Only for the first couple of sips. ;)

I use glass bottles for my juices, water, and supplement mixes. I reuse glass Voss bottles, the reuse is environmentally friendly. My experience with plastic bottles(small or gallons)from landscaping, after you put your mouth on it the water goes bad in a week. You have to give it the smell test. I also have a Thermos stainless steel bottle. That thing keeps water cold for hours. No bad taste from these materials.

As for bike cages for these bottles, I use a back pack.

I'm an old timer, I don't need to worry, but some of you young'uns need to Google: xenoestrogens to get the 411 on why you should stay well away from plastic water bottles.

bad taste
 

specialized bottles+lemon slice.

These do exactly what they say they will. I use one every day in the house. Soft and flexible and no taste. I like these the best because they have a no spill valve, somewhat like a baby bottle nipple. If I drop them on the carpet they don't spill.

http://specializedwaterbottles.com/purist/

Stainless bottles of many designs work perfectly. I have five or six different kinds, at least. The hard plastic Nalgene bottles also work perfectly. There are a number of different ways to make a sports top nozzle on stainless, or hard plastic bottles work. The Nalgene ones have a flip top and a hole big enough to pour it in your mouth.

They all work fine.

Google a few things. They're all on line.

Efferdent (or store brand equivalent) is cheap, kills bacteria,odor, and removes stains. Dissolve tablet into very warm water filled to the brim, and place cap with nozzle upside down on top. After at least 15 minutes, fasten on the cap, shake and squirt through nozzle until empty. Rinse thoroughly. Works for me.

Actually, it's very difficult to get a clear answer on how dangerous it is with all this exposure to plastic materials. This is one reason why I decided to buy a steel bottle... even though you can't squeeze it. I guess I'm just playing it safe, but it would be very nice to know for sure. I do know that #1 bottles are safe for one-time use only (although I'm not sure why you couldn't use them the second time.) But #5 bottles are apparently safer, although they certainly do leech out some nasty tasting things... which is another reason to go to steel.

another vote for steel, doesn't **** up the taste.

I got tired of my plastic waterbottles tasting nasty for one reason or another (I had some Nalgene bottles and still had problems) and so I happened upon a Kleen Kanteen one day and bought it partly becasue I had read about them on this forum. I have been using stainless steel bottles ever since and they seem to be much better than plastic for having better tasting water. This isn't particularly for water bottles on my bike, but mostly what I use at work to stay hydrated. They travel with me easily on or in my panniers though.

x 2
http://www.kleankanteen.com/products...oz-classic.php
http://www.kleankanteen.com/products...teen-cages.php

I'll add that there is a difference in quality between Klean Kanteen and whatever cheap ones you find out there at Walmart or whatever store. I have a couple Sub-zero ones that I use for work and they are pretty decent and not total cheapos, but the KK are worth the extra money if you have it. The brushed stainless steel is what I would buy (I have a 16 oz one) because the paint won't come off and they recommend handwashing the painted ones which is a real turnoff for me because I like being able to throw them in the dishwasher. The brushed stainless steel is dishwasher safe.

I like to put a few drops of Listerine in my water bottles. Seems to keep the water fresher longer.

+1 on the Purist bottle. Water never tasted as clean.

I found drinking from those metal bottles to be too annoying when riding.

The white flexible Nalgene bottles have the same problem. The hard plastic colored Nalgene bottles don't.

I use a small metal thermos. For something plastic I just buy a 20z bottle of something and use it a couple times, cheap enough to replace regularly. If hell bent on using those plastic bottles I would wash it out with lemon juice. It helps, but you will still get that plastic taste if you leave water in the bottle all day.

That plastic 'taste' isn't just a flavor, it's the result of chemicals leeching into the water. As far as I know, even hard plastic like Nalgene leach over time. I second all of the Klean Kanteen remarks mentioned above - they're cheap enough and should last forever. Tastes clean, too.

I just use stainless steel bottles. They last forever.

Sigg has a special liner in their aluminum sport bottles AND the cap design
is better so it lets the air in, as fast as you can drink the water.

+1 to those who have said camelbak podium big chill bottles. i have 2 (one xl, one normal sized) that have been solid.

I got a steel bottle from Starbucks, I squirt a little lemon juice in my water every day for taste. I've been using it for years.

I'm much more snobby about beer, it tastes better if you pour in into a glass you know.

1. Get used to plastic taste.
2. Get used to musty taste.
3. When it gets too musty or mold forms, rinse with bleach.
4. Get used to bleach taste.
5. Lather, rinse, repeat.

+1. And if you are doing long distant rides, its harder to use the metal bottles.

A little lemon juice goes a long way!

What is hard to use about the metal bottles? I've used one pretty much since I started riding, so maybe I just don't know any better.

Weight, noise in the holder, ease of use when riding. Think about it...on long distant rides, you take 3-5 water bottles with you, especially if it is unsupported. Weight does matter.