A Woo Hoo moment for me!

[slinkedog]

On Saturday, for the first time, I was able to take my water bottle out of the cage, drink and put it back in the cage. The entire process took forever, but I feel much better about the whole thing now!! Getting the bottle back in the cage was definitely the hardest part!!

[maillotpois]

Excellent! Took a while for me to be happy about doing that - especially in traffic. It will get to be second nature soon.

[Aggie_Ama]

It took me a while to master balancing on a bike. When I was finally able to get my bottle out, keep moving and replace it I felt like you do!

[bikerz]

Well done!!!

You probably didn't do what I did the first time I managed that operation and accidentaly squirted my self in the face with the water!

[slinkedog]

Well done!!!

You probably didn't do what I did the first time I managed that operation and accidentaly squirted my self in the face with the water!

LOL! No, I didn't, but I did manage to dribble some down my chin in my moment of excitement.

[miffy'sFuji]

wow! yay! congratulations. I can't do that yet.

[SadieKate]

slinke, you are a woman of charm and elegance. I have to remember to stop breathing so I don't squirt the stuff down the wrong pipe. Don't ask me why but at least twice a year and only when crowds of strangers are riding near me, I end up spewing a mouthful of Cytomax all over the place because I forget to coordinate drinking and breathing. Oh well, I can be charming, really . . .

[Brina]

that is awesome. I still carefully plan where in my ride I will attempt this.

[Running Mommy]

WHOO HOO! I remember when I finally got that figured out. My husband used to torment me about my poor bike handling skills cause I couldn't do that... greeerrrrr I showed him!
Now I have rear bottle holders behind my seat. I still have issues w/ those sometimes. Esp. on the tri bike cause it's very squirrely.

[slinkedog]

Thanks to everyone for your shared joy on my behalf.

I really have felt like a major doofus for not being able to do this, so I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has struggled with the drinking-whilst-operating-a-moving-two-wheeled-conveyance issue. I was sure I was going to have to get a Camelbak, and I still may do it. But I'm glad to have the option of pulling my drink from my frame. Now I just have to practice.

SK, was that post charming and elegant enough for you? You are certainly one of the most charming women I have had the pleasure of being hollered at while descending. How many chicks can you say that about???

[Geonz]

I got the Camelbak... but for a long ride I like to have Gatorade in the ol' bottle. It took a while to learn and I still don't like to do it if people are close, 'cause we had a nasty spill one year 'cause somebody dropped a bottle and then people braked and the group went down. (So if somebody drops their bottle in a group, just keep on riding - it will usually scoot out of the way even if you hit it.)
I just got a new camelbak from ebay for $20 ... Hi-Viz... I look like a rolling School Patrol Wannabee.... but you can SEE ME!

[SadieKate]

slinke, I guess it is a good thing for me to be behind the two-wheeled conveyance of yours - you can't see me spitting and drooling pink stuff all over the place. Of course, maybe if I hold my pinky up at the same time, Miss Manners will approve.

Truthfully, keep practicing because this skills will make you feel just that much more secure in all situations. Your grace, poise and elegance will be apparent to all.

[KSH]

On Saturday, for the first time, I was able to take my water bottle out of the cage, drink and put it back in the cage. The entire process took forever, but I feel much better about the whole thing now!! Getting the bottle back in the cage was definitely the hardest part!!

Yea, it takes some practice to get that down! Congrats on doing it!

I know I can't really ride and get it in/out... ride as in keep my feet moving... so I only use water bottles when I know I'm going to have an easy ride.

If I am going to bang it out though, I wear my Camelback... so easy to ride and drink that way... without slowing the pace.

[bikerz]

I agree that getting the bottle back in the cage is harder than getting it out - that's what I was doing both times I dropped my water bottle (boy, does that make you feel like a dope!)

I though of you, Slinke, tonight when I took my bottle out WHILE PEDALING! I didn't even realize I had done it until I was drinking from it. But then I got more cautious and stopped pedaling to put it back... What's that saying? Pride goeth ....

[winddance]

I though of you, Slinke, tonight when I took my bottle out WHILE PEDALING!

I witnessed this! I was very impressed by bikerz's advanced water bottle wrangling.