When I joined Cyclingnews again in 2019, the possibility to make use of new, fancy and trendy biking tech was the factor that excited me most: Enve wheels, Dura-Ace groupsets, Pinarello bikes, and S-Works footwear. Pinch me, certainly this cannot be actual.
But as time went on, and the flamboyant tech continued to reach and depart just like the tide, the joy slowed, changed by a way of pragmatism. These bikes are cool, however at £10,000+, they’re out of attain for many of our viewers.
Nowadays, newfound pleasure is available in unearthing glorious merchandise which are so low cost that everybody can profit from them. One such instance is the Camelbak Podium water bottle.
And proper now, given it may be discovered with 42% off within the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale – I’m stocking up on extra.
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In an age the place the world – effectively, TikTok – goes loopy for Stanley Cups, I’m right here to let you know there’s a greater possibility.
In the Autumn of 2019, I attended a Rapha launch occasion and among the many swag that’s inevitably given away at such occasions have been two, pink, RCC-branded Camelbak Podium bottles. I did not assume a lot of them on the time, however these bottles shortly turned essentially the most appreciated piece of biking tech at my disposal. Five years on (nearly to the day), they’re nonetheless right here, and nonetheless get nearly each day use.
The RCC branding has worn down because of common journeys via the dishwasher, their Stabilo pink color pale to a extra rustic end, however these bottles have battled on via.
Better nonetheless, even in spite of everything these years, they work precisely as supposed.
I do know the performance of a bottle is not sophisticated, so to reward one for holding water feels a bit like praising a cat for meowing, however you will be shocked simply how usually they fail on account of poor tolerances between the bottle and the lid, or a valve that merely forgets what its job was.
The realisation that the water bottle in your rucksack has leaked is one which we have all skilled in some unspecified time in the future in our lives, however since proudly owning the Camelbak Podium and its twist-lock cap, it has change into a factor of the previous. I’d genuinely place a full Camelbak Podium into the primary compartment of a rucksack with a laptop computer, and belief it utterly.
Despite having been via tons of of cycles of near-boiling-hot water, the form stays unaffected, the screwtop lid has by no means leaked, and it continues to fare higher at water retention than my kitchen roof of late. The twist-lock cap, which might be disassembled on some variants for cleansing, is as watertight because the day it arrived.
But maybe most significantly of all, regardless of having been left half-full of vitality drink combine on my bike for days at a time on a number of events, water nonetheless tastes like water.
Given how lengthy these bottles have lasted, the above worth represents a price of £1.49 per 12 months, they usually’re nonetheless going sturdy in order that’s solely going to proceed enhancing.
I’ve since purchased two extra bottles, the Podium Chill with added insulation, and my spouse purchased her personal after she stole mine and realised how good they’re.
They even make the Podium Dirt, which pairs the identical nice performance with an added cap to maintain the filth from the roads and trails from residing on the valve and in flip discovering its means into your mouth. Read Will’s latest story of bacterial misfortune in case you’re of sturdy abdomen and wish to know why these are a good suggestion.
I do personal different bottles too, such because the Elite Fly which I take advantage of for extra aggressive endeavours on account of their decrease weight and better movement fee, however for on a regular basis use, the Podium deserves its title and sits on the highest step each time.