Peek Inside My Backpack | A Few Biking Essentials

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Carefree®. #Linerup

You might not know this, but I love to ride my bike! Whenever the weather is nice enough, I take it out of the garage and come up with reasons to go somewhere, whether it’s a quick grocery run or a ride to my husband’s work to bring him lunch. I got into cycling after my dad and my husband decided to surprise me with the most unusual birthday gift: a mountain bike that I could ride through the forest in the country. I think I must have been 10 years-old last time I rode one, but my body remembered how to do it right away. Nowadays it’s my preferred method of transportation, and I’m just happy that I live in a small town where I can relax and enjoy the roads without worrying about heavy car traffic.

My bike can take me pretty far, so I always carry a backpack filled with various necessities. Here are some of them:

1 // I always pack a lightweight scarf to cover my neck with, in case it gets a little windy. I do not wear special biking gear, so I pick my scarves based on the outfit I’m wearing that day. Lately I’ve been into pastel pink, light gray, and white colors, and the scarves I currently have in my backpack reflects that.

2 // As you know, I advocate strongly for protecting your skin from the sun, and wearing some kind of head gear with a visor is absolutely essential, in my opinion. I would say, a wide-brimmed hat is ideal, but I like buying pretty baseball caps just for biking, because they don’t fly off my head as easily. Staying true to my pastel color palette, right now I am loving this chic floral brocade number. It provides plenty of shade for my face and eyes so I could skip wearing sunglasses if I wanted to.

3 // Normally I don’t wear much makeup when I go biking, but a swipe of neutral-toned lipstick is always a must. Regardless of the circumstances, this makeup product can help me look put together instantly. Sometimes I stop by cafes and coffee shops downtown for a quick frappe, so at the very least I like to look presentable. 🙂

4 // I used to wear special biking gloves, but they weren’t the seamless kind. They always left lines on my skin that would take a long time to fade. Now I bike with my bare hands exposed, so naturally, carrying a hand cream is a must. I wouldn’t say I’m loyal to a particular brand, pretty much any hand cream will do as long as it’s moisturizing.

5 // Biking is a great cardio exercise, so I end up breaking a sweat even if I ride at a leisurely pace. I always carry a small vial of decanted perfume in my backpack just in case I end up stopping in town for lunch or for a drink.

6 // Lastly, here is one daily essential you can find tucked away in all of my bags, purses, and, of course, my backpack – Carefree® Acti-Fresh® Liners, that I purchase at Walmart. Why these in particular? Now that I am in my early 30s and my body is changing, I am looking for broader feminine hygiene solutions that help me feel more confident, and these liners are perfect for the task. Carefree® Acti-Fresh® Liners are 2x more absorbent, soft, and thin. These liners are so discreet, that I don’t even feel them in my underwear, so I can focus on my daily tasks with confidence. If you want to give them a try, here is a coupon for $2 off any 2 Carefree® products and $.50 off any 1 Carefree® product (expires 6/24/17): https://www.coupons.com/?&cid=19734374.

Do you have a bike? What everyday essentials make you feel confident? Let me know in the comments below!

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