VIDEO: A Day in the Life of a Brompton Owner

A Singaporean Bikes to Work

Photo owned by Kieren Soh.

Sharing this blog post about a cyclist who bikes to work in Singapore. His post is an inspiration, and I wish to blog about my bike to work experience soon.

Video: BUC QC 2016

Here is the official video of the Brompton Urban Challenge - Quezon City 2016. It was made by Memoris Lensworks.

Brompton Urban Challenge - Quezon City 2016

Last 29 May 2016, Brompton Philippines organized the the first Brompton Urban Challenge (or BUC) in South East Asia. BUC is Brompton’s version of an alleycat race, where teams of four Bromptoneers bike around town on a treasure hunt doing all sorts of challenges and taking photos of objects or landmarks (it’s like a local Amazing Race on folding bikes).

B-Tols getting ready for the race.

The event was held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. A total of 18 teams showed up at A/S Parking Lot, 7am that Sunday for what was going to be a morning of adventure and excitement. I joined BUC-QC 2016 with three of my Brompton riding friends, Dr. Arman Lee, Eugene Buenaventura, and Larry Ronquillo. We called ourselves the B-Tols (a play on the name Beatles with B standing for Brompton and 'tols' as a shortcut for utol—never mind, it’s a corny name).

Anyway, the lead marshal of the event, Brian Rivera, called us in at 7:15am to explain to us the mechanics of the race. He then gave all teams the race cards containing the instructions, clues and challenges. Arman, Eugene, Larry and I reviewed the race card and planned out our route. The race started precisely at 7:30am.

Our chosen first task was to ride on a UP IKOT jeepney. Eugene did this task. 

I split from the group and dropped by the International Center to do another challenge. I had to count the number of flagpoles at the IC. 14. 

I then caught up with my teammates at the UP Shopping Center. Our third task was to find as many Brompton stickers around the SC. It was so difficult. The stickers were so small. It was going to take us forever if we stayed, so we decided to go on to the next task, which was to look for a Brompton item at the Bahay ng Alumni. 

We found a Brompton book in the display case of Art Cafe. We took a group photo and hurriedly left.

dOur fifth task was to go to the Carillon and take another group photo in front of it. It was just across the Bahay ng Alumni, so we were done in minutes.

We then proceeded to Quezon Hall where the Oblation statue was situated. We did three tasks there.

We took a track stand photo in front of the statue, we taught a stranger how to fold and unfold a Brompton, and we crammed our Brompton bikes in a tiny e-tricycle. 

From Quezon Hall, we biked around the UP oval to the Sunken Garden. We carried our bikes to the center and posed for another group photo. This time in front of the UP standees.

Team B-Tols then rushed back to the A/S Parking Lot. Our final task was to answer trivia questions about Brompton the company. Silly me, I didn’t read the instructions thoroughly. It said to log on to a blog for the answers. Instead, we searched for the answers using Google. After we filled it up, we biked straight to the finish line.

Doc Arman, Eugene, Larry, and yours truly.

We were the first one in! We clocked in at 52:58.

However, when the checkers reviewed our race card, they penalized us an extra 5 minutes for the wrong answer as to the number of Brompton stickers in SC, and another 5 minutes for not following instructions on the trivia questions. So our official time was 1:02:58.

I was so nervous. I thought for sure I cost the team the win.

While we waited for the others, we refreshed ourselves with drinks from Pocari Sweat and Gold Leaf Tea. We also got our loot bags, which contained a BUC-QC 2016 dri-fit shirt, a cotton shirt, a Camelbak water bottle, Edlee arm socks, some drinks, and bread. Not bad! Not bad at all! (The registration fee was PhP600/member)

Brompton slowest race

Brompton Philippines also organized other contests such as fastest folder, fastest one armed folder, a relay race, and a slowest race. 

At around 11 the organizers announced the winners from fifth to first place. Believe it or not, 10 minute penalty notwithstanding, Team B-Tols won the first Brompton Urban Challenge in the Philippines!!!

First prize were Suunto Ambit 3 Sport HR watches for each of us!!! How awesome is that?!?!

Photo courtesy of Brompton Philippines

Thank you Brompton Philippines, Suunto, Pocari Sweat, Gold Leaf, Edlee Designs, other sponsors, Brompton Club of the Philippines and BUC-QC 2016 volunteers! I had a blast! Can’t wait for next year’s BUC!!!

O Tukso Layuan Mo Ako

Oh my God, Brompton just launched its newest luggage collection. I'm such a sucker for Brompton products. I first got a folding basket. Then when the T-Bag became available, I snagged that one too. Later, I picked me up one of them Mini-O Bags. 

And now this! A new line of Brompton luggage!!!

They have a new line called 'Modern'. There's a tote bag, a roll top shoulder bag, a regular shoulder bag, and a saddle pouch. Of these, I fell in love with the brown waxed cotton roll top shoulder bag (shown above). It retails for £100 (or PhP6,650.00).

Brompton kept their 'Classic' line, but made minor improvements, and introduced new color trims and finishes. They also still have their 'Premium' line, but I didn't even care to browse them because they're all prohibitively expensive!

I'm really setting my sights on that brown waxed cotton roll top shoulder bag. Damn you, Will Butler Adams!

Comments on Trinx and Atomic Bikes?

Photo not mine. Grabbed from Trinx website.

Hi, all! It's been a while. When I started riding folding bikes in 2009 there were only a few brands available in the Philippines like Giant, Dahon, Peerless, Doppelganger, and Strida. Today, 2016, there are more than a dozen brands being marketed to bicycle enthusiasts. Among them are Trinx and Atomic. I have seen quite a number of their bikes on the streets of Manila and I have no idea how they perform. So I'd like to ask for reader feedback. Do you own a Trink or Atomic folding bike? How is it? Does it give value for money? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Photo not mine. Grabbed from the OLX website.

Bike Tour Wish List: Taichung, Taiwan

Photo is owned by David Niddrie

Awhile back I went on many bike tours both here and abroad. I've travelled with my folding bike to Hong Kong, Vietnam, New Zealand, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Cavite, Albay and Camarines Sur. But for one thing or another I stopped going on bike tours. This recent article by David Niddrie for Momentum Mag has resparked my interest in the activity.

Niddrie wrote about his experience bike touring around Sun Moon Lake in Taichung, Taiwan--the country's largest lake. The pictures of the tour look fantastic, and total length sounds a reasonable 30 kms. 

I will research more on this and see if I can invite some friends to go along and join me on a bike tour.