Help with balancing

[RedCanny]

So is there something I can do/practice so that I can pull the water bottle out and drink while riding without going down or do I just give up and buy a camelback?

oph4887/Geana, do you ride a road bike (i.e. something with dropped handlebars) or a hybrid/mtn bike with wider straight bars?

I've been road cycling (touring) a long time, and way back when, with a little practice, it wasn't too hard to get used to retrieving and drinking from the bottle. On a road bike, the usual hand positions are so close to the center of the headset that steering with one hand isn't too difficult.

However, this past May I got my first wide-handlebarred bike (a hybrid). There is a LOT of play in the steering when I only have one hand on the bars. I'm way more comfortable using a camelback, when riding my hybrid. Since I sit a bit more vertically anyway on the hybrid, the weight of the camelbak isn't as bothersome as it might be on a road bike.

[bikerchick68]

yep, if it's a road bike, definitely move your left hand (assuming you're right handed, otherwise do it the other way!) as close to the center of the bars as you can... then look down at your bottle and THEN reach down and grab it... look back up and drink... to put it back, same thing... look down and see the cage first THEN put it back... "spotting" where it's at before reaching helps... IF you drop the bottle continue forward and don't panic... just turn around and pick it up...

when I was trying to learn this skill I found a flat street and removed, took a drink and replaced the bottle about 10-15 times... I usually stopped pedaling briefly too, until I figured it out... but like most everything, practice makes perfect!

[Blueberry]

I usually stopped pedaling briefly too, until I figured it out... but like most everything, practice makes perfect!

I still have to stop pedaling - otherwise, I run into my "tree trunk" thighs (and no, mine aren't all muscle - there's quite a bit of padding around the muscle).

I have found that I prefer a camelbak - only because I drink more (no reason not to when it's right there) and I feel better and ride better well hydrated.

[RoadRaven]

Is there anyway you can pop your bike on a stationary trainer? Or get someone to hold the bike still while you sit on it?

Then you could practice reaching down, drinking, and then reaching down again.

The other option if you are still feeling the bike is a bit squirrely when you try and drink, and you don't want to stop to drink, is (as CA suggests) is to get yourself a camelbak...

[Adventure Girl]

move your left hand (assuming you're right handed, otherwise do it the other way!) as close to the center of the bars as you can.

Check out this thread. It suggests that you use the hand you use for your FRONT brake to grab your bottle. This allow you to use your rear brake in an emergency. I don't use water bottles. I use my camelback for both road and mountain biking... so what do I know. But there seems to be some merit in this method.

[aka_kim]

Another thing to try doing is practice without actually removing the bottle. First just practice removing one hand from the handlebars while the other hand is closer to the stem; next try reaching down for the bottle but not removing it. That way you will get used to riding one-handed but not have a bottle in your hand if things go wrong.

I've used my right hand to reach for a bottle for the 10 years I've been riding. I've lately been trying to practice using my left hand more -- it's hard!

[DirtDiva]

I like the suggestion to put the bike in a trainer or get someone to hold it for you while you practice. If neither of these is possible, you could always lean one hand on a wall/fence/railing/whatever and work on getting the other hand into the swing of getting the bottle in and out - try to do as much of it as you can without looking. Like, just take little glances at your bottle/cage so you know where your hand is going. It's much easier to ride in a straight line when you are looking where you are going!

[slinkedog]

I like the suggestion to put the bike in a trainer or get someone to hold it for you while you practice.

Yeah, it's amazing that I have no trouble pulling out my water bottle when I'm riding the trainer. But seriously, it has helped me to the point where I know where to reach to get the bottle so I don't have to look down much anymore. I'm sure I will when I try it on the road, but I feel confident that I CAN get the bottle out and back in without looking if I have to.

[bcipam]

I still think a water hydration pack (like a Camelbak) is the best deal out there. There come in all sizes. Getting water is so much easier - takes little effort and I feel you drink more when wearing a Camelbak. I use them on both my road and mountain bikes. Plus no more lost water bottles that have bounce out of its cage! It's just safer.

[Grog]

Check out this thread. It suggests that you use the hand you use for your FRONT brake to grab your bottle. This allow you to use your rear brake in an emergency. I don't use water bottles. I use my camelback for both road and mountain biking... so what do I know. But there seems to be some merit in this method.

On a road bike, this wouldn't work for me:

I have tried using my left hand to pick up my bottle (my front brake is on the right side like most North Americans I guess) and realized that my left arm is way stronger than my right arm (even if I'm a rightie for writing), hence I feel much shakier holding the handlebars with my right arm only.

I also realized that, if I'm holding the bottle with my left hand, my right hand is on the top of the handlebar, near the stem, while my brakes are only accessible from the hoods or drops. So if I had to come to a sudden stop, I would have to move my hand from the tops to the hoods to brake. No way I could keep my balance through that move with one hand only. Best thing is to throw away the bottle and brake, period.

Still, I practice grabbing my bottle with my left arm when I'm riding on flat roads. It could come in handy someday...

[roughingit]

I haven't figured it out either, but for long rides, the camelbaks hold much more water than my bottles anyhow. I keep two filled bottles just as reserves, but I just use recycled water bottles my roomies throw out, so they'd be a little more challenging to open while moving lol!

[profàvélo]

On a road bike, this wouldn't work for me:

I have tried using my left hand to pick up my bottle (my front brake is on the right side like most North Americans I guess) and realized that my left arm is way stronger than my right arm (even if I'm a rightie for writing), hence I feel much shakier holding the handlebars with my right arm only.

Grog,
Your front brake is on the right, as you said. Your rear brake, of course, is on the left, so you should keep your left hand on the handlebar, and drink with your right hand. You are lucky in that this is actually easier for you. I am a rightie, and I am having a hard time learning to drink with my right hand because I've always done it the other way.

Everyone else,
Yes, it does get easier with practice. A year ago, a balance-challenged friend of mine always had to stop to drink. We teased her enough that she made herself learn to drink on the bike, and now she can grab her water bottle like a pro. I like the practice-in-the-empty-parking-lot idea. And learn to drink with your right hand from the beginning, so you don't have to re-learn it like me.

[Trekhawk]

Grog,
Your front brake is on the right, as you said. Your rear brake, of course, is on the left, so you should keep your left hand on the handlebar, and drink with your right hand. You are lucky in that this is actually easier for you. I am a rightie, and I am having a hard time learning to drink with my right hand because I've always done it the other way.
.

Ok now you have me confused. Isnt your rear brake on the right? (Unless of course you are in the UK or NZ/Aust) Mine is so you should keep this hand on the bars and drink with the one that you use to work the front brake. Dont want to go emergency braking with the front brake.

[Grog]

Sorry I got it wrong in my message.

My rear brake is on the right hand side, so theoretically I should be drinking with my left hand. But I still think it doesn't work.

My front brake is on the left hand side.

Sorry!

[profàvélo]

Grog,
Your front brake is on the right, as you said. Your rear brake, of course, is on the left, so you should keep your left hand on the handlebar, and drink with your right hand. You are lucky in that this is actually easier for you. I am a rightie, and I am having a hard time learning to drink with my right hand because I've always done it the other way.

I would like to retract my earlier posting and apologize profusely for my confusion. I swear I was only trying to help...

*profàvélo bowing before the TE board*

right = rear
I got everything completely backwards, as y'all have pointed out. The only part I got correct is that I have been drinking with the wrong hand. (My only excuse is spending too much time at my computer and not enough on my bike.) On my ride yesterday, I thought of you all and made myself drink only with my LEFT hand. It was not easy.

If I promise not to post anything else mechanical or directional in nature, will y'all let me stay?