Conference noted::bicycle

    During the summer I rode my bike to an ammusement park and had won a
    gold fish.  You got it.  That water bottle carried the gold fish home.
    
    You asked for it...
    
    David
    

    (.1- Wow, another Schulman who cycles.)
    
    I ride to work, and keep a water bottle on my desk.  When we have
    staff meetings, most people bring coffee, but I just bring my water.
    If you don't mind being the topic of some occasional jokes, it's
    a good way to stay hydrated during those seemingly eternal meetings.
                                                       
    

    Re .2
    
    I just put my water in my coffee mug for those eternal meetings.  I
    guess I don't like explaining to couch potatos what a water bottle 
    is used for.
    
    As for the topic at hand,
    
    I keep a water bottle in my gym bag - and always carry it with me
    during my workouts.
    
    I have also used water bottles to transport beverages to picnics.
    
    	-Nancy_who_has_more_water_bottles_than_uses_for_them
    
    

I keep a water bottle handy on long drives to keep my throat from
getting too dry.  Spill risk is minimal, and it's no problem working
it with one one hand while driving with the other.

-DB

    I know that this is likely to derail the topic, but...

    A waterbottle can be used as dog repellent. (For some dogs anyway)

    -Jeff

    I read that one of the old TdF racers once used a water bottle full of
    lead for a descent.  It seems that he was so small that he always got
    caught on the downhills so his coach passed him a bottle at the summit
    of a pass when he was well in front.  Because him there is now a full
    prohibiting adding/removing anything to a bike solely for the sake of
    going faster -- independent of the "aerodynamics" rules.
    
    ed

    Water bottles are *great* for kids with small hands that
    want to take a drink into a room that you have an expensive
    carpet in.  They are doubly handy on long car trips for both
    kids and parents as was mentioned previously.
    
    						_Jerry

    
    I was going to mention how handy water bottles are for auto
    travel ... especially in pre-dawn hours when you're driving
    to the mountains for an early-morning bike venue and are 
    fumbling around in the dark.  Well, you know ...
    
    But since that use has already been mentioned, how many of
    you have been troubled by pesky gnats getting in your ears
    during those long cross-country rides??  Well, let me tell you,
    the air jet from a half-empty water bottle clears those critters
    right out ... and if not, a squirt from a not-so-empty bottle
    will certainly do the trick ... *and* bring welcome relief to
    overheated ear canals ("the body's air conditioners")!
    
    You asked... :-)
    -john

    Putting out the fire when cooking Bratwurst on the grill.

re:.9    Isn't it dangerous to use water on a grease fire?
    
    ed

    
    
     I also use mine on to put out fires on the grill. There isn't any
    danger, the grill is outside and I spray the water on the charcoal that
    flames up there isn't a collection or a pan of grease.

Blasting chunks of mud from an ATB after a swamp run.  Have to squeeze 
hard, though.  It usually takes a few "fills" to clean a dirty bike.



Steve

The bottles are great for the kids. I find them especially 
useful at malls.


JC

    Filling car batteries.
    
    dr

    At the risk of major embarressment:
    
    I've used one on a car trip, when I was on a superhighway FOR HOURS,
    and there wasn't ANYPLACE, err, to stop, you know.... Of course, I 
    NEVER used the bottle to drink out of again, and disposed of it
    at the next stop.  More than worth what it cost, by the way....
    
    MATT

    re. -1
    
    
    	Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

    I'd think twice about using it for it's normal purpose again.

Ear wax removal.

    Old inner tubes make excelent water fight tools.

    To set it up, take an old tube, and cut it about 20cm from
    the valve, and tie a knot in those 20cm.  It will look like this:

        i
    =*==#==================

    (* is the knot, i is the valve.)


    To fill it, put the long end over a faucet.  Road racing folks will
    have to use the kitchen faucet; touring people will need to use
    the bathtup spigot.

    Fill the tub just a little.  Raise the valve so that it's the
    highest part of the tube.  Press it so that all the air bleeds out.
    (presta is better for this.)

    Hold tightly to the spigot to tube connection, and fill it as high as
    you dare.  The tube will probably stretch to 5 inches without too
    much trouble.

    Persue your victim.  The tube can be worn inside of a loose shirt
    if you drape it across your shoulders.  Range is about 20 feet.
    Delivery is better than most garden hoses.

    -Jeff Bell

    Water bottle uses??    Great for intimidating the cat off the counter,
    also good for washing the bikes hard to reach areas.........

    For those of us with a mean-streak.........
    
    Carry an extra filled with red (fire engine red) paint.  The next
    time that red neck plows you off the road, sprint to the next stop
    light and wail his nice white monster four wheeler with the "paint
    bottle"
    
    The same goes for BIG dogs with big eyes.....Fill an extra bottle
    with ammonia.  Betcha he won't chase another bike!!
    

RE: -1

Just don't drink from the wrong bottle!!!   :-)

Here's something the water bottle doesn't work for:

Carrying beer.  It gets warm in the summer and all the vibration shakes it
up and makes the beer foam and shoot out the top.  (looks kinda suggestive, too)

:-)

Dave

    In the LL Bean's catalogue, they have these holsters on a belt to carry
    your water bottle in.  They also have Fanny Paks with the water bottle
    holsters attached.
    
    The descriptions say that they are designed for runners, hikers, X-C
    skiers etc.  But since they are insulated, I was thinking that they
    would be a great way to carry and extra water bottle on those hot
    summer biking days.
    
    Also, in the latest edition of BICYCLING, you can order a water bottle
    filled with salad dressing in it.  Really odd looking ad - their's
    this couple in black tie attire on a tandem holding a salad and pouring
    dressing out of their water bottle on to it.
    
    	-Nancy

    Just a side note ...
    
    I have one of those fanny packs with 2 insulated pouches for water
    bottles. During the last snowstorm I went out on my mountain bike
    (about 20 degrees F.) with bottles in the pouches, and with the
    whole fanny pack outside of my jacket. The water never froze.
    
    My experience with freezing temps and waterbottles in their regular
    bike cages is that the water freezes fast - even at temps above 32 degrees.
    
    The insulated fanny pack/waterbottle holder is a great way to keep
    water warm (or at least not freezing) in cold temps.
                             
    Mark

People sometimes arrow club rides with the aid of a water bottle. 

You fill the water bottle with paint and place it in the cage.
Then ride the ride, sqirting paint on the road in the shape of an 
arrow and then brushing it to make it wider and more visible.
It works quite well and saves the environment of problems associated
with spray painting. 

CAUTION:  If you forget, and take a drink from the water bottle, it 
tends to be a memorable experience.

	~Mike

"If you forget, and take a drink from the water bottle, ..."
    
    The route planner becomes a marked man.
    
    ed

    
     Yesterday I received four water bottles from R&E Cycles in Seattle
    (where I bought my tandem), nice wide opening for ice or what ever. On
    one side of the bottle is printed R&E Cycles on the other is printed
                    
                               Save a Cyclist
                               
    
                               EAT A DOG!!