Video: Bikeceloning

A Barcelona bike shop rents out its Bromptons bicycles for touring the city. They call it Bikeceloning. Props for the catchy name. The video is eye candy (How hot is it in Barcelona that women have to wear that super short denim shorts?! Where are those ladies in Manila?). Anyway, going back to the video, I like that Barcelona has dedicated bike lanes in the middle of its main streets.

LBS: Bike King

The next LBS I'd like to feature is Bike King. This bike shop is located at B1, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It is next to Bo's Coffee and a few stores down from R.O.X.

Bike King is the authorized dealer of Orbea bicycles. Most of their bikes are for road, cyclocross and triathlon. They have mountain bikes as well. Sorry, no folding bikes. I drop by Bike King from time to time to check out their parts and accessories. In fact, just the other day, I bought a Knog Boomer USB front light from them. Will review that bike light next time.

 

For more information you can contact Bike King at (02) 8563362.

Will Butler-Adams writes about Brompton Bikes

Brompton's own Will Butler-Adams wrote about his company recently on ingenia.org.uk. It's a good read. Very informative about how Andrew Ritchie found inspiration from Harry Bickerton's folding bike, and the future plans of Brompton Bicycle.

LBS: Bike Town Cyclery

Today I feature another local bike shop (LBS) I frequent--Bike Town Cyclery. BTC is located at 2240 Chino Roces Ave. (Pasong Tamo Extension) in Makati, right across Lifecycle Makati.

They carry an assortment of bike brands, mostly high end like Ibis, Parlee, Banshee, Moots and Ventana. They do NOT carry folding bikes. So what do I do there? Well, similar to Lifecycle, sometimes I source my bike accessories from them. They sell Brooks and Carradice products. I think I bought Proofide from them before. They also carry Topeak stuff. I procured my Topeak saddle bag from BTC. I remember BTC used to sell Bern helmets. But the last time I checked they were gone.

BTC is known for its bike fitting system and organizing the Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival.

For your inquiries, you can call them up at (02) 3872173 or email at biketowncyclery@gmail.com

Bike Tourism for Small Towns

In this video, Laura of Path Less Pedalled talks about the potential economic benefits of bike tourism for small towns in the US. She makes sense. Let's take for example a trip from Saud in Pagudpud to Laoag City. If you travel by car, you'd probably just make one stop--in Pasuquin, for some Biscocho for merienda. That's it. 

But if you travel or tour by bike (like I've done a couple of times before) between the same two points, you'll make more stops, which would lead you to rest and take meriendas in Bangui, Burgos, Brgy. Davila in North Pasuquin and Bacarra. You'll meet more people along the way, buy more goods, and this would somehow help improve the local economy.   

LBS: Lifecycle Makati

Lifecycle Bicycle Shop is the authorized dealer of Giant and Trek bikes here in the Philippines. They have two branches. One in Greenhills, San Juan, and the other in Makati.

The one I frequent is the Makati shop. It is located at Unit 9 La Fuerza Plaza, Chino Roces Ave. (also known as Pasong Tamo Extension), Makati City. Contact number is (02) 4005203.

Lifecycle sells mostly full-sized bikes (mountain and road). I bought my Trek Allant from them. They rarely carry folding bikes. I think the only ones they have, if in stock, are the Giant Expressway and FD 806. That being said, I don't visit this LBS for its folding bike parts. Rather, I check it out, from time to time, for generic bike accessories like helmets, lights, water bottles, grips and cyclometers.

Lifecycle Makati is accessible from EDSA and is across Bike Town Cyclery. There are 4 parking spots in front of the store, which is good compared to other bike shops.