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To help your Speedpack last many
seasons, it's important to gently clean it at least 1-2 times per race season,
or more times if you use it on an indoor trainer or if you sweat a lot.
Our Speedpack zippers are composed of plastic nylon zipper chain (the
zipper "teeth") and they have steel black enameled zipper sliders. If
reasonably maintained, the plastic zipper chain should not have any
issues, but the metal sliders can be affected by moisture and fine dirt,
but, more importantly, the sliders are affected by salt. And salt can
rapidly corrode steel zipper sliders.
To prevent this, we start with a high-quality zipper (we use only YKK
zippers only on our packs). We also design our packs with the zippers
reversed (i.e., the zipper chain is not visible on the outside of the
pack: when the zipper is closed, the zipper teeth face inside). This
feature greatly reduces the impact of dirt and grit on the zippers.
However, for maximum Speedpack life,
you must keep the zipper clean (clean it at least 1-2 times per race
season, or more times if you use it on an indoor trainer or if you sweat
a lot). Do not lubricate the zipper and/or the sliders with WD-40 or any
other petroleum based lubes, they likely won't harm the zipper sliders,
but they WILL harm the zipper chain and the pack fabric.
The easiest way to clean your Speedpack is to take it off your bike,
remove the plastic insert (and also the mounting bolts if you have a
direct mount pack), and then soak the pack and the insert for about 5
minutes in a small bucket or sink of warm soapy water (water with a
few drops of mild dish soap is ideal). Keep all screws and washers out
of the soak so you don't lose them.
After soaking, if you have an old
soft toothbrush, you could also very lightly brush any
areas with stains, salt, or nutritional products (don't brush the DSW
logo labels). When finished with the soak, rinse everything inside and
out a few times with clean warm water, and then air or sun dry, moving
the zipper sliders a few times during drying.
After your pack is completely dry, you can
'lubricate' the zipper chain by rubbing the zipper teeth with a
plain white wax candle (the wax acts as an inert dry lubricant). Just
rub the candle firmly along the zipper chain, and then slide the zipper
sliders back and forth a few times to work it all in. Since the zipper
teeth on our packs are hidden, rub the candle from the inside of the
pack. Again, don't use any petroleum-based products to lubricate the
zippers. If you use a white candle, the wax from the candle may be
visible on the zipper or on the pack fabric, but it will not cause
any problems or damage.
Reinstall the Speedpack (if needed, add a light touch
of oil to your bolt threads if you have a direct mount pack), and you
should be good to go. Enjoy your Speedpack and ride like
the wind.
