Water Bottle Location

[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.

[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.

[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!!!

[Kimmyt]

Perhaps you could try this when reaching down to your bike bottle, it enables you to have more reach:

instead of pedalling regularly, kick whichever knee out on the side you will be grabbing the bottle from. That is, if you are grabbing with your left hand (I usually do this, since I'm right handed and feel like I have better control with that hand on the bars) keep your feet in the pedals and just move your knee outward, sort of how a racer takes a corner, this gives you a few more inches of reach without your knees getting in the way of your chest. Once you grab the bottle, usually I grab with my hand already in drinking position (or you can grab with palm on top of the nipple, then set it on your thigh to rearrange your hand) you can go ahead and drink while peddling. When I do this, usually my body is slightly twisted, to enable my mass to still be centered over the bike instead of off-balance. Then I do the whole thing in reverse to put it back. I do usually slow down for this whole process, I don't like to drink when I'm going top speed.

Good luck!

K.

[quint41]

Kimmyt, you'd be scraping me off the asphalt if I tried that!! LOL I'm getting better drinking from the bottle in front of my handlebar, but I'm definitely going to try the tube thingy.

I ride with a guy who can climb a hill, stand, stretch, remove clothing and drink all at the same time, I swear! It just amazes me.

[mimitabby]

i am under 5'4" and i wear a camelbak. it doesn't make it hard for me to reach my pockets. I have choked more than once trying to get some water from a waterbottle while riding. And feeling like an idiot!

[SadieKate]

Mimi, some hydration packs have a waist belt which makes it impossible to use your pockets.

[li10up]

I'm with KimmyT. I'd be concerned that the tubing would get caught on something and send me sprawling. I think if you just kept practicing you'd get it. Also, it will make you a better bike handler to be able to get your water bottle. Compensating isn't always better than learning a new skill...especially if that new skill will help you in the long run.

Maybe you could start out by just reaching down with your hand and resting it on your knee. Just coast and/or pedal for awhile like that. Then move your hand back up to the bar. Repeat. Then after you've got that down move your hand down to your shin...then move down and actually touch the water bottle but don't remove it...just keep your hand on it for awhile. Maybe that would help???

[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.