbaks aren’t invented, this might just catch on.

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.