This article started off as a Reverence for the Camelbak Podium, and might still be, who knows, it’s late and my mind is scrambled. As often happens when searching for a suitable image for an article, tangents often appear from nowhere and derail the original train of thought. Soon one finds oneself careening out of control towards the only bend in the track where it just so happens the only town within 2000km that has a massive nuclear reactor/fuel refinery is situated adjacent to said bend. (Sorry about that, I was unfortunate enough to witness the worst movie ever recently and it’s really messed with my head. There’s those tangents again. Spoiler: the train really is stoppable, which I deduced by, oh, the synopsis in the tv guide.)
Anyway, bidons. The one piece of cycling equipment that is the most essential besides the actual bike. The one thing that should never be left at home. The saviour, the giver of life, the fuel tank for the engine for the chassis. Just go out for even less than an hour of riding sans bidon, and you’ll be crying like a baby does for bitty.
There’s been much talk about the humble bidon around here already, so in a way this seems even pointless to say. But say it I will: Camelbak Podiums are the duck’s guts. It doesn’t even matter why, just use one and you’ll know. I’ve lost count how many I own, have owned, lost, or finally thrown out when the black, hairy growth is no longer able to be controlled. A dilemna that Pro teams rarely face, as most of their bidons get supped from once, before jetison to the roadside and into the clutches of baying souvenir hunters (or the front yard of a bemused, elderly Italian lady).
The job of the waterboy is probably the most denigrating for a Pro, even if many domestiques are resigned to the fact that it goes with the territory; there’ll still be a pecking order among them and the neo-Pro will be unmercifully sent back to the cars to load up with as many bottles as they have pockets or orifices to stash them. Or maybe the indignity just feels like there’s a bidon or two where the sun don’t shine.
Imagine wearing the Maillot Jaune, the biggest moment of a career spent working for others, a career with very little in the way of wins or the world’s attention, and being told to “go get us some water, will ya?” while every camera in France is trained upon you. It has happened. Or you are a National Champion, or World Champion? Is this the ultimate disrespect to not only the rider, but the jerseys themselves?
Water giveth life, then cruelly and coldly snatches it right out from under you, for all to see. Cycling has class structure, just like life, and the waterboy is decidedly stuck on the bottom wrung of the social ladder, no matter even if they are dressed up in their best for the day.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/waterboys/”/]
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@ChrisO
I'll remember this on Keepers Tour next year... bring extra caps.
My only gripe with Camelback Podiums is that their neck is non-standard, which makes them prone to launching. If they had mated better to the standard lip that's found on most cages, they'd stay put better. I have many Podium bottles with their soft caps shaved off by the tarmac to show for it...
@brett
Ah, I see. I just fill it up with a drink that matches by kit and/or bike. So it looks like it'll have to be Guiness when all in black, so long as my helmet is white.
Wouldn't it be sweet to have some V bottles? I make do with a couple of nice orange ones from Crank Daddys in Milwaukee that match the v plugs.
You can out me down for two V bottles and two V caps while we're at it. Anyone else?
Regarding Camelback Podiums and the Specialized Big Mouth, one is made in China and the other is made in USA. In addition, the CBs are covered in branding and the Big Mouths are usually nice and plain.
Now I have nothing against global supply chains per se, but when the option to spend my $ in support of manufacturers on the NA continent (not just the company letterhead) presents itself, especially for items of a disposable or semi-disposable item, I always trend towards the on shore product. Even if it is one that will `make mike more money`.
Besides, in this case the Big Mouths look much nicer on the bike.
Cavendish (pictured in article) "Elite Corsa bottles only please!"
I feel as though there needs to be an article Peña. Apparently it was voluntary, but still, someone should have stopped him and said, 'no, I will do it'.
I like the sounds of the Vuelta a Colombia (from the article brett linked to). It seems to embrace many of the rules.
iI have 5 podiums. Im thinking they all need to be replaced after reading about the black hair.
@DeKerr
Cheers!
@extra special and bitter
Yeah, that is a story that is worth looking into. I couldn't find any images of him loaded with bottles while in the Maillot Jaune though. Maybe Gunderson apologised and had them removed?