Keep your Camelback clean and muck free

One of my favorite ways to get exercise and relieve stress is to ride my bike. The longer the ride, the better. It is during these rides that I can get some quiet time to think and sort through any issues. However, one aspect of a long bike ride is hydration. I have found the best system for staying watered is to use a Camelback water pack. Mine holds about 1.5 liters which will last for about 30 miles, depending on the weather.

I think the Camelback is just about the best concept to ever come along. You don't have to stop what you are doing to drink and it holds an ample amount of fluid. However, they can get dirty, leaving your water contaminated and flat out yucky. I used to flush mine out with a bleach and water solution and then use small brushes to get the tubing free of gunk. This worked fairly well but the there were parts of the tubing I simply could not reach. Then I ran across this kit and knew life would be all the better for it. The brushes are perfect for getting in the large bladder and the long drinking tube and the cleaning tablets seem to do the trick without leaving a bad taste in the receptacle. The drying rack is not the best part, but it does work. If you are particularly handy or resourceful you could probably assemble a set of your own tools by attaching flexible wire to a small skinny brush and using a baking soda concoction to clean the bladder and tubes. But since I have already invested the money in this one, I think I'll leave it be and enjoy a clean drink of water.