Brompton Urban Challenge in London

We should organize something like this in the Philippines. Best place siguro would be Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

BCP 2nd Anniversary

BCP in Intramuros, Manila.

Brompton Club of the Philippines (BCP) recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary last September 7, 2013. And my, has the club grown! From merely 11 members back in 2011, BCP now has more than 100 members! It's 10 times the size it was 2 years ago!

I was lucky to be in Manila when the group celebrated this momentous occasion. I took out Brommie Skywalker from its case (haven't ridden it in months), inflated the tires, and took it for a spin around the neighborhood before going to Mall of Asia.

Look at all those Bromptons! Can you find Brommie Skywalker?

We assembled at SM MOA that Saturday morning. When those of us who could make it were complete (I counted 42 attendees), we biked south and headed for Intramuros.

We passed Macapagal Ave., through the CCP complex, then to the Baywalk along Roxas Blvd. Thank God, the weather cooperated that day.

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the members. I do have a photo of the Bromptons. :)

We stopped in front of Kilometer 0 at Luneta Park for a group photo op. It was unfortunate that they were repairing the Rizal monument. the group photo would have been better taken there. From the park, BCP proceeded to Intramuros. We stopped in front of the Manila Cathedral for another group photo. And then for another one at the Presidents' Gallery on Sta. Lucia Street before we headed back to the ASEANA complex for lunch.

Here I am with Brommie Skywalker in front of the Pres. Marcos bronze tablet.

It's so nice to see the Brompton community grow bigger in the Philippines. Other than making new friends, when there's more of us riding these folding bikes, it increases the chances for us to be acknowledged on the streets and accepted in establishments. I hope that by this time next year, there will be twice as much, if not more.

Mabuhay ang BCP! May our tribe increase!

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.

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!

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!

Bike Ride to Nuvali's Bird Sanctuary and Wakepark

We parked our cars in front of Solenad 1, and unfolded our bikes.

Last week, my daughter and I visited the man-made lake in Nuvali. Yesterday, I went back to Nuvali, but this time, I joined my FBP friends to ride up Nuvali Blvd. and visit the bird sanctuary and the wakeboard park.

Nuvali Blvd. is a 10 kilometer-long road, stretching from the Solenad Bldgs. to Republic Wake Park. It is very popular among cyclists, both roadie and mountain, in the south.

Cyclists particularly like training in Nuvali Blvd. because it is well-paved and has a gradual incline. There's no separate bike path, but cars and trucks are so few that they only take up one lane and share the other with bikers and joggers. (I don't know for how long though. Once the houses and schools rise up, I'm sure it's going to be a very busy highway.)

Since Nuvali is private property (its owned by Ayala Land), they impose their own traffic rules. For cyclists, the rule is to wear a helmet--as the road sign clearly says. 

Anyway, after cycling 5 1/2 kilometers, we turned right towards the Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary. 

Unfortunately, the road up to the bird sanctuary is not cemented at all. My folding bike's tires were tested against the sand and gravel, plus the occasional mud patch. Pang road lang talaga ang Brompton.

The Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary turned out to be just a gazebo. I didn't see any birds, lizards, bats, or monkeys. Nothing. It's probably because Ayala's turning the area into a subdivision! And all the construction had driven the animals away.

How can this be a bird sanctuary when there'll be houses right there?

I have to say I was a bit disappointed.

Group photo courtesy of Al Castillo

After resting for a few minutes, we rode down the trail back to Nuvali Blvd. We continued biking for another 2 kilometers until we hit the dead end and then turned left towards the wakepark.

Republic Wakepark is the newest wakeboard park in the country (the first two are in CWC and Caliraya). My FBP friends and I just had a look-see. We watched a few wakeboarders do their thing. We kidded ourselves that we could actually join them since we were already in costume--helmet and shorts. Hehehe.

After taking some pictures and rehydrating, the group pedaled back to Solenad. The ride back was much faster because for the most part it was downhill.

Back at the man-made lake in Solenad.

All in all, we had biked almost 20 kilometers. Not a bad Monday morning workout.

My white Brompton hanging out with the mountain bikes. 

Back in the parking lot, we folded our bikes and loaded them in our cars. Some of us  proceeded to King Bee chinese restaurant for brunch. Mmmmmmhhh, hot wanton noodle soup never tasted this good!

Photo courtesy of Al Castillo

I had a great time biking with my FBP friends in Nuvali. It's a really nice place to bike. If you want an alternative to Bonifacio Global City or SM MOA Complex, I'd recommend Nuvali. It's bike-friendly; the roads are smooth and rolling; there are fewer cars; and after your workout, you can shop and dine in Solenad and nearby Paseo de Sta. Rosa!

Special mention to our ride leader for that day, Arnel Perez! Thanks for taking us around Nuvali, Arnel!