Video: The Brompton Fold

Animation on how a Brompton bicycle folds. Cute.

Another Year Cycling With My Daughter

Bea and I celebrated another year of cycling together--well, at least with her as my passenger. Hehe.

Around this time last year, we biked for the first time outside our neighborhood. We joined my FBP friends on an evening bike ride around Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and she enjoyed the experience.

After that, our father-daughter bike rides became more frequent. Bea would accompany me to buy the newspaper and pandesal in the morning. What's heartwarming was each time I'd invite her to come bike with me she never turned me down.

It was during our bike rides that I got to teach her her first words. I taught her "house" after pointing at all the houses on our street. She also learned "cat," "dog," "tricycle," "car," "mailbox," and "tree" while on the bike.

Bea likes to play with the handlebars. She rings the bell, presses on the cyclometer, and even tries to steer the bike. I swear, if she didn't have puny arms, she'd be the one taking control of the Brompton. 

We've experimented with different ways of riding together. First with the iBert seat on the Allant. Then using the Bromp-upuan with the Brompton. And then we also tried the InStep Bike Trailer. Our favorite would have to be the Bromp-upuan because she's in front of me, I can see her, and we get to talk.

Last week we joined the Tour of the Fireflies. I had no trouble waking her up at 5:30 in the morning. I whispered, "Bea, let's go biking na" to her ear and she opened her eyes and said, "Biking?!" No complaints. No crying. She stood up and got ready. At the Tour, when we were on the road with the rest of the participants, Bea did not hesitate to salute and hi-5 (or wave) to all those who greeted her. 

I sincerely believe my daughter enjoys riding. And I am thankful for that.

I fear, however, that she may outgrow this fondness with biking. I hope I'm wrong. I wish she continues to enjoy biking. Next year, I want her to learn how to pedal. Start with a tricycle. Then the following year learn to balance herself on two wheels. And hopefully, by 2014 when we join the Tour of the Fireflies, Bea's no longer just a passenger, but a cyclist herself as well.

But I get ahead of myself. For now I am extremely happy that my daughter and I cycle together.

2012 Tour of the Fireflies with Bea

Last Sunday, I participated in my fourth Tour of the Fireflies (my first time was in 2009). For the second year in a row I rode my Brompton (In 2009 I used the Allant, and in 2010 the Valencia). What's special with this TOF was that I rode it with my daughter Bea. That's her in the pink long sleeve and blue-green leggings sitting on her Bromp-upuan.

This is officially the 14th TOF, the theme being "Bicycles for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation" or BEST. It was the first time that the tour was held on a November. In the past, TOF was always organized in April. It was originally rescheduled to September. But then it got pushed back to November. Not a big deal. Better late than next year is what I say. 

My family woke up very early that Sunday morning (November 18). Got to fit the Brompton, the bike trailer, the Bromp-upuan and 2 helmets easily at the back of the car.

We proceeded to the meeting place at Ortigas Home Depot along Julia Vargas Ave. in Pasig City. Met up with my friends from BCP and FBP.  

I also got to convince my best friend Barnett, who also owns a Brompton, to come with us. He, in turn, brought along his wife, Jes, with him. She rode a Tern folding bike.

From Ortigas Home Depot, the FBP and BCP group rode down Julia Vargas Ave. to Tiendesitas at the assembly area.

When we got to Tiendesitas they still had a program. We waited for another 30 minutes for it to finish.

The tour officially started at 7:45am. There were a lot of cyclists this year--definitely more than any tour I've participated in. Reports estimate it to 14,000 bikers.

Coming down Ortigas Ave.

Anyway, from Tiendesitas we cycled to Ortigas Ave. and then turned left on C-5. We rode north on C-5 passing Libis and Eastwood. Bea was fine and was enjoying the ride. Our pace was an easy 10 km/h.

When the peloton hit Blue Ridge, we turned right into Marikina City.

That's my 2 1/2 daughter Bea with her shades on. Thanks to Doc Arman Lee for this cute picture.

This photo grabbed from Firefly Brigade Facebook Page

The tour made a stop at Patio del Zapatero. There was a mini-program. At the time we crossed the stage, Mayor Del De Guzman was giving a speech. Bea and I rested with FBP and BCP friends on the side of the road. She drank lots of water.

After a few minutes, we rode again. This time we headed back to Quezon City. 

It was getting hot and Bea told me she was tired already. So I phoned Ria to meet us at Ateneo.

We cycled up the hill towards Aurora Blvd. and then turned right on Katipunan Ave. Bea gave me moral support by shouting, "Go,go, go, Daddy! Go, go, go!"

When we got to Katipunan Ave., Ria met us at Gate 2 of Ateneo. Bea and I called it a day as it was getting very hot (it was about 10am already). We had biked 16 kilometers, or half the length of the tour. The rest of the participants continued biking another 17 kilometers going to UP, then QC Circle, then New Manila,  before returning to Tiendesitas via Ortigas Ave. Total length was approximately 35 kms.

Barnett and Jessica also called it a day. We loaded 2 Bromptons, 1 Tern and the bike trailer (that I chose not to use) in the back of my car. No problem. They all fit. I love folding bikes.

For the next Tour of the Fireflies, my goal is to teach Bea to ride a bike and cycle together.

Congratulations to the Firefly Brigade for staging a successful critical mass ride that is the 14th Tour of the Fireflies! May it have sent a message to policymakers and government officials that bicyclists are here to stay and that they should recognize us as valid commuters and stakeholders in the public transport sector.

New Bike Lane Along The Manila Bay Boardwalk

Yesterday, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, along with some Metro Manila mayors and Ms Earth beauties, inaugurated the first MMDA bike lane in Manila. It starts at Remedios Circle in Malate then flows out to Roxas Blvd. before turning to Quirino Ave. and ending at Paraiso ng Batang Maynila on Adriatico Street. It's just 1.75 kms. It's short, yes, but it makes a bold statement--that Metro Manila finally recognizes bicycles as a major mode of transportation.

The photo above shows the Roxas Blvd. section of the bike lane, which at the time of this blog stretches 700 meters. The lane is fully painted (and not just a line); There are numerous signs informing people and other commuters that it is a bike lane; And there's a bike rack across Raja Sulayman Park. Have I mentioned that it's got a fantastic view of Manila Bay?

Last year, the CCP, with noble intentions, tried to implement a bike network within its compound. But the project was a failure, mainly because all management did was paint a single green line on the side of the road. Naturally, drivers of motor vehicles disregarded it. Soon enough the paint faded away and the bike lane was gone.

I hope the MMDA bike lanes don't suffer the same fate. I hope the MMDA continues to support and protect the cities' thousands of cyclists. I thank all those (there are numerous organizations) who in one way or the other contributed to make this project a reality. I read somewhere that the MMDA is planning to open other bike lanes in Metro Manila. Good!!

Mabuhay po kayo!

Folding Bike Pilipinas turns 1!

Last November 11, Folding Bike Pilipinas (or FBP) turned 1. To celebrate our first year anniversary, we organized a short bike ride, lunch and a program.

Photo courtesy of Eric Los Banos

Around 60 of us assembled at the Jetti Gas Station-ASEANA that Sunday morning. Some  met up in Greenhills earlier and then biked to Makati where they joined other FBPeeps before proceeding to Pasay. I biked on my own from Paranaque.

When everyone who could attend came (friends from Polkit, VeloPH and Red Phoenix also joined the bike ride), we set out for the Cultural Center of the Philippines. We cycled around the Mall of Asia and then took a detour behind the GSIS/Senate, avoiding the Macapagal Highway. Here's a photo of beautiful Manila Bay with the SM Jetty Terminal on the left.

We reached CCP after cycling for 5 kms. It really just was a short bike ride (this Sunday on the other hand, at the Tour of the Fireflies, we'll be covering more than 30 kms!) 

Photo courtesy of Alexander Chua

At the CCP, members posed for a souvenir photo.

Here's the route we took.

From CCP, the bike club then transferred to nearby Inggo's Grill in Harbour Centre for lunch and the anniversary program.

The program was hosted by Abel and Koei. We had a raffle with lots of prizes. I won an FBP collared shirt (Thanks, Ms Ruth!).

We posed for another set of group photos. This one was for those in FBP neon green shirts.

At 12nn I had to leave to be with my family. Others stayed to continue the celebration.

Happy 1st Year Anniversary, FBP! To cycling and friendship!

Knog Boomer Rechargeable Front LED Light

Recently bought a Knog Boomer USB Front Light (right)

I needed to replace my years old battery powered Cateye front light. But this time I wanted something that was rechargeable. I didn't care much about that I could see the road with it at night, no. What was more important for me was that I could be seen by others. So I wasn't interested with those powerful 200-300 lumen front lights, which are expensive by the way. I was out to look for a 100 lumen or less rechargeable front light for my Brompton.

My research on the net got me to narrow the choices down to the Blackburn Super Flea (or Flea) and the Knog Boomer. Both are less than 100 lumens (Super Flea at 80 and Boomer at 55) and rechargeable (via USB).

After comparing the two, based on user reviews and actual inspection, I decided to get the Knog Boomer. Here's why:

1. The Mount. While the Boomer uses its own stretchable silicone casing to attach to the handlebar, the Flea uses a velcro strap. Now I don't know about you but in my opinion velcro straps aren't effective grips on bikes, with all the rattling and all.They tend to loosen and come off.

2. The USB plug. The problem with the Flea is that it cannot charge directly to a computer. It comes with a separate USB plug that the light has to attach on to be able to charge. That attachment is tiny and could easily be lost by the owner. On the other hand, the Boomer's USB plug is on the light itself. All you need to do is remove the silicone casing and plug the Boomer to your computer's USB port. 

The Boomer in its box.

Silicone casing on the left. The LED light with USB on the right.

Just insert the LED light into the silicone casing and voila!

I tested the Boomer one night and it suits me fine. The LED light is bright enough for me to be seen by motorists and other commuters.

If you like the Flea, it is available in Velocity over at Cartimar and Sabak Makati along Pasong Tamo Ext. The Super Flea is 80 lumens and retails at around P1,800.00 while the Flea is 40 lumens and sells for around P1,000.00. The Super Flea only comes in one color, silver. The Flea comes in a range of colors including black, white, silver, red and blue.

If you're interested with the Boomer USB, I got mine at Bike King in Bonifacio High Street. It is 55 lumens and cost me P1,300.00. The silicon casing comes in black, blue, red, white and translucent colors.

Post-Halloween Bike Ride with Bea

The morning after Halloween, Bea and I took a spin around the village and chanced upon this house decorated like a Smurf Village. Had to stop and take a few pictures.

Bea doesn't look too happy in this photo only because she was scared of the big Smurf figures.

Happy Halloween 2012!