Quote Originally Posted by Grog
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.