tips on drinking from water bottle during a ride

[lenox]

Hi... I haven't yet mastered getting the water bottle out of the cage, drinking, and then getting it back into the cage. So instead I often have to stop to drink. Not convenient when I should be drinking ever 20mins or so. Any tips/tricks on how to get better? Thanks!

[indysteel]

Hi... I haven't yet mastered getting the water bottle out of the cage, drinking, and then getting it back into the cage. So instead I often have to stop to drink. Not convenient when I should be drinking ever 20mins or so. Any tips/tricks on how to get better? Thanks!

Just keep practicing and try using a 20 ounce bottle. They're easier to retrieve in my opinion. Practice reaching down without looking down to at least touch the top of the bottle, then go from there. If you have to glance down to put it back into the cage, it's not the end of the world.

I had trouble with it at first, too. Then I started suffering from dehydration so i forced myself to do it. It was akin to necessity being the mother of invention.

[Nokomis]

Practice with both hands - and be aware of how much your weight shifts if you have to pull to get the water bottle out of the cage, and work on holding your line.

Be aware which hand and brake are available while you're drinking. I like to try to keep my hand on my rear brake, rather than the front - so I'm using the left hand to drink.

The only thing for it is practice, practice, practice. Learn to feel the top of the cage with the bottom of the bottle, so you don't have to look when returning it. Also keep the bottle exterior & cage clean so it's not gritty and sticky when removing the bottle.

[velogirl]

on either a drop bar or a straight bar, place one hand as close to the center/stem as possible. this is the most stable position if you're taking one hand off the bar. you can put a lot of movement into the bar from that position and still be able to hold your line.

to grab the bar, let your hand follow the down-tube down to the bottle.

[effy]

I also had this question. I have found myself growing more and more thirsty while I ride just because I didn't want to stop to drink water. I am very new to riding and my balance is questionable even when I have both hands on the bars. (Squirrelly is not even close to what I am) My husband gave me the tip about looking at the tip of the bottle and just grab it. I finally did it but then I would have to give him the bottle because there was no way I would be able to out it back without stopping or crashing. Lucky me, my hubby surprised me with a Camel Back hydration pack and I love it.

[crazycanuck]

I don't know it this would work for you but try visualizing or memorizing where your water bottle is on your bike. Once you've memorized where your bidon is, cycle down a quiet street and think about how you're going to reach for it.

Give it a shot & work your way around the wobbles etc.

[lenox]

thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. i do have a camelback as well... but as i am doing longer rides (60-80 miles) i also have two bottles of sports drinks in addition to water in the camelback.
i think part of the problem is that i have a pretty compact frame so not a lot of room for error down there.
thanks again

[amy]

I have to say I didn't get comfortable with it until I went for a ride with my sister. And she gave me feedback.. "no, a little lower, to the left, no... a little lower" until suddenly I found the darn thing. She did the same when I had to put it back. It only took a couple times and I had it. Obviously, we were not riding down the street when we did this, but on an open bike path.

Now, blowing my nose while riding... I can't imagine that one. Aly makes it look so easy.

[crazycanuck]

Ummm i might be a bad influence but you can do a couple of things..

Wipe the nose drip on your cycling gloves or sleeve..just remember to wash your cycling clothing when you get home!

Just snort out & hope it doesn't land on your glasses

Thoughts from the crazy side..