Help ! Can't pull out my bottle
02-23-11, 11:39 AM
#51
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Best advice yet, same for all vehicles, look where you want to go, your body will steer you there. The trick is being able to reach down to the bottle without looking at it. My wife has a similar problem, she can't look behind herself without steering the same way she turns her head, same issue.
02-23-11, 05:18 PM
#52
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02-23-11, 05:25 PM
#53
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Yes, I'm thinking this plays into it quite a bit. And let's not even talk about the drops. I squeeze the hell out of those when I go in them.
02-23-11, 05:36 PM
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That last bit is a tip that might work, actually.
But not everyone is a 'natural' cyclist. And, if you're coming into it late, or with bad balance, or whatever myriad of problems people take with them when they jump on a bike, coordinating pedals, handlebars, steering, speed, and a water bottle can be tricky.
Obviously if this is a problem you shouldn't be going on group rides and wobbling into other people, but simply purchasing a road bike doesn't grant previously missing coordination. Some of us will be a little remedial for a while in some areas, and the only way to sort it out is to ride.
I, personally, practiced on a grass field so if I did end up falling over I wouldn't have to worry about me or my bike.
But not everyone is a 'natural' cyclist. And, if you're coming into it late, or with bad balance, or whatever myriad of problems people take with them when they jump on a bike, coordinating pedals, handlebars, steering, speed, and a water bottle can be tricky.
Obviously if this is a problem you shouldn't be going on group rides and wobbling into other people, but simply purchasing a road bike doesn't grant previously missing coordination. Some of us will be a little remedial for a while in some areas, and the only way to sort it out is to ride.
I, personally, practiced on a grass field so if I did end up falling over I wouldn't have to worry about me or my bike.
02-23-11, 05:44 PM
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It's annoying. I have to stop every time I wanna drink water. If I start to get one hand away from the handlebar my front wheel starts going everywhere. Can't keep my balance. It just feels like most of my weight is put on the front of the bike, hence the problem. I've noticed that putting the hands on the tops helps a bit, but no cigar on reaching that bottle.
Any tips ?
Oh and I can't wave, so that's my excuse for that other thread
Any tips ?
Oh and I can't wave, so that's my excuse for that other thread
02-23-11, 05:47 PM
#59
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02-23-11, 06:05 PM
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02-23-11, 06:09 PM
#62
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02-23-11, 06:19 PM
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02-23-11, 08:45 PM
#65
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It's annoying. I have to stop every time I wanna drink water. If I start to get one hand away from the handlebar my front wheel starts going everywhere. Can't keep my balance. It just feels like most of my weight is put on the front of the bike, hence the problem. I've noticed that putting the hands on the tops helps a bit, but no cigar on reaching that bottle.
Any tips ?
Oh and I can't wave, so that's my excuse for that other thread
Any tips ?
Oh and I can't wave, so that's my excuse for that other thread
This should see you through many years of safe drinking and the fundamental rule ( test question-what do you do) can be extrapolated to other activities such as eating, zipping and unzipping jerseys, even peeing for the men out there.
Did I mention...Keep you....
02-23-11, 09:08 PM
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If your saddle is too far forward, your balance will be off and you'll put too much weight on the bars. By moving it back you shift your center of mass back, improving balance. You should be holding your handlebars, not putting all your weight on them.
Core strength is also important.
As a demonstration, stand up and learn forward. Notice that your ass goes backwards to compensate. Try to learn forward without it. You'll fall on your face before learning anywhere near as far as you could before.
Core strength is also important.
As a demonstration, stand up and learn forward. Notice that your ass goes backwards to compensate. Try to learn forward without it. You'll fall on your face before learning anywhere near as far as you could before.
02-24-11, 10:52 PM
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You may lean more forward depending on the reach to the handlebars, but your center of gravity will still be further to the rear of the bicycle. Neruil gives a good explanation of this in the above post. Like you said, "It just feels like most of my weight is put on the front of the bike, hence the problem." If you feel that's the problem then move more weight to the rear. Start with moving it back no more than 5mm at a time. Get used to the initial adjustment by riding with it for a few weeks and move it more if you feel the need later.
Last edited by DCnoJ; 02-24-11 at 10:52 PM. Reason: Typo
02-25-11, 04:12 AM
#68
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Sorry, I can't feel your pain because there was never a point in my life where I was so unskilled.
This is such a simple thing that you either get it or you don't.
I find it amusing that people think they can talk you through it on an internet forum. Saddle adjustments? Really?
This is such a simple thing that you either get it or you don't.
I find it amusing that people think they can talk you through it on an internet forum. Saddle adjustments? Really?
02-25-11, 06:05 AM
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02-25-11, 06:59 AM
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I think this is getting deeper to the point here, so maybe so should I. It's my first road bike, I was able to drink while riding on my MTB. Also, it's my first time riding clipless, so this adds a little more to the fear of falling. I never even rode the bike with any other pedals, just went first time road bike and first time clipless all at the same time.
Your nervousness is understandable but it is also in your head. Perhaps try adding one thing at a time - go back to platform pedals and practice riding one-handed and working your bottle, jersey, etc. Then, once you are comfortable with handling the bike, switch to clipless.
V.
02-25-11, 07:08 AM
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02-25-11, 11:46 AM
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02-25-11, 11:54 AM
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