The Question

[Trekhawk]

Ok girls here I am looking thru this months bicycling mag and what do I come across but a question regarding taking drinks on the bike it goes as follows:

"When you reach for your water bottle, which hand do you use?

If you are like 18 of the 20 people to whom I asked this question, you'd reply, My Right. And like them you'd be wrong.

Keeping your right hand on the handlebar lets you access the rear brake in a panic-stop situation. So always use your left to grab a bottle, a snack, or to signal to traffic."

Well blast I have just started getting a bit better at the drink thing and guess what Im like those 18 people Im using my right hand.

What hand do you use and is it anywhere near the brakes or nearer to the middle?

[caligurl]

i grab the bottle with my right hand.... hmmmmm not sure i could teach myself to do it lefthanded! i will have to try it on sunday!

[Veronica]

Keeping your right hand on the handlebar lets you access the rear brake in a panic-stop situation. So always use your left to grab a bottle, a snack, or to signal to traffic."

Well since I only reach for my bottle when it appears that there will be nothing odd happening for a bit, I'll continue to use my right.


V.

[Adventure Girl]

I have my brakes reversed on all my bikes. Left is rear. Right is front. I use my right hand for most figity things. Left hand is free for the rear brake at all times.

[Googlie Wooglie]

I always use my left hand to grab anything ... especially water. Always did it that way.

For once, I did something right! (ha ha, pun NOT intended... )

[Melodylynn]

I use my left to grab for the water bottle. I do lots of things with my left hand. My Mom was left handed and I was right so growing up we taught each other lots of new ways to do things!

Melody

[SadieKate]

Hmm, whatever hand is handy. Usually my left though.

[CorsairMac]

I use either hand to grab the water bottle.

My brakes are all switched too but I don't drink unless I have very clear road in front of me so I have time to react if I need to. Course I also ride alone 90% of the time so I don't know what I'd do in a group situation.

[DirtDiva]

I don't actually have a bottle cage on my bike at the moment, so it's always the left at present as I keep my water bottle in the stretchy mesh pocket on the left hand side of my backpack. I keep my cell phone and whatever else I want to be able to get to easily in the one on the right. I don't have a conscious reason for doing it this way around, but I've kept it consistent so that I can find what I'm looking for easily. Can't remember which hand I used when I did have a bottle cage - either/or I think.

[nuthatch]

That's an interesting observation! I watched members of my cycling club unclip at a stop last weekend and most of them unclipped their right foot. When I asked about it the logic was that that was the foot they put "on the curb" when they were kids out riding their bikes.

I've always used my left hand for the bottle (because my right hand is much stronger and steadier on the bar) and unclip my left foot (because my right leg is much stronger for the push-off). I thought everyone did it this way!

[bcipam]

I always now wear a Camelbak on both my road and mountain bike. No more having to reach down anywhere. The nozzle is right there and I can grab it without taking my hands off the bars (Although I usually use my left to grab it). I find I drink more wearing a Camelbak. They make pretty small ones for road bike use if you dont like carrying the weight on your back. You can then carry a water bottle and refill the Camelbak when it's empty (if there is no other water source nearby).

[SnappyPix]

This usually applies to countries which drive on the right.
Generally speaking (and there are always exceptions), nations which drive on the left (UK, Japan, India, Australia, NZ etc) have the rear brake on the left - to allow them to brake and make cross-traffic hand signals.
Thankfully I'm right-handed, so this works great for me
However, must learn to time my drinks better in future - and not try to hurriedly stuff the bottle back in the cage on a downhill, hairpin descent! Doh!

[Trek420]

Adventure Girl "I have my brakes reversed on all my bikes. Left is rear. Right is front."

Ahh, now I see why you asked which one when you tried my bike.

Remind me again when/if I ever try yours.

Makes a nice theft deterent too, crook snatches bike, rides off, touches right brake, flies over the bars. splat.

I use my right hand to drink when it looks like the coast is clear for a long way. Also I would throw the bottle way out of the way and brake.

I signal and unclip with the left, I'm right handed.

[Kimred]

Always with my left but for long rides I always have on my camelback! Love it and it's saves my back if I fall. (Mines a bit beat up). Plus I put lots of ice in it and keeps me cool on hot days.

[RoadRaven]

I'm right handed...

I reach for the bottle with my right...

<EDIT> crosses out right, and writes LEFT...
I always reach with my left... went for a tough 50km hilly ride today and was very aware of when I reached for the bottle, and its my left hand!!! What a dipstick I is!!!

I always drink on the straight flats or slight downhills...

I unclip with my left foot, always... but we ride/drive on the left here, so that would match the logic of the riders at your club, nuthatch... because on my left is the curb...