Frozen Bottle! The humanity of it all.

[bakerjw]

Last Saturday a friend of mine and I rode a route over Unaka Mountain here in Tennessee. It is right on the North Carolina border. The primary reason was to get a GPS route to post on  appalachianbiketrails.org

Of all the rides that I've ever done, this was by far the coldest. Temps only got into the low 20's but we were in the clouds and everything got covered in frost. It is also the first time that I've had water bottles freeze enough that I couldn't get water out of them. Any tricks to it or just take the top off and drink a flavorless slushee. I suppose Gatorade mix might have kept it from freezing.

[Lentamentalisk]

Gatorade mix helps lower the freezing point, but it doesn't really change the amount of energy it takes to freeze it. You'll still have freezing issues in the long run, it just might take a bit longer.
Storing the bottles upside down can make it freeze at the bottom of the bottle first instead of the mouth piece, which will let you drink from it until it is entirely slushy.
Insulated bottles like Camelback and Polar Bottle make could help slow that down too.
I made a half cozzie for my bottles that wraps around the bottle cage to slow heat transfer. This slowed down the freezing a bit, but the moth piece still froze up. The bottle I kept in my frame bag never froze at all though.

[Iowagriz]

On cold and longer gravel rides, I'll put one bottle in the cage (upside down as Lenta suggested) and the other in my jersey pocket under a layer or coat.  When the first is either depleted or frozen, then I'll go to the 2nd bottle.  I've had decent luck thawing a bottle by placing under the coat as well, but essentially an ice pack on the back is not a pleasant experience.

[Lentamentalisk]

If you are really serious, you could bring some boiling water in an insulated thermos instead of a 2nd bottle (or as a 3rd) and add bits of boiling water to your bottles as they start to freeze.

[crudcake]

I've had good luck down to about 15 degrees using my camelbak with an insulated tube, and stuffing the mouthpiece inside my jacket.

CC

[pavementgraveldirt]

^ also when doing this be sure to blow the water in the tube back into the bladder.

Camelbak sells a insulating tube to cover the hose that helps too.

Drinking small amounts frequently helps keep the freeze from going to far. 

[bikeny]

If using a hydration pack, it's pretty easy to keep it from freezing. First: wear it under your outer layer. Second: Route the hose under your arm instead of over your shoulder. Third: keep the mouthpiece in your jacket when not drinking.

Blowing the water out of the hose can help as well, but sometimes results in a bladder full of air if you blow too much in!

Keeping water bottles from freezing is harder, some good suggestions above to postpone the freezing.

[dh024]

If it isn't too cold, insulated bottles like this work pretty well, too:
http://www.camelbak.com/en/Canada/Sports-Recreation/Bottles/Podium-Big-Chill-25oz.aspx

Thermos bottles are needed if you get too far below freezing temperatures.

[Lentamentalisk]

Except the Podium Chill doesn't fit in bottle cages with the top indent. Not a deal breaker, as there are many cages without it, but it is rather annoying. To note, as the temperature drops, the rubber in the squirt valve stiffens and makes it more challenging to drink from.

[mbeardsl]

A small amount of vodka does the trick too. Or anything fairly flavorless.  Don't need much, maybe an ounce at most for a standard bottle.  Mine only freeze if it drops below 10 for a couple hour ride.  Upside down storage mentioned above helps too. Bar Mitts make a neoprene bottle cover but I haven't used them.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[pavementgraveldirt]

How do the handlebar bags (ex Revelate Designs Feed Bag or Condor H2O Pouch) work for keeping the bottle a bit warmer? I would think that it at least cuts the wind?

I'm thinking since the condor has a zippered top that would help as well?

Then if I just drop a hand warmer down at the bottom?