So I took the new Fuel Belt out for a test, and the water in the bottles tasted terrible. My first thought was that I didn’t rinse all the soap out of the bottles when I washed them, however after further washing, I believe I may be experiencing the “bad taste” that some people describe experiencing with plastic bottles.
Has anybody experienced this? Also, do you have a solution? Finally, the flasks will not dispense my gel either, as claimed by the store rep. The opening is a bit small and the viscocity of my Hammer Gel won’t allow it to pass through the cap. Is dilution required on all Fuel Belt models?
Look on the bottom of the bottle, there should be a triangle or circle generally with a number inside it. If I understand correctly the number will tell you how porous the plastic is. 1 is the most porous. Most bottled waters have a 1 I think, and it’s easy to taste the plastic in that water if it sits in warm or hot weather. I think my NalGene bottle is a 7, and it takes upwards of a week before the plastic taste appears heavily. My water bottles I use while cycling are 3’s. I wish I could find 7’s to fit in my cages, but I havn’t yet.
I’ve heard that putting lemon juice in plastic bottles helps to rid them of unwanted scents. Maybe let it sit overnight…? Haven’t tried it myself yet though. Good luck.
No numbers on the bottom. I looked at my Hammer Gel bottle and it is a 1. The plastic that the Fuel Belt bottle is made out of definately feels cheaper and more porous. Just tried baking soda with little success.
I’ve spent a number of years working in the outdoor retail industry (read: icky tasting Nalgene bottles) and learned that ultimately there’s no surefire trick to take away the bad taste of polycarbonate plastic bottles. I’ve found that a solution of lemon juice with a touch of baking soda for fizziness can absorb the flavor, as can a light vinegar solution. I guess the bottom line is that the bottles are cheaper, that is, lighter, for the light weight and flexibility necessary for their designed purpose. I hate to say it, but you might just have to get used to it. Just don’t ever leave Accelerade in them in the bottom of your race pack, and forget they’re there for, oh, a month… they get really funky.
As for the question of getting gel out of the bottles, never had a problem. I use Hammer Gel exclusively (raspberry, yummy) and don’t have to dilute it at all. My experience is that the Fuel Belt gel bottles are actually nicer than the Ultimate flasks as the stopper is softer and more mouth-friendly for open/close.
If the bottle has an odor, freeze it for an hour. If it has residue ,vinegar / lemon and a brush. If it still tasted plasticy its just old and chemically breaking down .
I’ve spent a number of years working in the outdoor retail industry (read: icky tasting Nalgene bottles) and learned that ultimately there’s no surefire trick to take away the bad taste of polycarbonate plastic bottles.
aztriwife
Would our best bet then simply be to say screw the plastic/polycarbonate types and use stainless steel? Do you know if anybody is making a stainless steel water bottle that fits inside a standard cage? I’d love to use glass, but the potential for disaster obviously takes that out of consideration. Unless of course somebody is making a bullet-proof glass water bottle!
yeah, hate that plastic taste. as far as i know this company (below) make alu bottles that fit in cages. i don’t actually have one myself as i like to squeeze the water etc… out of the bottle, kinda tough with alu. in the “sigg/production/how a bottle is made” menu they say that the interior is sprayed with a “…taste inert, food compatible, stove enamel…”.
Fuel Belt replied to an e-mail I sent- saying I must have received a bad batch of bottles and they would send me new ones. I’m not sure if this will fix the problem, but I suppose I’m willing to try it.
I always have this problem with new Fuelbelt bottles. I usually fill them with Gatorade and let them sit in the fridge for a few days. Then I dump the Gatorade out, of course. I also normally just use Gatorade in them for the first few times I use them. The bad taste is usually only a problem when drinking just water out of them and it does eventually go away. It can be pretty bad though.