Video: Levi's Commuter Jeans

First, it was Brompton's Oratory Jacket. Now comes Levi's with its Commuter Jeans designed for cyclists. It features a utility waist band where you can hang your U-lock. It's supposed to be water resistant using Nanosphere technology. And its got 3M Scotchlite reflective tape on the interior cuff of the pants that when you fold it, will provide high level of visibility.

Ang tanong, eh, magkano kaya ito? (the question is, how much will this product cost?)

Here's the TV commercial:

Video: Brompton Jacket

A couple of days ago I posted about Brompton's new Oratory Jacket. Well, here's the company's video. In fairness, it does look like a very cool jacket.

Brompton Oratory Jacket

Image courtesy of blog.evancycles.com

EvanCycles has an initial review of the recently launched Oratory Jacket, the newest in cycling apparel from Brompton. 

The jacket comes in standard 2-button style and in khaki/light brown color. One of the unique features of this product is that it is water proof. It has reflective cuffs and collars. It has an expandable back side for ventilation and for a more relaxed fit when the biker is in crouching position. And it also has a concealed neon green flap at the back to increase a bikers visibility.

It comes out this September 2011.

Knowing how expensive Brompton accessories are, the million dollar question is, magkano kaya ito, kuya? (How much would this product be, sir?)

Project X

Brompton will soon unveil its Project X. For months, people have been guessing what the new Brompton will be. Some say its going to be an electric-assist bike or have more gears. While others say there's going to be a belt-drive. Well, this is what I've gathered, it's going to be lighter.

But I hope when Brompton says lighter, it doesn't mean more expensive as well. Heck, I couldn't afford the SuperLight titanium alloy front fork and rear triangle, what more with a titanium alloy main frame and handlebar stem!

For more information about Project X, visit Eco-Velo article on Brompton's Project X.

The Fietsenpakhuis

This is the Fietsenpakhuis in the town of Zaandam, The Netherlands. It is a new bike parking facility that can accommodate as much as 700 bicycles!

Eh kung mag-convert kaya ang Ayala, Robinsons o ang SM ng isa sa dosenang car parks nila na maging bike storage warehouse? Ano kaya kung ito na lang ang itayo ng gobyerno sa LRT/MRT stations sa North EDSA at EDSA Pasay? Imagine ilan na ang mag-bibisikleta papuntang opisina at mall.

Naku, wishful thinking lang ba na magkaroon ng maganda, malinis at protektadong paradahan ng bike ko sa Makati? Paging Mayor Junjun Binay!

Seriously, how much would it cost our real estate developers or our local governments to construct such facility? I mean for the same space that would accommodate 100 cars, we can probably park 1,000 bikes! Think of the savings!

Sigh. Maka-ipon na nga, para makalipat na ako sa Holland!

Other pics can be found at: Contemporist

Folderitis

'Upgrade-itis' is the sickness common to all bicyclists who upgrade the parts and accessories of their bikes, or upgrade the bikes themselves.

'Folderitis,' on the other hand, is a specific form of 'Upgrade-itis' experienced by owners of folding bikes.  It is as dangerous, contagious and addictive as 'Upgrade-itis,' if not, worse.

Folderitis starts with buying accessories for your folding bike.  May be begin with a rear rack or a pair of fenders.  Of course your folding bike is not complete without a bell and front and rear LED lights.  And who can live without a water bottle and its bottle cage? Then comes all kinds of bags.  Could be a handlebar bag, a toptube bag, a saddle bag and/or a rear pannier.  If you want to take it further, one can install a cyclometer/odometer, as well as a bike trailer.

Then you start replacing parts of your folding bike including the handlebar grips and the saddle. Maybe put on some Ergon grips and Brooks saddles to replace the stock ones that came with the bike.  Some people replace the wheelset, tires and even install Panaracer Flataways.

Then it gets worse.  Some folding bike owners also replace the pedals and the crank set.  Some even install better cables and brakes.  The upgrading never ends.

And even if it comes to that (replacing all stock parts with better parts, that the folding bike is no longer the same bike as when you originally bought it), folding bike owners think of other things...

Like replacing the ENTIRE bike!!!

I was bitten by the bug once.  I sold my Dahon Jack D24 so that I could upgrade to a Brompton M6L.  Thankfully, so far, after 10 months, I am still satisfied with my current folding bike.  I guess I have Mild Folderitis.

Others have not been that lucky.  A friend of mine started out with a Dahon Eco 3, which he later sold for a Dahon Mu P8.  Then he upgraded to a Brompton S6R.  And just recently, he sold the Dahon Mu P8 to move up to a Dahon Vector X10!  I believe my friend is down with Severe Folderitis.

But his case is NOT isolated.  The 'Dahon Vector X10 Strain' has spread throughout our group.  No less than 4 TSP bikers have upgraded their folding bikes to Dahon Vector X10s. Four!!!  And this Folderitis virus is showing no sign of slowing down.  There might be others who will be exchanging their current folding bikes for the very handsome, sleek-looking and fast Dahon Vector X10.  Only time can tell.

So for those of you who are thinking of buying a folding bike, be careful.  You might get bitten by the Folderitis virus and one day just realize you're salivating for that new accessory or that faster and better looking folding bike.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Video: Why Motorists and Pedestrians dislike Cyclists

Here is a video I found on YouTube about silly (bad) cyclists.

According to the author, motorists and pedestrians dislike/ are irritated/ or are annoyed with bicyclists for various reasons, including:

1. Beating the RED light;

2. Biking on the sidewalk;

3. Not wearing protective helmet;

4. Biking while talking on the phone;

5. Colliding with pedestrians;

6. Using earphones while listening to music on MP3 player;

7. Not using hand signals when changing lanes;

8. Weaving (swerving) through traffic;

9. Biking against the flow of traffic;

I will include other reasons applicable in the Philippines:

10. Hogging the lane;

11. Not biking predictably;

12. Biking on a national highway;

My wife finally joined Bea and I in biking!

Ria trying to figure out the gearing system of the Brompton

After months of prodding, my wife finally gave in and joined Bea and I in bicycling. Yesterday afternoon, we had to visit an uncle in the neighboring community. Our cars were already parked in the garage and Ria was lazy to take them out, so I convinced her to use our bikes.

Bea and I rode on the Trek Allant, and I let Ria use Brommie Skywalker (The good thing about Bromptons is that the seatpost can be adjusted to accommodate a rider of any size). We biked approximately 2 kilometers to my uncle's house.  Ria complained half of the time. First, she said the saddle was tilted downwards way too much, causing her butt to slip. And second, she had a hard time pedaling the uphill climbs because she didn't know how to change gears.  I told her I'd adjust the saddle and teach her the Brompton gearing system later.

Meanwhile, Bea and I had fun in our bicycle. After the bell, Bea now wants to grab on the bike's handlebars.  She doesn't steer it.  She just likes to hold on to it (May be because she sees me doing it).

Anyway, the three of us got to my uncle's house. Ria spoke with him about a food order. My cousin Maricris played with Bea for a while. Then Ria, Bea and I said our farewells. We passed by a sari-sari store and bought some groceries, which I all stored in my Deuter pannier. Then we headed for home. Total distance covered was approximately 4.5 kilometers.  

No matter how brief and short the bike ride was, for that moment I was HAPPY to bike with my family.

PS: Ria, please bike with Bea and I more often!

TSP

My bike riding group here in Manila is Tiklop Society of the Philippines (or TSP).  I joined them about August last year during one of the critical mass rides organized by the Firefly Brigade. The TSP members I first met were Paul Siochi, Froilan Guevarra, Arman and Mia Lee, Abel Lazona and Ricky Cosai.  I didn't know them from Adam, except that they rode folding bikes. 

Back then I was still using my Dahon Jack--a folding bike with 26" wheels.  Despite its standard size, I didn't feel comfortable riding that bike with either mountain bikers or road racers.  I felt out of place with those bicyclists.

Buti na lang may TSP! 

Because my bike was essentially a folding bike, I ended up riding with Paul, Arman and the others that day.  And that was that! I instantly became a member of TSP!  No application form. No entry fee. No qualifying bike ride. Nothing! They immediately accepted me into their fold (pun intended) like I was their long lost friend.

So, since August 2010, and in all rides of the Firefly Brigade, I bike with TSP.  Our group eventually grew bigger and bigger and I got to make other friends including Pio and Ethel Fortuno, Ruth Rodriguez, Papa Rocky, Pia Faustino, Diane Flaviano, Dennis Ng, Lisa Camara, Lawrence Tan, Mike Donadilla, Mark Mortel, Arnel Andal, Larry Perico, Brznf Yu,  and my kababayans Al and Dhine Castillo. 

We come from all walks of life: From bank managers to doctors; photographers to entrepreneurs; businessmen to retired military officers; both professionals and students; young and old; men and women; you name it, our group is diverse as it gets.

And we ride all kinds of folding bikes: Dahon, Peerless, Doppelganger, Strida, Brompton, Flamingo, Giant, Orbea, Bike Friday, Jaguar, Chevrolet, Codi, Japanese Surplus, whatever--basta nati-tiklop pwede. There's no bike discrimination in TSP.  And like I said, no application form, no entry fee and no initiation whatsoever.  As long as you own a folding bike and you want to ride with us, just ride with us.  That's it!

Aside from sharing the same passion for folding bikes, there are other reasons why I enjoy riding with TSP.  First, I like the pacing of our bike rides.  It's relaxed.  Not too fast, and yet not too slow (from 15 to 20kph)--just the right speed.  I appreciate it also that we wait for one other and we don't leave people behind.  Second, I like the places we go to.  I mean I don't need to drive 25 kilometers to San Mateo, Rizal to use my mountain bike, or 55 kilometers to Tagaytay so that I can ride my road bike.  No. Most of the time, TSP rides are right here in Metro Manila!  We've explored Intramuros and Binondo; Glorietta and Greenbelt; Greenhills adn Tiendesitas; QC Circle and UP Diliman; Bonifacio High Street; Malabon, Navotas and Marikina.  Lately, we've travelled as far as Bulacan in the north and Laguna in the south.  It's great because we can bike as far as we want. When we get tired, we just fold our bikes and board a bus to go home (You can't do that on a regular bike).  Finally, and most importantly, I ride with TSP because I like the people in TSP.  They're generally friendly and helpful.  What can I say, whenever I ride with them I don't feel like I'm just riding with acquaintances who I see every Sunday morning.  No.  I feel like I'm riding with family.  While we bike, we get to talk about everything under the sun: current events, our work and our problems.  I even get to consult with some of them every so often.  Most of the time though, we talk about bike upgrades! We call this sickness 'Folderitis.' (More on this next time) Nevertheless, the important thing is we talk.  And conversations always make the journey shorter. 

So I'd like to dedicate this entry to my friends in Tiklop Society of the Philippines. 

Thank you for (almost) one year of fun rides around the metropolis!  May we have more adventurous bike rides in the future! 

Thank you for (almost) one year of friendship and camaraderie!  May our folding bike tribe increase! And may we continue influencing other people to leave their cars and go by bike!

Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!