Road Cycling - water bottle technique?

Ok... I'm trying to develop comfort/confidence with reaching for and sipping from a water bottle while riding. Last year, I would wear a Camelbak on longer rides, but I would like to be able to easily reach for a bottle.

Over the winter while on the trainer, I tried to get reasonably comfortable with removing, sipping from, and replacing the bottle in its cage without looking. On the road, things are a bit different... bumpy roads, and traffic to contend with, etc.

What's the best way to learn this skill? Any tips? :confused:

maybe you're not comfortable yet steering your bike with one hand? Try spending a good amount of time "training" yourself to ride one-handed. Then once you feel comfortable with this, ease into using the other hand to just touch the bottle while it's in its cage. Then finally practice taking it out and putting it back in. Your confidence should slowly build up as you go through these steps.

Oh yeah, and also, keep your steering hand on the top of the bar, not on the hood or the drops while you drink.

One last thing: remember that the gyroscopic stability of your bike (its resistance to turning left or right) increases with speed. Basically, you run a bigger risk of falling over if you're trying to drink at walking speed than if you're riding just a little faster. But the natural tendency is to go ultra-slow when you're afraid.

As it says in your signature: "Keep Moving"! ;)

it just takes practice and balance, when I first started riding, I would have trouble riding with no hands, now I can do it for miles if I wanted to... just take your time and get your balance, practice makes perfect.

Practice, practice, practice....yeah.

Here's some pointers on technique that might help. Use your dominant hand to reach for the bottle. Move your other hand to the top of the handlebars, near the center for balance. It's easier to use the bottle on the downtube than the one on the seat tube. Don't try to grab a bottle in a dicey situation...like in heavy traffic or in a paceline. When you get the bottle to your mouth, pull the "poppet" open with your teeth. Squeeze the bottle...don't suck. Try not to squeeze so much water into your mouth that you choke. Don't close the poppet when you are done drinking. Slip the bottle into the cage and then tap it with the palm of your hand. This seats the bottle in the cage and closes the poppet in one move. After a while it will become second nature to you.

By the way, there is nothing in the world wrong with using a camelbak...even on a roadbike...in spite of what the roadie snobs may say. Camelbaks carry more water, are easier to use and encourage you to drink more.

Have fun!

Edited for stupid typos. Hope I got 'em all.

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Practice, practice, practice....yeah.

Here's some pointers on technique that might help. Use your dominant hand to reach for the bottle. Move your other hand to the top of the handlebars, near the center for balance. It's easier to use the bottle on the downtube than the one on the seat tube. Don't try to grab a bottle in a dicey situation...like in heavy traffic or in a paceline. When you get the bottle to your mouth, pull the "poppet" open with your teeth. Squeeze the bottle...don't suck. Try not to squeeze so much water into your mouth that you choke. Don't close the poppet when you are done drinking. Slip the bottle into the cage and then tap it with the palm of your hand. This seats the bottle in the cage and closes the poppet in one move. After a while it will become second nature to you.

By the way, there is nothing in the world wrong with using a camelbak...even on a roadbike...in spite of what the roadie snobs may say. Camelbaks carry more water, are easier to use and encourage you to drink more.

Have fun!




Where were you when I needed you?? Seems like it took me forever to get that down right where I didn't feel unsteady! I usually use a camelbak still.

Sandra

Ditto on the dicey situation advice. Drink when you don't have stuff happening that takes all your attention. As far as opening the bottle, I don't open anything with my teeth, so I hold the bar with the bottle hand and pull the poppet with the other. It would be much better to open the bottle with your teeth, but I just can't stand doing that.

Originally posted by Prosody

As far as opening the bottle, I don't open anything with my teeth, so I hold the bar with the bottle hand and pull the poppet with the other. It would be much better to open the bottle with your teeth, but I just can't stand doing that.

My favorite bottles have soft rubber poppets. Specialized, Elite and the promotional bottles my club gives away at the Old Mill Century are like this.

I use bottle with a hinged cap to keep out all the (dog/horse/cow) crap that you find on the road.
If you do find yourself in trouble when trying to drink, DROP THE BOTTLE. The natural reaction is to try and save balance and retain grip on the bottle.

I agree the Zefal bottles (like Micheal mentioned) are pretty nice. I used to use one in the downtube position before I bought the CamelBak. I still use bottles but only for short rides. The CamelBak is my hydration method of choice.

Also remember, when you are sipping from the bottle, tilt the bottle up, and keep your head straight and your eyes on the road. I prefer to keep the bottle off to the side, so that the bottle doesn't block my view as well.
With only one hand you are more vulnerable to a fall from hitting a pothole or other road hazard.

These are some great ideas. I do need to get more comfortable riding one-handed. I can do it, but practice makes perfect. I can certainly use that to build the confidence.

Even though I'm usually right handed for other things, I tend to reach for the bottle with my left. I guess I figure that my right hand is better (stronger?) for steering the bike. (I also put my left foot down first when I unclip... but that's another topic for another thread.)

Anyhow, I'll keep at it. :)

Why is it better to squeeze the bottle than to suck it?
:confused:

Originally posted by OctoberBlue

Why is it better to squeeze the bottle than to suck it?
:confused:

Squeezing gives you a faster flow of water. Sucking on the bottle is a lot of effort for little return.

Originally posted by OctoberBlue
Ok... I'm trying to develop comfort/confidence with reaching for and sipping from a water bottle while riding. Last year, I would wear a Camelbak on longer rides, but I would like to be able to easily reach for a bottle.

Over the winter while on the trainer, I tried to get reasonably comfortable with removing, sipping from, and replacing the bottle in its cage without looking. On the road, things are a bit different... bumpy roads, and traffic to contend with, etc.

What's the best way to learn this skill? Any tips? :confused:

Practice, practice, practice.

I find it easier for me to drink from the bottle on my downtube. When that is done, I switch with the bottle on my seattube.

Also, if you do group riding, when you drink, you may want to pull out wide or drop off the back of the group a bit. That will give you the confidence to enjoy a sip, without thinking your going to kill your best biking buddies.

Drink early, drink often.

Cheers,
Jamie

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Don't try to grab a bottle in a dicey situation... in a paceline.

once I did this during an organized ride, and found that the group began slowing down for a stop light, I didn't notice the slow down until a bit later, and although I was able to stop and not it anyone, I did have a bottle in my mouth the whole time... looked pretty silly I bet :p

Once you get used to it, it becomes second natue. I persoally keep my dominant hand on bike and reach with the other(of course). Good luck

Buy a bike with downtube shifters. After riding awhile having to reach down and shift and reach for a waterbottle, you will be going to the next step; 'cleaning your tires with your gloves while riding' in no time:D

lol if ur trying to switch bottles in the middle of a big race do what I did....find the nearest tandem team and get the stoker to hold a bottle for ya...lol

Brendon
:beer:

Originally posted by hillyman
Buy a bike with downtube shifters. After riding awhile having to reach down and shift and reach for a waterbottle, you will be going to the next step; 'cleaning your tires with your gloves while riding' in no time:D

I was reading an article in Bicycling magazine and there was something about a cyclist who took both hands off the bar to tie his shoe...while riding!!

I was an odd duck I guess, because back in 1974 when I first got into Road biking, grabbing and guzzing from a water bottle didn't present any problems at all and never even practiced it just did it-seemed natural. I would say just practice till you get it, but it's easier do drink from a water bottle while riding then it is to learn how to ride a bike!!!!!!

Off topic a bit but don't you Camelbak people feel uncomfortable (hot & sweaty) in hot weather? I know I do even in winter when I use a backpack when commuting to work. I would only use a Camelbak if I was riding somewhere where water was unavailable.