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Bivos Off the Bike

September 12th, 2024 | by Keaton Smith

I remember the last time I used a plastic bottle pretty vividly. It was long before I started working at Bivo, and I was driving to Boston from Vermont for a long weekend. With a few hours in the car ahead of me, I made sure to pack enough water for the drive. I filled up my plastic bottle at the time and set off on the road. 

I didn’t always notice the taste of plastic in that bottle, but, for some reason, the taste that day was especially horrific. Bitter, acidic, it tasted like pure chemicals. I got a headache in a matter of minutes. That was kind of the last straw for me. On and off, that bottle had been tasting bad, but that day, it ruined the rest of my drive. 

From then on, I exclusively used my metal bottles (this was before I learned about Bivos!), but my wide-mouthed metal bottles were hard to drink out of while hiking, leaked at the office, and were dented up from years of accidentally sending them cascading across concrete sidewalks and pavements.

My friend got me my first Bivo as a gift that year. Plastic bottles a relic of my past, a new metal bottle was so exciting, because my old one was dented to high hell. I was looking forward to using my Bivo for cycling, but, without a good bottle to use in other contexts, it became my go-to bottle for everything. Work, the gym, hiking, and backcountry skiing. Quickly, I discovered it was the best running water bottle I had tried, too.

When I began working at Bivo, I quickly learned this was normal. I learned 95% of Bivo customers use their bottles outside of cycling. So, today, I wanted to compile a few of my favorite photos and stories of Bivo users staying hydrated in contexts other than cycling. 

I remember the last time I used a plastic bottle pretty vividly. It was long before I started working at Bivo, and I was driving to Boston from Vermont for a long weekend. With a few hours in the car ahead of me, I made sure to pack enough water for the drive. I filled up my plastic bottle at the time and set off on the road. 

I didn’t always notice the taste of plastic in that bottle, but, for some reason, the taste that day was especially horrific. Bitter, acidic, it tasted like pure chemicals. I got a headache in a matter of minutes. That was kind of the last straw for me. On and off, that bottle had been tasting bad, but that day, it ruined the rest of my drive. 

From then on, I exclusively used my metal bottles (this was before I learned about Bivos!), but my wide-mouthed metal bottles were hard to drink out of while hiking, leaked at the office, and were dented up from years of accidentally sending them cascading across concrete sidewalks and pavements.

My friend got me my first Bivo as a gift that year. Plastic bottles a relic of my past, a new metal bottle was so exciting, because my old one was dented to high hell. I was looking forward to using my Bivo for cycling, but, without a good bottle to use in other contexts, it became my go-to bottle for everything. Work, the gym, hiking, and backcountry skiing. Quickly, I discovered it was the best running water bottle I had tried, too.

When I began working at Bivo, I quickly learned this was normal. I learned 95% of Bivo customers use their bottles outside of cycling. So, today, I wanted to compile a few of my favorite photos and stories of Bivo users staying hydrated in contexts other than cycling. 

When alpine skiing, the most essential friend is the one who always brings a backpack full of snacks and Bivos. It's an essential part of having a full day on the slopes.
When alpine skiing, the most essential friend is the one who always brings a backpack full of snacks and Bivos. It's an essential part of having a full day on the slopes.
Hot days at the barn in Michigan call for insulated bottles! Thanks, Melissa, for sharing this picture hydrating with the horses!
Hot days at the barn in Michigan call for insulated bottles! Thanks, Melissa, for sharing this picture hydrating with the horses!
Whether its after a classic Vermont late March snowstorm or trying to sneak in some early season ski touring, there's nothing better than filling a Bivo and hitting the backcountry.
Whether its after a classic Vermont late March snowstorm or trying to sneak in some early season ski touring, there's nothing better than filling a Bivo and hitting the backcountry.
At the top of a climb outside at Red Rocks canyon in Nevada, all you want to do is take in the view. And sip some water! The grippy texture of this bottle meant it was easier to hold and less likely I’d drop it into the void below 😂
At the top of a climb outside at Red Rocks canyon in Nevada, all you want to do is take in the view. And sip some water! The grippy texture of this bottle meant it was easier to hold and less likely I’d drop it into the void below 😂
Popping two Bivos into a hip pack or backpack can be the way to go when you’re out on the trail for many hours. This particular picture was snapped between wheezes near the peak of Sacagawea Peak north of Bozeman, MT!
Popping two Bivos into a hip pack or backpack can be the way to go when you’re out on the trail for many hours. This particular picture was snapped between wheezes near the peak of Sacagawea Peak north of Bozeman, MT!
The possibilities are endless! Nordic skiing? Bring a Bivo. Going to the beach? Bivos will keep your water cool as you enjoy the sun. In a sauna? Grab your insulated Bivo to keep hydrated while sweating. And when you get on the bike on a hot summer day, of course, your insulated bike water bottle is ready for you.

If you have any creative non-cycling uses for your bottles, let us know at thirsty@drinkbivo.com or in the comments!

The possibilities are endless! Nordic skiing? Bring a Bivo. Going to the beach? Bivos will keep your water cool as you enjoy the sun. In a sauna? Grab your insulated Bivo to keep hydrated while sweating. And when you get on the bike on a hot summer day, of course, your insulated bike water bottle is ready for you.

If you have any creative non-cycling uses for your bottles, let us know at thirsty@drinkbivo.com or in the comments!

I didn’t grow up with access to outdoor adventures or cycling culture. Bikes weren’t part of my world, not as a sport, not as freedom, not even as transportation. So, when I had my first real experience on a mountain bike, I had no idea how deeply it would change my life. That first ride wasn’t just about navigating dirt trails or learning to shift gears. It was about discovering a part of myself I hadn’t met before, a version that was stronger, more capable, and open to new challenges. It didn’t just change how I saw biking, it changed how I saw myself. From that moment on, I was hooked.

Floooooooow! It’s one feature that makes our bottles unique. It’s what people often notice first and love most. 

But how does water come out that quickly? How does water pour out if I can’t squeeze? Why is there a straw in the bottle? These are great questions from all of you!

Nutrition journalist Matthew Kadey shares the recipes for his favorite homemade workout energy snacks. We made them and trust us - they are better than anything store bought.