AtomicMiles: Review of the Camelback Podium Bottle

While this bottle didn't get me on the podium, there are plenty of "pros" to this bottle and very few "cons". I have used the bottle for over two weeks now including the high uintas classic last Saturday.

Pros:

Leak proof. The bottle is leak proof. By turning the base of the bite valve 90 degrees, you lock it shut. I found that you can do this one handed. Leaky water bottles tick me off--I hate having my electrolyte drink spill all over my frame.
Taste. My initial impression was, how can a plastic bottle not taste like plastic? As the weather has heated up into the 90's, my other water bottles have infused their "plastic taste" into my drinks/water. The camelback bottle however does not.
Bite Valve. Unlike a normal water bottle, you don't have to bite and pull the valve open to drink. The camelback has a valve that is unlike any other. My best description is it burps open as you squeeze the bottle. Even without rotating the vale 90 degrees, the "burp" valve does a really good job holding in the drinks.

Cons

1. Price. Compared to picking up free water bottles at events, paying any money seems steep. I paid $7-$9 for my bottles.

Recommendation

I initially bought a clear 20 oz. bottle. This bottle heated up my drink very quickly. I then bought a 24 oz. gray bottle. Eliminating the greenhouse effect helped keep my beverage cooler a little longer.

On a side note, I worked out at the gym today. It felt good to sweat again as I have taken it easy since Saturday. I am planning a ride for tomorrow (Wed.) around lunchtime. It will be hot, but I need to work on riding in the heat. I have a lot of training to do before the tour of park city on August 2.

My wife bought me a new belt as all of my old ones were too big. This one is almost too small but will serve as a gauge of my waist line. Right now I'm at the biggest notch in the belt. If I start porking up, this belt won't fit anymore and should be a message to me to get back to work and slim down.