Running a bladder in frame bag?

[sherpaxc]

Who does it?  How well does it work?  I'm thinking for the CT this year I may want to do that.  Trying to get as much weight off my back as possible.  I've never really done it though.  What size and what brand?  Do you use a bite valve or do you use a Platy collapsable? 

Thanks for the insight.

[Marshal]

I have run several different bladders in my frame bag.  No real tricks or issues—they either fit or they don’t—just give what you have a try, there are probably 10,000 different workable combinations---------.

I do have one bladder where I added a quick disconnect and extended the drinking hose.  The qd lets me remove/fill/replace the bladder without removing/re-routing the entire hose.  The extra length hose allows me to sip without bending over the bars.

A comment about the CT + single track, when the bladder is less than full I can feel the water/weight shift back and forth when braking and when bouncing along rough trail.  I have gotten use to it but it was a bit disconcerting at first.  This was a non issue for me on the TDR but might be a game ender for some riders on a heavy single track route. 

[trebor]

I do it too. I've used platypus bladder and camelbak. the platy wore out after 6 months and developed a pinhole leak. To reduce weight on the camelbak I took the black plastic ring/handle off the fill opening. extnding the hose is great to make drinking easier.

I've manages to squeeze a 70oz in a Jandd frame bag in the past too.

[sherpaxc]

That looks very similar to my frame bag.  It also looks EXACTLY like my buddies "Village" frambag, color and everything.  Crazy.  Anyway, I'm gonna give this a go in some test runs.  May even use it in an upcoming Arkansas trip.  If it works there it'll certainly work in CO.

[JF-mtnbiker]

I had a playtus bladder in my frame bag on TD. (2ltr in frame w/3ltr on my back) I think they are best for a multi compartment frame bag. My bike frame didnt allow room for a 2 compartment bag. In my situation, It was difficult to have a blatter in there when you need to get to other stuff. I had to take it out, find stuff I needed and then stuff it back in, ect. (same process to fill it) Pain in the ass. In test rides, I thought it was gonna be great but after days on the trail it just got rolled up and stuffed into the bottom out of the way. It was just alot easier to fill my backpack although I hated the weight on my back. I almost mailed it home but thankfully, I held onto it. My Osprey suddenly failed in southern NM and after riding without water for hours, I was able to employ the spare Platypus into my Osprey backpack to get me to AW. Like Marshal said above, they either work or don't. Just make sure you test it alot before you make it your only water source. I agree that the quick disconnect avoids re-routing issues. I like the Platypus.

[AZTtripper]

I have used my 100 oz camel bladder in mine several times but I can only get about 2 liters in it. It's only one compartment and leaves room in the frame for a bottle. I don't like to put powders in a bladder so I like having a disposable bottle for drink mixes. I just buy a 1 liter bottle of water and then throw it away every now and then for a freshy.

Never have ridden with it half full I usually wait for the 100 oz MSR in my pack to get used up and then transfer some to that and refill the bottle.

Also if I don't need to carry as much water I will take the bladder out of the frame bag so I can use it for food and then just slide the extra bladder in with my main bladder in the pack. That way it's out of my way until I need it.

I have an Talon and if need be I can get both bladders full into it but it is rare that I would want to carry 7 liters. But it is an option. Never needed a back up but JF's post makes me realize that it's always a possibility.

[sherpaxc]

So I tried out the bladder in the bag yesterday.  I have to say, I really liked it.  I could hear the water sloshing around but that's ok.  I didn't really effect handling any more than anything else being put in there.  I was using my cambelback but I want to come up with a better solution.  Here is my thoughts...

Get either an MSR Drom lite bag with a quick disconnect or a Platy with a quick disconnect.  I'm using an MSR pump filter so it'll fit both of those.  What I need to figure out is how to mount the tubing on the stem so it's not just dangling around.  I really like the bite valves of the Platy's I can do either/or.

any ideas on that?

Thanks,
Travis

[AZTtripper]

As I mentioned I don't usually drink from the bladder while it's in the frame. But I have and at least if you have something hanging from the bars, I put my pad up there that helps with having something to route the hose through.

[Village]

Hey Travis, I could put a velcro loop strip on your handlebars harness near the bar attachments, and with this you could strap down the drinking tube in a way that it points straight up, triathlete-style.

[sherpaxc]

I always wanted to be a tri-geek.  If you don't mind, that would be awesome.  I guess you're about to get some good use out of that trainer this week!

[pro_out]

 "What I need to figure out is how to mount the tubing on the stem so it's not just dangling around." 


 Google this- retractable badge reel. It works very well for me, just attach the line to hose about midway and clip the reel to handlebar bag, brake or shift cable, etc.  Would show you a pic but everything is off the bike right now.   

[sherpaxc]

Another question...
So I'm going to run it for sure after some practice with it this past week.  My question is, what can I do for use as a quick disconnect so I don't have to re-run the tubing through the frame bag after pulling out the bladder?  I know there are quick disconnects for the bite valve part but I need a quick disconnect from the bladder to the tube itself since I'll pull the bladder out to pump in water.  That way I can leave all the tube routing in place.
Does this make since and if so what is out there that would work?  I haven't bought a bladder yet so if there is an all in one system let me know.  Currently using an MSR Hyperflow filter with a camelback but am willing to look at other options.
Thanks all.

[trebor]

Platypus bladders and Katadyn filters use quick disconnects like these:


They can be found at camping stores and online.

I've added them to my camlbak bladder hose to use with my filter.

[pro_out]

Another question...
So I'm going to run it for sure after some practice with it this past week.  My question is, what can I do for use as a quick disconnect so I don't have to re-run the tubing through the frame bag after pulling out the bladder?  I know there are quick disconnects for the bite valve part but I need a quick disconnect from the bladder to the tube itself since I'll pull the bladder out to pump in water.  That way I can leave all the tube routing in place.
Does this make since and if so what is out there that would work?  I haven't bought a bladder yet so if there is an all in one system let me know.  Currently using an MSR Hyperflow filter with a camelback but am willing to look at other options.
Thanks all.

use one of these, http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/hydration-systems/hoser/product  ,the outlet is on the lid, just remove and unscrew the lid. Also the outlet is on the corner of the bag allowing most of the water to be sucked out if pointed in the correct direction

[sherpaxc]

That hoser looks like the ticket.  So my next question is, How do I get it to fit the MSR filter directly?  Sorry for the questions, I'm a bit scatter brained if you haven't noticed! 

[Village]

use one of these, http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/hydration-systems/hoser/product  ,the outlet is on the lid, just remove and unscrew the lid. Also the outlet is on the corner of the bag allowing most of the water to be sucked out if pointed in the correct direction

Well if used as-is, Travis would be in the precarious position of having to carry water back to the bike without a cap attached, and further having to thread on the hose cap, all without dumping water into the frame bag. I think adding Trebor's Q/D fitting to the existing Camelbak would be the ticket.

Travis, you'd need to buy two Q/D kits, one for the bladder/drinking hose interface, and another to source one Q/D fitting for the pump-side.

[sherpaxc]

Jared, maybe you need to meet me at REI! 

[sherpaxc]

got it figured out.  As with everything in life, money solves the issue.  I'm going to buy a Drom lite bag and use one of these...
http://www.rei.com/product/733957

This should solve the issues.  I just didn't want to spend that much money on it.  Oh well, if it doesn't work out back to REI it will go!

Thanks for the help ya'll!

[Spoonie]

Have you bought it yet?

I'm not entirely happy with it over a quick connect.   I have a quick connect on my nalgene bladder that's probably due for failure any time now (the bladder that is.  It's probably 3 or 4 years old now), so I bought the dromedary.  The problem is you have to basically unscrew the hose, then unscrew the bladder cover, fill and rescrew it all back together without spilling water everywhere.    Also the resultant hose/lid combo is pretty high in profile which makes it harder to slip into pockets and the like...

the advantage is, it works with both my 2L and 4L dromedary bags, so I can just unscrew one and whack it on the other.  In practice, I've only ever just poured water out of my 4L bag into another container. 

Your mileage may vary, but IMHO the quick connect if you can get one is a better solution.  Just don't lose the O-Ring when you disconnect

*shrug*

Cheers
Craig

[sherpaxc]

I haven't bought it yet.  I was going to go to REI tomorrow night with my frame bag and see what fits and what I like.  I'll keep ya'll posted as to what works.