Firstly, why do marketing people still think it's kool to
use a K instead of a CK in wordz like Camelbak? How
awfully 1970s.
Anyway, I've generally been pleased with my Camelbak Lobo, a
1.5 litre bladder in a back pack (bakpak?) with a couple of
handy storage spaces for tools, wallet, keys, watch, pump
and calories, and a zig zag elastikated strap to hold a
spare sweater or waterproof.
I'm still not sure it's hydration positive though: does the
seaty patch it creates on your back cause more fluid loss
than the 1.5 litre bladder can replenish? Would a waistpack
and bottles be better? I'm undecided.
I went for a few weeks without any serious riding, and
didn't use my Camelbak. When I returned to it, I thought I'd
found the elusive weapons of mass destruction: a huge colony
of vile-looking slime. (As Spock might say, "Seems
biological, Captain."😉
Eventually, I purchased a bottle brush on a wire which was
nearly long enough to clean the drinking tube. I thoroughly
cleansed the Camelbak. It seems OK.
But... what about the mouthpiece? Mine had a Camelbak
Hydrolok mouthpiece with a cunning valve operated by a
rather flimsy-looking plastic lever. To my mind, the lever
worked in the wrong direction. Most of the time, it is in
the closed position, and in that position, it looks most
vulnerable to being caught and broken.
I decided it would be a wise precaution to sterilise the
mouthpiece, and that the best way to do this would be to put
it in boiling water for a while.
Haha! Ever since then, it's leaked! I tried dismantling it,
and found a tiny little clear rubber (silicone?) O ring.
Reseating it proved impossible. I could not find a position
in which it would stop the valve leaking.
And worse, when I was trying to drink from the mouthpiece, I
found myself swallowing lots of air, which was seeping in
around the edge of the valve. I could only use the valve by
pushing the end of the valve hard against the seat.
So, I decided to buy a replacement valve. I went to the
local sports megastore (Decathlon) and was horrified to
discover that Hydrolok valves are about £7.49 (15% of the
cost of the whole Camelbak).
I also noticed that some of the Camlebak lookie-likies don't
have a Hydrolok-style valve, but just a mouthpiece that you
bite (like the Camelbak Comfobite (yes, really!))
mouthpiece.
So, I've simply removed the Hydrolok and fitted the
Comfobite mouthpiece directly to the end of the drinking
tube. So far, it appears NOT to be leaking. Certainly, the
air-bubbles-in-the-mouth problem is removed.
So, unless anyone knows better:
Don't boil your Hydrolok. In fact, manage without it. Less
to go wrong.
--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling
So many pedestrians tell me I've lost a wheel.
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