balance issues- what is the deal?

[VeloVT]

Even after riding for 6 months and over 1500 miles I still was not able to grab my water bottle and drink from it while riding.
Now after a year and about 3500 miles riding, I can just grab my water bottle and drink while riding one handed, scratch my head, adjust my clothes, even ride no handed for a "little ways" now. It will come. When we are older we learn new things a bit more slowly I think- especially physical skills. And yes, some bikes are easier to balance on than others, but I think your balance will definitely improve a great deal no matter.

This pretty much describes my experience. Lisa's right, balance comes in time. I started out nervous and unable to swat bugs and a year and a month later, I can drink at 20+ mph without swerving, try that scary-looking super-aero position I saw Linus Gerdemann (sp?) do on the downhills on his winning stage (sitting on the toptube, handlebars cutting into your throat) (of course I didn't try this downhill or going fast, just on a section of flat road with NO traffic), and now, finally, do the no-handed victory salute (and am learning to steer no-handed...). And find and put on lip balm, grab things out of my pockets, etc., at speed.

And my bike's on the squirrely side, handlebars quite a bit lower than the saddle. So, give it time.