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From here on out, we'll be featuring a weekly tip aimed at making cycling safer and more fun for you. Feel free to send us your tips as well.
There's No Need to Get off the Bike to Drink
I often joke that being on a bike is just like sitting on a couch. After all, you are sitting down, and with a little practice you can eat and drink without having to get off the bike. In fact, after a while being on a bike can get so comfortable that the only difference between riding and lounging on a sofa is that you are pedaling your legs! However, in order for this comparison to ring true, you have to learn to drink while on the fly.
A Simple Task
I recognize that taking a drink of water while on a bicycle seems like the simplest thing in the world, but I often see people either get off their bike to take a sip or drink on the fly in such a manner that they risk losing control and crashing. The first step to effectively grabbing a drink on the fly is to ensure that there are no obstacles in front of you, such as potholes or sharp turns, before you reach down for your bottle. Next, grab the handlebars with your left hand towards the center where the stem attaches to the bars, so that you have better control of the bike. Now you can take your right hand off the bar and reach down to your water bottle cages. As you do so, keep your eye on the road; with practice, you won't need to look down at all! When you put the water bottle to your mouth, make sure that you tilt it to one side so that the bottle doesn't obstruct your view of the road. Another joke among cyclists is that you can always tell a cyclist by the way he or she drinks water!
Finally, place the bottle back in the bottle cage without taking your eyes off the road. At first, you will probably have to briefly look down to make sure you actually insert the bottle properly, but with practice even that won't be necessary. With these simple steps, you will be able to drink while on the fly and, yes, start to feel as comfortable on the bike as on a sofa!
More on Cycling
How to Go Green: Commuting
Beverly Hills: Where Cyclists Are Treated As Second-Class
Should Cyclists be Allowed to Blow Through Stop Signs?
It's More Dangerous Not to Ride a Bike
To Helmet or Not to Helmet; This is the Question
What Some Drivers Think About Cyclists in Tucson
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