The Question

[Trekhawk]

Ok girls here I am looking thru this months bicycling mag and what do I come across but a question regarding taking drinks on the bike it goes as follows:

"When you reach for your water bottle, which hand do you use?

If you are like 18 of the 20 people to whom I asked this question, you'd reply, My Right. And like them you'd be wrong.

Keeping your right hand on the handlebar lets you access the rear brake in a panic-stop situation. So always use your left to grab a bottle, a snack, or to signal to traffic."

Well blast I have just started getting a bit better at the drink thing and guess what Im like those 18 people Im using my right hand.

What hand do you use and is it anywhere near the brakes or nearer to the middle?

[caligurl]

i grab the bottle with my right hand.... hmmmmm not sure i could teach myself to do it lefthanded! i will have to try it on sunday!

[Veronica]

Keeping your right hand on the handlebar lets you access the rear brake in a panic-stop situation. So always use your left to grab a bottle, a snack, or to signal to traffic."

Well since I only reach for my bottle when it appears that there will be nothing odd happening for a bit, I'll continue to use my right.


V.

[Adventure Girl]

I have my brakes reversed on all my bikes. Left is rear. Right is front. I use my right hand for most figity things. Left hand is free for the rear brake at all times.

[Googlie Wooglie]

I always use my left hand to grab anything ... especially water. Always did it that way.

For once, I did something right! (ha ha, pun NOT intended... )

[Melodylynn]

I use my left to grab for the water bottle. I do lots of things with my left hand. My Mom was left handed and I was right so growing up we taught each other lots of new ways to do things!

Melody

[SadieKate]

Hmm, whatever hand is handy. Usually my left though.

[Trek420]

Adventure Girl "I have my brakes reversed on all my bikes. Left is rear. Right is front."

Ahh, now I see why you asked which one when you tried my bike.

Remind me again when/if I ever try yours.

Makes a nice theft deterent too, crook snatches bike, rides off, touches right brake, flies over the bars. splat.

I use my right hand to drink when it looks like the coast is clear for a long way. Also I would throw the bottle way out of the way and brake.

I signal and unclip with the left, I'm right handed.

[Kimred]

Always with my left but for long rides I always have on my camelback! Love it and it's saves my back if I fall. (Mines a bit beat up). Plus I put lots of ice in it and keeps me cool on hot days.

[RoadRaven]

I'm right handed...

I reach for the bottle with my right...

<EDIT> crosses out right, and writes LEFT...
I always reach with my left... went for a tough 50km hilly ride today and was very aware of when I reached for the bottle, and its my left hand!!! What a dipstick I is!!!

I always drink on the straight flats or slight downhills...

I unclip with my left foot, always... but we ride/drive on the left here, so that would match the logic of the riders at your club, nuthatch... because on my left is the curb...

[SnappyPix]

This usually applies to countries which drive on the right.
Generally speaking (and there are always exceptions), nations which drive on the left (UK, Japan, India, Australia, NZ etc) have the rear brake on the left - to allow them to brake and make cross-traffic hand signals.
Thankfully I'm right-handed, so this works great for me
However, must learn to time my drinks better in future - and not try to hurriedly stuff the bottle back in the cage on a downhill, hairpin descent! Doh!