Water Bottle Location

[TsPoet]

Another option is to make a sort of camel back think out of your water bottle
http://www.bluedesert.co.il/
I've got these, and they work really well. You have to really suck to pull the water into the tube, but once it's there it stays there.

[Meg McKilty]

Perhaps you could rig an AeroDrink bottle to your bike, if you don't have aerobars.

http://www.sportsbasement.com/jump.j...CT&itemID=3144

[GLC1968]

I had the behind the seat bottles on my previous bike. Like Kimmyt, I also used them to hold the bottles for back up and not as a place to drink from. I did drink out of them while riding on occasion, and it was harder than drinking from the frame bottle.

I had the Minoura holder and my tiny wedge did fit underneath it, but it made it fairly inaccessable. I stored emergency stuff in it (tubes, gauge, etc)...nothing that I'd need regularly. For long rides, I used a small handlebar bag to store camera, lip stuff, multi-tool, snacks, etc.

You can kind of see it all in this photo (the rear bottles, the tiny wedge, the handlebar bag...):

[Chile Pepper]

No one has mentioned hand position, so I'll throw it out there. If you feel unstable when you reach for your bottle, have you tried moving your left hand to the center (next to the stem) while you reach down with your right (or vice versa if you're left handed)? You are much more stable in that position than riding one-handed out on the hoods or in the drops.

[gingergin]

My water bottle is so far down and far away from me that I am certain I will end up on the ground with my bike on top of me if I get my hand anywhere near enough to even attempt to grab it

[quint41]

No one has mentioned hand position, so I'll throw it out there. If you feel unstable when you reach for your bottle, have you tried moving your left hand to the center (next to the stem) while you reach down with your right (or vice versa if you're left handed)? You are much more stable in that position than riding one-handed out on the hoods or in the drops.

Yes, Jen. That is what I do when I drink. I'm still don't feel stable, though. I'm not confident yet, that's what the problem is. I'm afraid I'm going to lose control. I'm getting a little better ... I move left hand close to the stem, remove the bottle (from in front of my handlebar -- cannot reach down at all), prop it on top of the handlebar for a moment so I know I'm stable, and drink. But it has to be flat, and I have to stop pedalling.

[wonderwoman]

I have used a handlebar bottle cage when touring, since my 47cm frame didn't have space for 2 bottle cages and a pump on the frame. Instead of bolting onto the h-bar (like I think the Minoura does), this one was a faceplate for the front of your stem. Got it from Supergo/Weyless. It also came with another faceplate with a "dashboard" mount to put lights, bells, etc., on. I use that one the most. The water bottle cage mount was very stable, but with two drawbacks -- occasionally Gatorade or water would leak out of my bottle and make my frame sticky, and once an aluminum cage broke at the welds probably due to excessive vibration or age. I replaced it with a nylon cage with no problems.

[Crankin]

This is the first year that I haven't used my Camelbak on all road rides. I can only drink with my left hand; for some reason I only feel stable with my right hand on the bar. I've progressed to being able to drink while riding at about 14-15 mph, but it does have to be flattish. And I do tend to wait until it's low traffic. I also try to drink at the beginning of a climb, when i am going a bit slower.
The Camelbak doesn't really bother me when I'm using it, but riding without it feels liberating! I use it mountain biking and probably for rides 50 miles and over, with no places to get more liquid. So far though, this year, my 50 mile rides have been in places where i stop and refill my bottles with Gatorade bought at a grocery store. And yes, the people who can eat, undress, and fly down a hill are amazing. My husband can take his jacket off, roll it up, put it in his pocket and fly down a hill drinking from his bottle.
Tasha, we have to get together and ride!!!

[quint41]

Another option is to make a sort of camel back think out of your water bottle
http://www.bluedesert.co.il/
I've got these, and they work really well. You have to really suck to pull the water into the tube, but once it's there it stays there.

DING DING DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!

I saw this concept somewhere a long time ago and thought "that is what I need." Then I couldn't find it again when I really went looking. I'm going to get one of these! Thanks!!!

[RolliePollie]

Another option is to make a sort of camel back think out of your water bottle
http://www.bluedesert.co.il/
I've got these, and they work really well. You have to really suck to pull the water into the tube, but once it's there it stays there.

Oh, I am SO getting one of these!!! Thanks for the link! I was recently joking to a friend that I needed to buy some surgical tubing to make a long straw for my water bottles. Now I see this wasn't such a silly idea!

I have just recently mastered the drinking-from-bottle-while-riding technique, but like many others here, I'm very unstable, have to stop pedaling, etc. And I can only reach one of my bottles. I've been using a smallish Camelbak, but now that the weather is getting hot, it's starting to bother me. On longer rides, I feel like I still need the Camelbak to ensure that I'm staying well hydrated. Soon, after I place my order, my problems will be solved!

[tygab]

Let me know how these tubes work out... I'd probably get one if I hear they do work for you guys....

My current technique is stop pedaling with my left foot down for stability, not sure where I put my left hand, so I'll check next ride. I reach down with the right and as others have said, grab bottle, rest bottle, drink, rest bottle, return. But have to be in a flat, quiet area. I practiced a bit of one handed riding today, no drinking involved but just reaching down and having my right hand off the bars. I think that's really where I feel I need to be comfortable.

[quint41]

Hey, tygab! Where in Mass are you? I'm outside of Hartford, CT, and my sister is near Fall River.

[tygab]

northern central (a stone's throw from NH border)... love it here! Not real close to Fall River however, but if you're ever up this way let me know! always fun to ride with TE visitors.

[Trek1500]

DING DING DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!

I saw this concept somewhere a long time ago and thought "that is what I need." Then I couldn't find it again when I really went looking. I'm going to get one of these! Thanks!!!

I'm such a klutz. I also need something like this. I'm definitely going to try it and will report back.

[HillSlugger]

So, has anyone tried this? I'm thinking it could be a real boost on my triathlons.