Which hand to grab water bottle with?
03-13-07, 07:04 PM
#51
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If you're riding fixed then you've got that magical ninja / obi-wan ability that allows you to anticipate and completely obfuscate life threatening situations. So fixies feel free to clutch a turkey leg in one hand whilst duffing ones thirst with a lager of suds from the other.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
03-13-07, 07:22 PM
#52
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Now that everyone has weighed in, it's time for the ChipcomMan method...being always prepared for anything, my Chipcom bottles are also fitted with explosive charges powerful enough to take out an Abrams tank...screw the brakes, I just toss the water bottle with my powerful, laser accurate Chipcom throw and take out whatever dares to get in my way!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-13-07, 08:11 PM
#53
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Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
Ahhhh, yes, now I see...... them
03-13-07, 08:14 PM
#54
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Originally Posted by chipcom
I just toss the water bottle with my powerful, laser accurate Chipcom throw and take out whatever dares to get in my way!
03-13-07, 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
B-B-But ChipComMan, other cyclists in the peloton might stumble over the wayward water bottle. Think of the Humanity!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-13-07, 11:45 PM
#56
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Now that everyone has weighed in, it's time for the ChipcomMan method...being always prepared for anything, my Chipcom bottles are also fitted with explosive charges powerful enough to take out an Abrams tank...screw the brakes, I just toss the water bottle with my powerful, laser accurate Chipcom throw and take out whatever dares to get in my way!
03-14-07, 11:08 AM
#57
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Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Regular road bike with DA STI levers. If my left hand is firmly on the bars, whether it is braking, or not, I can put my right hand/wrist holding the bottle in front of the lever and push it back towards me, thus engaging the brake - I have to simultaneously counter that force with my left hand to keep from losing control, of course.
Also, to change say rear gears with a bottle in my right hand, I can hit the lever sideways with the bottle.
Also, to change say rear gears with a bottle in my right hand, I can hit the lever sideways with the bottle.
You must have a really short top tube and stem combo or monkey arms. That is an impossible task with my set up. Of course if you are sitting in the armchair with the bike facing you, it should be pretty easy to hit the brake lever with your wrist.
I would love to see a pic or video of you riding a bike holding a water bottle and braking with your wrist.
03-14-07, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
I would love to see a pic or video of you riding a bike holding a water bottle and braking with your wrist.
03-14-07, 01:08 PM
#59
Raising the Abyss
Originally Posted by Gee3
To it's preference and what you are comfortable with. My friend and I are both right handed, yet he uses his left hand to grab the bottle and I use my right. We also are opposites when mounting and unmounting. I unclip my right leg when stopping and he unclips his left. It's just what I got used to.
So, honestly, there's no right or wrong answer to your question.
Case closed.
So, honestly, there's no right or wrong answer to your question.
Case closed.
And if I must have an opinion then I prefer using the left for H2O.
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03-14-07, 02:28 PM
#60
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Panic stop for what? Traffic that materialized from nowhere? If there is the slightest possibility that brakes are going to be needed (example: approaching an intersection or nearby pedestrians) don't be grabbing a water bottle at all.
03-14-07, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
You must have a really short top tube and stem combo or monkey arms. That is an impossible task with my set up. Of course if you are sitting in the armchair with the bike facing you, it should be pretty easy to hit the brake lever with your wrist.
I would love to see a pic or video of you riding a bike holding a water bottle and braking with your wrist.
I would love to see a pic or video of you riding a bike holding a water bottle and braking with your wrist.
Also, I don't mean to imply I can or would do this in the context of an emergency stop. Only for light braking.
03-14-07, 05:35 PM
#62
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Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Well, it's not the most comfortable position, but it works. It requires pushing the right shoulder forward, I guess. I never really analyzed all the details.
Al
03-14-07, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
I'm surprised you even get yourself in situations where braking while holding WB is needed, even if just a casual slow down.
Al
Al
03-14-07, 11:33 PM
#64
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my preferred technique is both hands off the bars, steering with my arse, doing 40 mph downhill on a loaded touring bike. i usually grab the waterbottle with my left so I can operate the digicamera with my right hand.
that needing to brake stuff is sooo metro......
that needing to brake stuff is sooo metro......
03-15-07, 08:38 AM
#65
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Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Brian, given that your brake levers are switched on your two bikes, do you ever think about which is front and which is rear on either bike?
I don't. I just brake.
I don't. I just brake.
You should be thinking about it. The front brake has considerably more stopping power than the rear. I almost never use the rear brake.
03-15-07, 10:06 AM
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Well, if I'm on a pretty grueling ride, where I really don't want to screw up my pace to bend down to grab a bottle...I'll keep it in my hand until it's empty, then put it back and grab the other one.
...so yes, I have used brakes with a bottle in my hande regularly.
The trick is to get one of the large specialized brand bottles. They have a rather tall thin point in the bottle that's perfect for this. As a bonus, those bottles are pretty cheap too, I get them 3 for $12.
...so yes, I have used brakes with a bottle in my hande regularly.
The trick is to get one of the large specialized brand bottles. They have a rather tall thin point in the bottle that's perfect for this. As a bonus, those bottles are pretty cheap too, I get them 3 for $12.
03-22-07, 02:59 AM
#68
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Left hand! I end up shifting a lot with my right so my left hand can go numb in races or hard rides from not moving it as much. Using my left for the water bottle keeps it moving.
03-22-07, 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by kartoffel
Those water bottles can get expensive! Probably better to crash the bike and maybe pay a little more in medical bills. 
That said, +1 for whatever hand is comfortable.
03-22-07, 07:33 AM
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Dehydration is the number one killer of sports recreationalists. Everyone should know how to grab the WB with either hand.
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03-22-07, 09:56 AM
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Hello? You can't brake effectively with only one hand on the bars. In the "panic stop" situation, best to drop or throw the bottle and grab on with both hands.
03-22-07, 10:23 AM
#72
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Originally Posted by jmckenna
I agree. The front brake is what stops you. And for those who suggested they can just throw the bottle well thats just not cool. You can easily take down another rider with a bottle bouncing and rolling all over the road.
Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
Um... last time I lost a waterbottle during a commute, the car which ran it over didn't seem to be affected much.
Get this. On my two road bikes, the front brake lever is on my left. On my fixed gear, the front brake lever is on my right.
I think I am confused...
Get this. On my two road bikes, the front brake lever is on my left. On my fixed gear, the front brake lever is on my right.
I think I am confused...
I have the brakes reversed on my cross and fixed gear bikes and I guess it can be confusing but in the end it's just braking.
03-23-07, 09:48 AM
#73
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Plus, I can brake using my wrist while my bottle is in my hand.
Plus, in an extremely unlikely scenario (e.g., a tree falls into my path across the entire road) I know I can rely on my instincts to let go of the bottle and start braking long before I even realize what's going on.
