I Think I May Have Nearly Enough Backpacks

01.7.2010 | 8:35 am

A “Hey, I’m On The Radio!” Note from Fatty: I’m on The Story with Dick Gordon today. You can listen to it on public radio stations or listen to it online here (the Listen Now link is at the bottom of the page, and the direct link to the MP3 file is here).

I am not a reckless consumer. I consider all my purchases carefully, and do my best to do without if I can make do with what I already have. Consider, for a moment, my bicycles. Clearly, the Superfly 29″ fully rigid singlespeed and the Waltworks 29″ fully rigid singlespeed are very different bikes — one has a carbon frame, one has a steel frame. And they have different cranks, too.

Similarly, my Orbea Orca and Trek Madone serve very different purposes. One, for example, is a high-end, featherweight carbon road bike. The other, meanwhile, is a high-end, featherweight carbon road bike.

I have shown similar restraint in my acquisition of bike clothing. I have, at this moment, thirteen pair of bib shorts, which is not even enough to get me through two weeks, unless I do some laundry. As for jerseys, well, while it is true that I have dedicated an entire bedroom in my house to holding all the jerseys I own, I have worn many of these jerseys more than twice.

As a final example of my prudence in bike-related gear selection, allow me to show you a photograph of the paltry number of hydration packs I currently have in my possession.

IMG_2065.JPG

Sadly, this selection of seven packs is diminished from the number I should have, because I loaned my college-attending niece my Camelbak HAWG — the Camelbak I used when I rode the Kokopelli Trail Race — a year or so ago, and have not seen it since.

Also, I am not including my CamelBak VeloBak in this photograph, because it is a strange creature, neither fish nor fowl. I am not sure whether it belongs in my jersey room or in my hydration pack nook. Also, I have not yet worn it outside, fearing I will either draw derisive comments from friends or be captured and imprisoned as a member of the Borg Collective.

Really, though, my hydration packs are only a subset of my backpack / messenger bag menagerie. Here is the more inclusive collection:

IMG_2074.jpg

Ten. Plus of course the permanently-loaned HAWG and the peculiar VeloBak. And also I think I have one more CamelBak MULE laying around somewhere — probably stashed in a bin somewhere, and still holding about 40oz of apple-flavored Cytomax I mixed back in 1998, before it occurred to me that apple-flavored Cytomax is the most vile stuff on earth. Especially once it’s gone warm in a water bottle.

Wow, I just had an involuntary shudder at the recollection of a sports drink.

Now, I expect there are a few of you who may believe I have too many packs and bags, especially of the hydration pack variety (between eight and ten, depending on whether you count lost, stolen and Frankensteined hydration packs).

To which I reply: pish-posh.

Each of these packs / bags is a critical and often-used item in my cycling life. Which I will prove right now.

The Crumpler Bumper Issue

Crumpler sent me this pack , hoping that I would write about it. Which I am, now. And it’s a really great bag, I think, although I have not yet ever actually used it. Still, take a look:

IMG_2075.jpg

Yeah, I’ll bet Crumpler is thinking right now, “Hey, we should get Fatty to do our product shots for us. He’s that good.”

The truth is, at $65 (and up, if you want fancier colors), this is a good price for a hydration pack that holds a lot of stuff. Or at least I assume it would hold a lot of stuff.

The thing is, though, it’s really rare for me to have a bright orange drinking tube that I’m reticent (yes, I’ve used both “reticent” and “menagerie” in today’s post — FatCyclist.com is your one-stop fancy vocabulary shop) to use it, ever. Because once you’ve used a hydration pack’s bladder even once, no matter what you put in it — like, even if you were drinking rubbing alcohol from your hydration pack, which would incidentally be a very bad idea and I am not recommending at all — it’s going to start growing mold and algae and probably fungus and other miscellaneous flora.

Which is cool if you like to think of your hydration pack drinking experience as akin to sipping from a mossy stream.

But I don’t.

So the Crumpler sits unused. Someday, though, I’m going to put some stuff in it, and go for a ride, and then I’ll give this pack an even more authoritative review, if that’s even possible.

Or I’ll give it to someone who wants it, maybe. Like, maybe my niece will give me back my HAWG if I give her this.

The CamelBak Mule

I don’t even know how many Leadville 100’s this CamelBak has seen.

IMG_2076.jpg

Oh, wait a second. That’s not a Mule. That’s a Blowfish. Which means that my MULE is for sure missing. And also, it means that I can’t tell the difference between some of the products in the CamelBak line.

It’s easy for me to remember when I last used this particular CamelBak, because it’s still got the snacks from the trip. Specifically, it has graham crackers, fruit snacks, and granola bars, along with what I am sure is still perfectly drinkable water.

Though I am not confident what would happen after you drink the water.

Those snacks tell me that this was the CamelBak I wore when hiking to Timpanogos Cave with the twins last Summer. And since, if I remember right, the twins each had to pee into specially-made plastic bags containing absorbent silica gel during the tour of the cave itself, I’m a little bit nervous to investigate this bag further.

Though I would like to see if I could find some more of those ultra-ultra-portable potties. Those were handy.

When will I use this pack next? Next time I need to go on a ride on a geared bike, that requires around 100oz of water, a jacket that won’t fit on me or in my jersey, and a bunch of snacks that I don’t mind being a couple of years old.

Ergon BD1

This is the wackiest pack I have ever owned. The frame swivels and holds the pack off your back.

IMG_2078.JPG

And the strapping on the back is perfect for holding a pair of snowshoes. Which is what I most recently used this for — The Runner and her dad hike to the top of a local mountain every month without fail, and I’ve started joining them on their monthly adventure in OCD-land.

Also, I kinda think this might be a pretty good pack for taking on the Great Divide Race. If I were ever to do such a thing, I mean. Which would be utterly foolish.

But it would give me something to talk about on the blog, right?

The CamelBak Pakster

This was the first CamelBak I ever owned. Dug and Bob (of the core team, not the Mackenzie Brothers from the Great White North) got it for me for a birthday present:

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This is from back when dinosaurs used CamelBaks. Things were much simpler then: A rectangular envelope with a velcro closure at the top to hold the bladder, a zipped pouch and a mesh pouch to hold stuff, and a bungee cord to hold stuff that wouldn’t fit in the pouches.

Padded straps cost extra.

To my dismay and delight, this CamelBak contains an original Powerbar, peanut butter flavored. Which causes my mind to boggle for a few reasons:

  1. That I ever ate the original Powerbars at all.
  2. That anyone ate the original Powerbars at all.
  3. That it only crossed its expire date two years ago.

Does anyone have an “I ate a complete original Powerbar while riding a bike and lived to tell the tale” story?

Come to think of it, I wonder if the original Powerbars are still for sale, because it would be an interesting stunt for me to try.

Checking…

Wow. They are. I’m going to buy one. I’ll report back with my results in the near future. Wish me luck.

The Camelbak Classic

Here I have the CamelBak Classic, which is the minimalist version of the Camelbak — it just holds your water, a multi-tool, and maybe one very small snack:

IMG_2081.JPG

I actually only bought this because I went into REI looking for a bladder to replace one of my grody, moss-infested ones, and it turned out it was cheaper to buy this whole CamelBak and then rob it of the bladder than it was to simply buy a bladder.

Which makes this the saddest, loneliest, CamelBak that has ever lived.

The CamelBak Rocket

Of all the CamelBak’s I have, this is the one I’ve used the most:

IMG_2082.JPG

The fact is, the Rocket may have been the best CamelBak ever made. The straps were nice and broad, the bladder was just right for a medium-sized ride, and you could get to everything in the cargo area with a single zipper.

Back before our singlespeed days, Kenny had and used one just like this.

And then we started riding singles.

And now, it’s rare to see anyone I ride with on any CamelBak at all, anymore.

Still, the CamelBak Rocket does have the distinction of being the stiffest pack in my collection — with years of sweaty minerals filtered through the nylon, it’s practically a board.

The Ellsworth

Um, I honestly do not know how I got this one:

IMG_2079.JPG

And I didn’t know Ellsworth made hydration packs, either. It’s still got the tags on it, and is in “new-but-kinda-dusty” condition.

But I’m sure this will make an awesome riding pack for me, at some point. Or possibly a terrific birthday / Christmas / wedding gift.

85 Comments

  1. Comment by yeagermeister | 01.7.2010 | 8:55 am

    I ate a PowerBar back in about January of 1994 and still have nightmares about the 45 minutes it took to eat.

  2. Comment by Di | 01.7.2010 | 9:14 am

    I am in need of a new hydration pack. I was looking at a CamelBak Mule and it is a good candidate for my future purchase. Some of my friends use Deuters, which have really gotten my attention. I think those are the two I will be choosing between.

  3. Comment by erik | 01.7.2010 | 9:14 am

    I was on the rowing team in college at Texas in the early 90’s, and the Powerbar people came around and gave each of us a box of original PB’s. They were inedible, and Powerbar couldn’t give them away from that point. Yeagermeister is right, eating an original Powerbar took a good 45-min and resulted in lots of PTSD.

  4. Comment by Geo | 01.7.2010 | 9:19 am

    ate ‘em all the time from about ‘96-’03, they were my go to bar(yes i received most of them free, parental sponsorship). Hard to eat when frozen.

  5. Comment by km | 01.7.2010 | 9:19 am

    Awww the original Powerbars weren’t that bad. After the paramedics revived me and gave me oxygen I was able to finish one of those original bars just fine while riding. I also think I saw an episode of “Fear Factor” where they made the contestants eat one. Hey Fatty, if you want to unload a hydration pack or two I’m you guy….except for that Ellsworth pack…or your crusty Rocket….or…nevermind you keep em, ewwww.

  6. Comment by Frank | 01.7.2010 | 9:22 am

    I bought a Camelbak a few years ago to use it … gasp … on my road bike when my distances increased beyond 2 water bottles. After several “evil eyes” and death threats by other road cyclists I decided to avert the danger of predatory roadies and to squeeze multiple bottles under my jersey. Sometimes I wonder if I should take the chance again…

  7. Comment by NYCCarlos | 01.7.2010 | 9:23 am

    Sometimes when I want a workout, I just go buy a powerbar and eat it. You burn more calories chewing it than riding a century. It occasionally takes longer.

    I too have too many packs… is there a charity that could take them off our hands? Would World Bicycle Relief need them?

  8. Comment by Cowspassage | 01.7.2010 | 9:26 am

    Is ‘pish-posh’ a euphemism for apple flavoured cytomax?

  9. Comment by thom p. | 01.7.2010 | 9:34 am

    It’s good to have so many packs, each one can be designated to a particular purpose.

    Sometimes you don’t want to put beer in your “butter pack.” You know, the one that you put cream in at the beginning of the ride, so by ride’s end you’re sucking down delicious, refreshing cream.

    Likewise you maybe don’t want to mix up your “Gravy Pack” and your ” Pina Coloda Pack.” That’s just gross.

    You could even have one pack with an over-size drinking tube just for Clam Chowder. Nothing’s more thirst quenching on a hot day than clam chowder. So chunky!

  10. Comment by thom p. | 01.7.2010 | 9:36 am

    That would be “sucking down “delicious, refreshing BUTTER.” Not cream. Where the hell’s my proof-reader?

  11. Comment by Nancy P | 01.7.2010 | 9:44 am

    There is no such thing as too many bags/packs. I can’t believe you’d even joke about this.

  12. Comment by Rick S. | 01.7.2010 | 9:49 am

    That Ellsworth was your prize from the 24 hours of Moab race. I put the remains of a banana in one of the pockets to see how long it would take for you to notice. You might want to check it out.

  13. Comment by Wonderdyke | 01.7.2010 | 9:54 am

    So – are you now asserting that because you ride almost exclusively singlespeed, you no longer require hydration – a singlespeed-riding camel? Or are you saying that Camelbaks don’t cut it in the SS/fixie world? Perhaps you are so gnarly that you you drink from whatever collection of freestanding water you encounter on your ride?

  14. Comment by Kristen | 01.7.2010 | 9:56 am

    Camelbaks always seemed like such a pain until I realized that putting the bladders in the freezer when you aren’t using them stops the lovely mold growth – even better then the fancy hangers they sell. Of course that mold was probably contributing something vital to my overall well being…

  15. Comment by Frank | 01.7.2010 | 9:57 am

    It appears good old fashioned consumerism is not just limited to SUV drivers.

    What led you to think I don’t drive an SUV? – FC

  16. Comment by Two Whos | 01.7.2010 | 9:57 am

    Thanks for the post. It is good to know the choices… can be overwhelming when go shopping. So I just stick to my one old backpack. Time to get a new one. Yahoo..

  17. Comment by j2dahizzay | 01.7.2010 | 10:08 am

    I believe you are well prepared my friend. You got a pack for everyday of the week. Unless, and I recommend, you retire a couple of the old faithfuls and store them in shadow boxes or some other deep frame with perhaps the trail mix and an index card explaining your best memory of it.
    OR you can get a pair of cycling shoes to match each one so you can be “Mr. Accessory”, King Of Coordination. In which case you can start a “sponsor me” campaign and receive and review some FREE shoes.
    I like this trend of giving us an inventory of your gear. Maybe, after this gear is worn, it would be cool to auction them off for good causes. As you did with the Team Radioshack Madone. Keep it up Fatty. And lets see you and that powerbar battle it out. Video record the scene for us. That would be priceless and you could wash it down from your favorite hydration pack that you will auction first.

  18. Comment by Hat | 01.7.2010 | 10:32 am

    Will you next be writing about an inventory of your water bottles? I assume you have hundreds.

  19. Comment by bikemike | 01.7.2010 | 10:50 am

    i challenge powerbar, no, i triple-dog-dare powerbar to prove anyone with an IQ higher than their age actually still eats the original bar. go ahead stick your tongue to that frozen pole.

  20. Comment by dug | 01.7.2010 | 10:58 am

    “On the Radio, Oh Oh, on the Radio . . .”

    by the way, those aren’t backpacks. they’re camelbacks. yes, camelback has become the kleenex of stuff you wear on your back while cycling. backpacks are something else.

  21. Comment by AngieG | 01.7.2010 | 10:58 am

    Hey don’t knock the orignal PB so soon. I used it once to patch a leaking water pipe. It worked better than a pipe clamp, and much cheaper too!

    I think you should send one of the older packs to the Smithsonian. I am sure at this point your world famousness has them contemplating a Fatty exhibit.

  22. Comment by Allez Nate | 01.7.2010 | 10:59 am

    After disposing of at least a dozen green-tinted camelbak bladders – I was turned onto the fact that dropping denture tablets in a bladder overnight will kill off the fungus.

  23. Comment by gareth | 01.7.2010 | 11:04 am

    i choked on a powerbar once. i think that in the ensuing coughing/ choking fit some of it came out of my nose. true story.

  24. Comment by Mikeonhisbike | 01.7.2010 | 11:10 am

    Eating a powerbar is the only time I’ve had jaw muscle lactic acid problem.

  25. Comment by Clydesteve | 01.7.2010 | 11:12 am

    Fatty, like me you are getting older, just not as much older just yet. As we get older, body parts may tend to fall off.

    I am warning you now. If you eat an entire original POWERBAR while riding a bike, it will extract a good percentage of your original teeth, well your original permanent teeth, I assume the the original baby teeth are long gone.

    Please, do not do this dangerous stunt.

  26. Comment by Steve | 01.7.2010 | 11:17 am

    Perfect — next time my wife tells me I have too many cycling bags/packs I’m going to direct her to this post. :)

    Seriously, though, finding a good pack for cycling isn’t easy. I’ve narrowed my faves down to a North Face Plasma 30 and a Deuter TransAlpine. I also have a Chrome messenger bag I use if it’s really crappy weather. I shudder to think how many packs I’ve gone through in total though.

  27. Comment by Charlie | 01.7.2010 | 11:17 am

    If you want to make a new boat payment for your dentist -

    Try eating a Power Bar on your next snow shoe trip when it’s below 10 degrees – ever try eating a block of granite?

  28. Comment by ChefJT | 01.7.2010 | 11:22 am

    Sitting in for the vacationing Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes this evening…..Elden “Fat Cyclist” Nelson.

  29. Comment by Tom | 01.7.2010 | 11:36 am

    Today’s post got me looking through the storage facility that I use to hold all of my bags. After carefully unpacking all of my bags(you see, I have bags that I use to pack my bags away into. Its a weird kind of quantum mechanics where they all have stuff in them also!) When I too ran across an original PB flavored Powerbar. This one I remember purchasing in Iraq in 2003 and, of course, wasnt expired yet! So after playing the “what happens next” game, I took a bite. My dentist appointment is in 2 days to get my bridge reworked! I neglected to warm up the bar because it is currently -10 degrees here. Apparently Powerbars dont crunch!

  30. Comment by Elizabeth | 01.7.2010 | 11:46 am

    Got the hint. Are we all invited?

  31. Comment by my middle name is fred | 01.7.2010 | 11:50 am

    I used to eat a ton of the original Power Bars… when my collegiate cycling team in the early 1990’s was sponsored by them and we got them free by the caseload.

    Nearly broke a tooth trying to eat one during a winter ride…

    BTW, I don’t get the connection between single speed mountain bike and no hydration. I am an ignorant roadie, though considering SS offroad. Please explain.

  32. Comment by Turt99 | 01.7.2010 | 11:56 am

    I remember I got an Original powerbar once and when I tried to eat it I got so mad I chucked it in the trash after 2 bites. I figured I was wasting any calories I was eatting by just trying to chew the stupid thing.

    I’d love to hear about your messenger bags as well. I personally use a crumpler messenger bag as my “briefcase” since it started as my commuter pack, however I’m not hardcore enough to commute all year. The one I have is basically the twinsix one you have in bright colors.

    On an unrelated note, are you planning to do the 100 miles to nowhere again this year. I’m already thinking about my options for routes…. my front lawn on the trainer, around the local part (0.8 KM) I think these routes would be nice and nowhere enough and draw some attention.

  33. Comment by Rick (none of the others) | 01.7.2010 | 12:03 pm

    I believe that this: (http://medgadget.com/archives/2007/07/pocket_peebag.html) is something close to what the twins used at Timpanogos Cave. And the syntax makes the web site all that much better.

  34. Comment by Kenny | 01.7.2010 | 12:07 pm

    Are you sure Bob and Dug from the core team are not the McKenzie Brothers from the great white north? I recently saw Dug use the word “tooke” in his blog.

    Rick S. is right because I had one of those Elsworths in my collection until an ebay exchange made me 25 dollars richer.

    After reading your post I was thinking of the reasons that I rarely wear camelbacks anymore. Here’s what I came up with.

    1. It does make sense that on a single speed bike you are standing up more pulling your bike back and forth. Camelbacks can be a little restricting while riding the oney.

    2. Two water bottles will last me about 3 1/2 hours. 90% of my rides are shorter than that.

    3. Even on a longer ride in the wasatch mountains, there are streams and springs about. My water filter weighs less than a camel back.

    4. Jersey pockets work really good.

    5. I hate the taste of plastic.

    6. In cold weather the hose will freeze up way before a water bottle will.

    7. The little screws that attach the plate on my collarbone start to wear thru my skin after about 6 hours on the bike, even with the most padded straps.

    8. Camelbacks used to be cool. They’re just not cool anymore. Being cool, especially when I’m on the bike, is really important to me.

  35. Comment by Trekjocky | 01.7.2010 | 12:08 pm

    I eat powerbars and have since the late 80s. The original oatmeal was pretty bad but the chocolate was good. Creamy flavors now are the best but a good chocolate or PB for a late ride bump or after ride calorie fix goes over well. Eat them more often off the bike then on but sill enjoy them. With the current gels and chews it’s easier to munch them during a ride of course but melting a powerbar to your top tube to nibble on during a long ride is the best. (and Powerbar… you can contact me for further sponsorship at your leisure…) Would still rather be caught with a powerbar on a ride then a hydration pack!

  36. Comment by Dr. Lammler | 01.7.2010 | 12:09 pm

    Most people don’t know that all the original Power Bars had been discovered in the ancient pyramids.

    If you are starving to death and find an original Power Bar in your Camelback I would recommend you eat the Camelback.

  37. Comment by Thomas | 01.7.2010 | 12:12 pm

    Fatty, I heard your story today on Dick Gordon’s program and was really moved and thought I would take a look at your blog. So sorry about the loss of your wife and happy to see your beautifull children that must remind you of her daily. I have recently become enthused with in the gym spinning and on the road biking, although today, we have about 12 inches of snow on the road. I will visit the cite regularly and find out what’s new.

    Best

  38. Comment by skippy | 01.7.2010 | 12:16 pm

    On the Tour de Suisse Sunday Time Trial that Jan Ulrich won in Berne, I came across 10kg of boxed “power bars near the Stadium. Still finishing the last of them.I always carry a couple in my back pocket and they are soft enough to chew as i ride the miles that need replenishment.Carrying those bars from Berne to Albertville was a pain and having to come off the Tour on the last Saturday to pick up and cart them to Paris meant using the train on the sunday morning.

    By the time i arrived the “Champs elysee” was closed, known and shadowed by the “flicks” i circled the parcours in high dugeon! What happened next is found in http://www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com and @skippydetour.

    Fatty my computer did not deliver the photos but i enjoyed the commentary, keep delivering!

  39. Comment by Randy | 01.7.2010 | 12:19 pm

    I believe that having TEN of something qualifies it as a “Collection” … Congratulations

  40. Comment by skippy | 01.7.2010 | 12:21 pm

    Reading @vaughters this morning i noticed he was taking “eurostar” to paris . Just heard a “eurostar” broke down and as i have not seen any tweets i wonder if he is in the “chunnel” still.
    @johanbuyneel on the other hand tweeted about the delays in london and this arvo in paris.madrid doesn’t seem to be much to go home for tonight Johan, hope you have wood fires.
    hope the Fatty team are all in warm places or enjoying the Winter Sports!

  41. Comment by Rick (none of the others) | 01.7.2010 | 12:21 pm

    Oh, and here: (http://store.ellsworthbikes.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=AC-HydrationRd%2F&eq=&Tp=) is the Ellsworth “hydration bag.” Although how you got yours remains unexplained.

  42. Comment by Jeff | 01.7.2010 | 12:21 pm

    One Word (and one letter): e-Bay.

  43. Comment by Al | 01.7.2010 | 12:24 pm

    Ate plenty of the original powerbars back in the day. Used to stick pieces under the leg of my shorts to warm them up before eating. Never had a problem with the taste. When you’re bonking, you’ll eat anything regardless of the taste.

    Used to have a Camelback Packster as well. Bladder also had the distinctive taste of apple flavoured Cytomax.

  44. Comment by Rick (none of the others) | 01.7.2010 | 12:26 pm

    I’m sorry, but I seem to be on a bit of a roll. This (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4360932.pdf) looks much better(?) than the gel bag for urine disposal. Really. Take a look.

  45. Comment by Beth | 01.7.2010 | 1:01 pm

    You are kind of the Imelda Marcos of backpacks

  46. Comment by Tracy | 01.7.2010 | 1:15 pm

    Okay, so you have a lot of backpacks, and obviously jerseys. But what you really need to explain is the obvious orangey/goldy colour SHAG CARPET in your house!! Eeeekkkk….

  47. Comment by Clydesteve | 01.7.2010 | 1:15 pm

    Elden – Congrats! – Really nice radio interview.

  48. Comment by Jen in NC | 01.7.2010 | 1:32 pm

    I loved listening to your story today – I was looking forward to it since I began hearing it advertised. You’re inspiring me to get on my bike- something I love AND can do, since I have a nerve issue in my foot (bleh). Keep writing and keep riding!!

  49. Comment by Marla Gnarla | 01.7.2010 | 1:36 pm

    I seem to recall my college roommate competing in a 12 hour race back in the early 90’s. She was on a co-ed team and made one lap before becoming ill. The only thing we could figure out that was different from any rides or races was her trying Power Bars on this one. Took her out of the race. Of course, I’m not saying it was the Power Bars, just a mere coincidence!

    And yes, frozen PB’s were almost useless!

  50. Comment by Rico | 01.7.2010 | 2:05 pm

    Elden – The Ellsworth bag was an item we won during the 24hr Moab race. Your memory is slipping my friend!

    Guns McCoy AKA Nick Rico

    24 Hour race? Moab? And who are you? – FC

  51. Comment by Haven (KT) | 01.7.2010 | 2:06 pm

    We used to eat Powerbars on our rides. Then we discovered that there are a lot of other, better-tasting things to eat and it’s been years since I’ve had a Powerbar.

    I love my Camelbak Blowfish– I used it for commuting (expandable!); I wore it on the Bridge Pedal (because someone has to carry the extra shoes for walking around the Bite afterward, plus carrying a load of locks— wait a sec, why do I end up carrying all the heavy stuff??); I hang it from the roll cage in the rally car because if you roll, you don’t have to worry about water bottles pinging you in the head if you have a hydration pack. Plus you can fill it with ice and a bit of water, and it stays cold all day long, which is nice and refreshing during the summer races.

    Mom loves her Camelbak, too, but it’s just your basic hydration pack with no special storage spots– and it hangs nicely behind her seat in the rally car.

    I think you can never have too many backpacks– but, after reviewing your stash, Elden, I may be wrong.

  52. Comment by geraldatwork | 01.7.2010 | 2:14 pm

    Wedding gift?

  53. Comment by Bill | 01.7.2010 | 2:17 pm

    Glad someone has the problem just like me! Yours is a little worst though for the time being!

  54. Comment by Spiff | 01.7.2010 | 2:19 pm

    The problem with PowerBars is that you spend more energy chewing/digesting than you get out of ‘em. Incidentally, this is the same problem physicists have with cold fusion.

  55. Comment by Neil | 01.7.2010 | 3:26 pm

    thought maybe you were gonna sell some of your stuff…

  56. Comment by Brandon in Parker | 01.7.2010 | 4:22 pm

    TravelJohn Urine Bags…to the rescue!

    http://www.pilotmall.com/product/TravelJohn-Disposable-Urine-Bags/miscellaneous-pilot-supplies

  57. Comment by Nathan | 01.7.2010 | 4:24 pm

    I heard your interview on NPR today. Excellent and well done.

  58. Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 01.7.2010 | 4:27 pm

    Does it mean I’m a wimpy rider that I don’t own and have never used one of these things?

  59. Comment by John | 01.7.2010 | 4:30 pm

    Is it just me, or did that blog post end abruptly, kinda like you hit the submit button and just went off . . . . No “see you tomorrow” or “in conclusion” just BAM! Like a brick wall . . . sighs. :-)

  60. Comment by Frankenhip | 01.7.2010 | 4:48 pm

    I have one hydration pack that I never use to carry water because (1) it leaks all the darn time no matter what I replace and (2) my 3 kids won’t all drink out of it during a ride (something about cooties) and instead I have to carry 5 water bottles in the pack part. Wonderful interview by the way…

  61. Comment by Nancy | 01.7.2010 | 4:54 pm

    Does The Runner know you used the word “wedding” in your post?

  62. Comment by UltraRob | 01.7.2010 | 6:02 pm

    Made the mistake once of only taking an original PowerBar cross country skiing for 3 hours. I almost managed to get it all eaten by the time I finished and my jaw really hurt.

    They were my race nutrition of choice about 15 years ago. They were a bit sticky when warm. I would tear them into bite sized pieces and stick them to my handlebars. As I needed them I pull a bite off. I’m not sure what else I ate along with them.

  63. Comment by road divit | 01.7.2010 | 7:10 pm

    I carry a cut off piece of garden hose. Sneak up to someone’s house and drink away.

  64. Comment by Aaron | 01.7.2010 | 8:12 pm

    I’m just as bad. I am staring at no less than 10 hydration packs hanging on the wall. Oddly enough, I use most of them. I also once ate the original Power Bar all the time. We used to cut them into bite sized strips, and stick them to our top tubes. Worked great, actually.

  65. Comment by Dan O | 01.7.2010 | 8:49 pm

    After 26 years of mountain biking, still no pack for me. I dig licking muddy water bottles. I did buy a Camelback for my 10 year old son though. Now I make him carry the camera and Clif bars. Heh, heh.

    On the road, only need one Timbuk2 bag (though its my 2nd one).

    Original Powerbars? Once ate a few banana flavored ones before a mountain bike race in ‘91. They remained in my stomach until the first climb, then quickly, uh – escaped.

  66. Comment by jilrubia | 01.7.2010 | 9:51 pm

    You were great on The Story. It’s fun to hear Dick Gordon laugh so much. Btw…FLS is still working for me when a workout is kicking my butt or a crappy thing happens and I need some inspiration. You turned the insanely hideous into something beautiful and uplifting. Not many could. YOU did it. Yes you did.

  67. Pingback by Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 7th « Texbiker.net | 01.7.2010 | 11:39 pm

    [...] Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » I Think I May Have Nearly Enough … by fatty A “Hey, I’m On The Radio!” Note from Fatty: I’m on The Story with Dick Gordon today. You can listen to it on public radio stations or listen to it online here (the Listen Now link is at the bottom of the page, and the direct link to the MP3 file is here). [...]

  68. Comment by Alli | 01.8.2010 | 5:12 am

    The Runner’s monthly hike with her Dad? Very cool! And the number photo is a great idea, too. Her family is building fantastic memories of time well-spent together.

  69. Comment by Doug (WAY upstate NY) | 01.8.2010 | 6:45 am

    Elden,

    I listened to The Story last night. It was a great story. I am glad that you got the experience to ride with Lance et al. Life is a funny thing. Filled with good and bad. I think the key is living life to its fullest and appreciating what you have. I started riding (seriously riding) a couple of years ago. The bike community is full of wonderful people. Things like the fundraiser restore my faith in people.

    BTW. I got a thank you note from World Bicycle Relief. It was personalized. I was really impressed that they would do that.

  70. Comment by Kalli@Fitandfortysomething | 01.8.2010 | 8:01 am

    all those backpacks remind me of my collection of purses! hmmmmm maybe a post about my purses is coming up-heehee

  71. Comment by Marcia Morse | 01.8.2010 | 8:40 am

    Loved hearing you on “The Story”…..you did a great job.
    Much happiness!

  72. Comment by Stephanie | 01.8.2010 | 1:09 pm

    Fatty, thank you so much for this post. I thought I was the only one who had so many hydration packs and still wants more!

  73. Comment by Garrett | 01.8.2010 | 1:26 pm

    Funny, I don’t have a single hydration pack. I’d gladly take one off your hands for you.

  74. Comment by Mike Roadie | 01.8.2010 | 3:31 pm

    I bought a new one last summer in preparation for RAGBRAI to replace the old moldy disgusting one that had been sitting for a couple of years (getting older and moldier). After trying it once on a 40 mile summer ride—never again! I now have a new, once-used ($59)pack sitting idle in my closet!

    FLS

  75. Comment by bike girl | 01.8.2010 | 3:55 pm

    Wait, what, “wedding gift?” Did you slip that in there (yeah, last sentence, Fatty, it’s there) just to drop a hint? Freudian slip?

  76. Comment by Rod L | 01.9.2010 | 8:55 am

    I ate almost a whole Power Bar once in the mid 90s when I was stranded in a snow storm. More useful to me, however, was the wrapper, which I slathered in tube patch glue and burned for heat.

  77. Comment by hans | 01.9.2010 | 8:25 pm

    Nice post, unfortunately I know people with more of a crap collection habit. Give it up for the sake of humanity and all that is good in this world!

    Powerbars were and are nasty, all hail the Clif bar.

    Concerning vocabulary – I believe the word you wanted to use was “hesitant” not “reticent”. The latter means ’slow to speak or say something’… ;)

  78. Comment by Sammie | 01.10.2010 | 2:33 am

    bike girl….I was thinking the exact same thing….

  79. Comment by Claire | 01.10.2010 | 8:00 am

    The interview was great. You did a fantastic job.

  80. Comment by Cyndy | 01.11.2010 | 3:05 pm

    I use to buy the original Powerbars by the case – chocolate and peanut butter – during my years as a competitive swimmer. I actually liked them. I did, however, live in S. Florida at the time so they were probably half melted already.

  81. Comment by tricanuck | 01.11.2010 | 6:25 pm

    OK, even though I’m at the bottom of a million comments, and will likely never be read by anyone, let alone Fat Cyclist… Fat Cyclist, here is a tip for you. Keep your hydration bladders in the freezer once you’ve rinsed them out after a ride. They’ll never go mouldy, and you just pull one out and fill it up, and you’re good to go for your next ride with kind of cold water/energy drink. For a short while anyway. But it does prevent the skunkiness.

  82. Comment by Rick (none of the others) | 01.14.2010 | 12:27 pm

    @tricanuck
    I read it

  83. Pingback by Cycling Cap Review « Maine Velophile | 01.17.2010 | 1:05 pm

    [...] January 17, 2010 · Leave a Comment I own several cycling caps. I own almost as many cycling caps as Fatty owns back packs. [...]

  84. Comment by Source Outdoor | 08.21.2010 | 1:34 am

    It’s good to have so many packs, each one can be designated to a particular purpose. It is good to know the choices… can be overwhelming when go shopping. So I just stick to my one old backpack. Time to get a new one. Yahoo..

  85. Comment by hazrol | 12.31.2010 | 6:26 am

    hello…i want buy posh bag for paramedic in pre hospital care…please call me

 

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