Happy Notions for the New Year

5 hand-palm sized non-cycling essentials under $30

When you read my blog you might have come to understand I try to live a basic life and make do with as little as what feels comfortable for me. A life on a bicycle means being creative with the things you got and make them multi-functional.

The days of festivities being around, this might be an idea to practice doing with less, to give small and not necessarily expensive presents, to minimize your footprint on earth (however little difference that will make), to think about what make sense to buy.

I know from experience how fun it is to prepare for a big journey and buy all gear slowly in advance, but reality is that most people buy too much, and for me, I left about 3/4^th back home, never used.

5 hand-palm sized non-cycling essentials under $30

Cycling through the Atacama desert gave me plenty of space to roam my thoughts. Since I was in a space void of fussy matters of mind, where all was perfect and blissful, my mind went over other things. Stuff I came up with and labeled essentials.

Then I cycled through Patagonia and my mind was occupied big time. These stupid 5 hand-palm sized non-cycling essentials were all forgotten about.

Then, one day, I got stuck on a stormy day in an abandoned house. I had fixed the broken Hilleberg zipper and was left with more time on my hands. Then I remembered this funny 5 hand-palm sized non-cycling essentials.

1. Mirror

Assistance for applying mascara (which I use when I stay in a town flaunting around). To check and, when necessary, ease pimples. To help me see the backside of my head when I cut my hair, and it’s handy to shave.

$20 originally double-sided MAC mirror.

2. Tweezers

To remove stranded eye-brow hairs. To pick iron particles out of a flattened tire. To help me grab on cacti needle all over my body.

$4 bought at Iranian market after MAC tweezers was stolen by Iranian with beautiful black thick eyebrows.

3. Cup

Perhaps the most valuable item of this list, as it relieves me from going to the shop over and over again. It saves me money, as I never have to buy Tampons or hygienic pads. It’s better for the environment, as only water is needed to clean it. The Cup is trouble-free while cycling, as you won’t feel anything when inserted. I use it for about 6 years now and it still looks good, although colored.

$30 ordered over Internet; I have never seen them for sale in a shop or pharmacy.

4. Scissor

A very cheap bendable scissor which doesn’t really cut that well, and I certainly don’t cut my hair with it, but it’s such an item, like a piece of cord, it comes in very handy quite often. I keep it in my handlebar bag so I have easy and quick access when I need it. To cut toe nails, hair from an animal for my embroidery art, pieces of cloth to use for varied works, cleaning the chain for example.

$1 bought by a friend at a market in Liberia, West Africa

5. Sink-plug

I think any piece of rubber will do, but I bought the universal sink plug thinking it had a special design. It’s nothing special really but damn handy when I do laundry at a gas-station or there where no plugs are, which is often the case. Keep it separate from a laundry soap-bar, as it bites trough the rubber. Before I used a sock to stuff into the sink hole, but this work way better, and is light enough to compromise on a sock.

$7 bought in an outdoor-shop.

And with coming to an end of this post, I wish you a satisfying new year where your dreams will be transformed to reality. Lower your impact, save your money and buy less, use your items until they fall apart and be prepared to save money with which you can make your journey last longer.

I never make good intentions for the new year, as I try to live day by day with daily good intent. But if there is one I may suggest: try not to be part of consumerism society. Another would be: with each new product you buy, another has to go. This makes you think twice whether you need it, and you are likely to replace only when it’s absolutely necessary.

I am curious whether you have decided to buy a smaller, multi-functional, lower-impact-on-earth, less economic valued item called a ‘hand-palm sized non-cycling essential’? Something you are sure the other, or yourself, appreciate, and be likely always taken along. Think of a cloth-line, a titanium cup, a bombilla to drink your Yerba mate, a shaver, a wash-cloth, a pouch…