You know that nasty first sip from a hydration bladder that’s been buried with neglected bike gear all winter? No bueno. Same for the bike socks wadded in the bottom of the bag. But you’ve got a machine to wash the socks. That bacteria in your bladder is trickier to remove. Those dark, wet hydration bags are bacterial playgrounds. So unless you enjoy wincing with every sip, bladder makers recommend thorough and regular washings. It’s not the easiest task. The Minnesota bladder washers at Hydracare have made it easier, thanks to their clever hydration cleaning kits (MSRP $10 to $15). The key is getting air into the bladder so it dries after a scrubdown. The Hydracare cleaning kit comes with plastic clips that hang propped-open bladders for easy evaporative drying. Wire-handled brushes scour tubes and bladders.
Get it — Available at REI, or www.hydracare.com for more info.
