China brought Bike Sharing to a whole new level

A traditional bike station in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Normally, bike sharing programs use bike docks or stations. If you want to rent a bike, you have to go to a bike station and get one there. When you get to your destination, you have to look for a bike station to lock and leave the bike. Think Velib in Paris, Boris Bikes in London, and Bixi in Montreal. This way, bike share operators ensure the safekeeping of their bikes.

It started the same way in China (particularly in Beijing and Shanghai). But this past year it metamorphosized and China brought bike sharing to a whole new level. 

OFO Bikes

Because of stiff competition, bike share operators in China have done away with bike docks or stations! They now allow users to pick up and leave bikes wherever they  please.

Blue Gogo

Bikes are literally everywhere. They're parked on every street corner. Different colors, different designs. 

MoBike

There's OFO Bikes, Blue Gogo, Mobike (the most popular) and a dozen other bike share providers. It's insane.

You just download the app, register, and deposit a consumable downpayment fee (300 RMB for Mobike).

Then you look for a bike and scan its QR code. It unlocks, and you're good to go! 

Once you complete your trip, just park the bike on the curb, lock and leave it. No need to find a bike dock or station! So convenient!

They even have them in electric bikes!!! How wicked is that?!

But how about security? Well, the program is not fool proof. Some bikes do get stolen. In fact, an official in Jiangsu province told me as much as 10,000 bikes get broken, lost or stolen each day! So I don't know if this business model will keep bike share providers afloat.

Another issue is sidewalk bike-clogging. An official in Shanghai told me that parked rental bikes are clogging the sidewalks, blocking the way of pedestrians. Shanghai is crafting a policy that would assign specific parking areas for these kinds of bikes.

On a final note, these Chinese bike sharing operators are branching out to other countries! Blue Gogo will be in the US, while Mobike is already in Singapore! I wonder if the Philippines is in their radar.

VIDEO: How To Speak Brompton

It's been quite some time since Brompton hit the Philippine/South East Asian market already (probably 3-4 years), but if you're late on the boat, this video will explain the different letters and numbers that make up the Brompton models. You'll understand what S, M, P, H, E, R, L, 1, 2, 3, and 6 each mean.

Happy viewing!

VIDEO: McBike. Mcdonald's Take-away Pack for Cyclists.

This is cool! I hope the McBike take-away pack hits Philippine shores soon! It looks awesome!

Brompton is finally coming to the Philippines

After years of having to travel abroad just to procure Brompton parts and accessories, the UK-made folding bicycle is finally coming to the Philippines! The guys at Buzzwheel Marketing Corp. recently snagged the local distributorship and will soon supply the following bike dealers with Bromptons, spare parts and accessories:

Quezon City:
Iron Bike
Cool stuff 168

Makati:
BPM
Bike Town Cyclery

Pasay:
Paulinas (Cartimar)
Paulinas (MOA) [coming soon]

Alabang:
Grantrail Cycle

Marikina:
John Wilkie

For more information, visit the company's FB page at www.facebook.com/bromptonphilippines.

Hay salamat, di na kelangan pumunta pa ng Hong Kong o Singapore para bumili ng spare parts, bags, saddles, carriers, fenders at iba pang accessories.

A Sidecar in the US! Hahaha!

Photo from bikecommuters.com

I always thought it was weird that we were the only country using sidecars for bikes. Glad a fellow Filipino has brought a sidecar to the US. Read up on how he did it and how it went at Sidecar Update on Bike Commuters

LBS: R.O.X.

R.O.X. (short for Recreational Outdoor Exchange) is supposedly the biggest outdoor shop in South East Asia. It has stuff for camping, running, backpacking, and other kinds of adventure travel. It carries brands like The North Face, Columbia, Salomon, Keen and Mountain Hardwear. Nevertheless, I'm featuring R.O.X. on my blog as an LBS because it has one whole floor dedicated to bicycles, including folding bikes.

R.O.X. has a lot of bikes. They have mountain bikes and road bikes like any LBS. But they also carry non-conventional bikes like beach cruisers, tandems, high-end commuters, children's bikes, and yes, folding bikes. For the latter, they carry Giant and Dahon.

If you find it difficult to find and get to my local bike shops like BTC, Sabak, Lifecycle and Tryon, then R.O.X. is for you. It is located right smack in the center of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It's Building 1 of Bonifacio High Street. You CANNOT miss it.

Of course since R.O.X. is in a prime location expect to pay more. Unlike in an LBS where you can haggle with the owner to get a 10% or 20% discount, you cannot do the same in R.O.X. Also, although R.O.X. has a resident bike mechanic, don't expect your bike to be fully serviced like at an LBS.

Still, I frequent R.O.X. because sometimes it has bike related products that my LBS does not have like Giant and Trek parts & accessories, and Columbia and Habagat clothes & shoes.

Video: The Brompton Fold

Animation on how a Brompton bicycle folds. Cute.

The Tern/Xtracycle Cargo Joe folding bike

Photo grabbed from www.bikerumor.com

An Xtracycle cargo bike THAT'S also a Tern folding bike? Oh my God, I want this!

BikeRumor.com recently wrote about the new Cargo Joe folding bike unveiled by the two bike companies in Interbike 2012. It's not yet on the Tern website but Bike Rumor reported that the bike will retail for US$999 (or PhP 41,600.00).

 

The wheels are 26" so the fold will be anything but compact. But at least, the bike will be small enough to fit the trunk of a mini-van or at the back of a pick-up truck. Besides, you can uninstall the Xtracycle cargo extension and attach the standard Tern rear wheel to convert it into a regular Tern folding bike.

 

I've always wanted a cargo bike, and with this new folding bike hybrid from Tern and Xtracycle, I'm sold. I imagine being able to carry both my wife and daughter on the rear rack to go to the grocery store! Can't wait for the Cargo Joe to be available here in the Philippines! 

Types of Bicyclists

Illustration by Serge Bloch for the Wall Street Journal

Here is an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal, written by Nancy Keats, comparing bicyclist-watching to bird-watching--as there are different types of bicyclists just like there are many kinds of birds.

 

First on Nancy's list are the Roadies; followed by the Beach Cruisers. Third are the Cyclocrossers (I'm not sure if we have those here in the Philippines). Next are the Commuters--the type I think I fall under. Finally, Ms Keats caps her list with the Vintage Riders. Her article is fascinating because not only does she describe the bicycles, but also the riders themselves--down to the extent of what shoes they wear. Her descriptions are funny because they're true. Especially the one about Commuters almost always travelling alone. Hahaha!

Nancy did leave out other bicyclists in her list. She forgot about the biggest group, the Mountain Bikers. Also, Fixies, BMXer and the most important sub-group, Folding Bike Enthusiasts!

Did I miss any one?

Video: Owner and Police Bust Bike Thief

Knowing that he'd forever lose his bike if he didn't do anything, this bike-owner took the matter into his own hands and tracked the bike thief. He found him and confronted the guy. It's a crazy video. Good thing the cops came.

Video: On Street Bike Parking

I look forward to seeing on-street bike parking here in Metro Manila. Realistically, I envision it in Fort Bonifacio and Makati.

Making Streets Safer With On-Street Bike Parking from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

All a street block needs is one (1) car parking slot. The space can accommodate as much as 15 bikes!

My Trek Valencia

Aside from my Brompton M3L and Trek Allant, I also ride a 2009 Trek Valencia.  This fast and sleek hybrid bike is my ride when I'm back home in Laoag.  It has 700x32cc road bike size wheels with semi-flat handlebars.

The Trek Valencia has a corrosion-resistant Alpha Black Aluminum frame and a cro-moly steel rigid fork.

It has Shimano mechanical disc brakes, as well as Trek Urban handlebars.  I installed the baseball-shape bike bell. 

The bike does not come with a rear rack.  I installed this Topeak MTX Quick Track rear rack.  A Topeak bike bag can easily slide in and snap into the rack.

The bike has a 24-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain.

I like the stock ergonomic grips Trek installed on the handlebar.

And here is my Trek Valencia resting on one of the huts fronting beautiful Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte.

An Attempt to Install the iBert Seat on my Brompton

I've used my Brompton folding bike.  And I've also used the iBert child bike seat.  But I have never used them together.  

The iBert seat is installed on my full-sized commuter bike (a Trek Allant), and that's what I use when I take Bea around with me.

One of the reasons why I haven't used the iBert seat on the Brompton is because I feel the head tube is not strong and sturdy enough to carry the load of a child.

But I remained curious.

So this morning, I uninstalled the iBert seat from the Allant and attempted to install it on my Brompton.

I wrapped rubber foam around the stem first before screwing on the metal stinger to protect the paint from any scratches.  I noticed that the Brompton's head tube / stem is much thicker than the Allant's.  Once tightened, I slid the iBert seat into the stinger.  I pushed it in, but it wouldn't go all the way.  The reason for this was because the iBert seat was already hitting the stem.  But I was able to nudge it enough for me to be able to lock the seat in place.

It fit!  But it wasn't the best fit.  I might have to put rubber foam around that part of the stem that rubs against the edge of the iBert seat.  Just to avoid scratch marks.

There's another concern.  The cables are kinda in the way, which could possibly affect steering and maneuverability.

I didn't have enough time to test it.  I'm still kinda apprehensive that the head tube / stem can take the load.  Also, may be I'd have a difficult time pedaling because the seat is positioned quite low.  

Well, there's only one way to find out.  Ride it. I'll probably do it this weekend.  Will blog about my experience next time.  Fingers crossed that the head tube / stem can carry the load of child on an iBert seat!

Bea and I visit Ayala Triangle Garden

The other weekend, I biked with my 13-month old toddler, Bea, around Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati CBD.

But not on my folding bike.  We went around using my trusty Trek Allant with the iBert seat installed.  (I'm still figuring out if it's okay to use the iBert seat on the stem of my Brompton bike.)

Ayala Triangle Garden used to be an unused triangular shaped lot owned by the Ayalas in the middle of downtown Makati.  It was enclosed and gated.  Shrubs and weeds were left to grow.

Until the mid-2000s, when Ayala Land thought to make good use of the lot by making it into a park.
Here Bea and I are biking along one of the parks cemented lanes.  People living and working in the nearby buildings walk their dogs here.  Others jog.  And some, like me, take their daughters for a nice bike ride.

Ayala recently put up a row of restaurants in one side of the park--and they are packed during lunch and dinner time.

Bea and I choosing a restaurant to have dinner.

Ayala Triangle Garden is another nice little park to take your kid biking in the Makati area.  The trees offer some shade.  There are wide and open spaces.  The park is still enclosed, so there's a certain level of safety. And there are cafes, restaurants and shops where you can park your bike in front of and have some lunch, merienda or dinner.

My New Bike Buddy

I have a new bike buddy:  My one year old daughter, Bea!

I had trouble convincing her to wear her helmet before, hence I couldn't let her ride.  But somehow, my wife and I were able to convince her it was fashionable.  Once we overcame than, there was no more problem with her enjoying the iBert seat.

In fact, for the 2nd day in a row, she rode with me in buying the newspaper.  She didn't want to get out of her seat when we got home.  I had to take her around the block one more time!

It was great bonding with my daughter!

Bea really does enjoy riding the bike.  She's all smiles.

My friends suggest though, if I take her on longer rides, to put sunblock on her skin.  We don't want her to get sunburn this early.

Dad Kris with one-year old daughter Bea (March 2011)

My non-folding commuter bike

Before I ventured into folding bikes, I rode a commuter bike.

This is the Allant from Trek.  It is the bike company's dutch-style commuter bike with swept-back handlebars, ergonomic grips, cushy saddle, rear rack, 700cc wheels, fenders and kickstand.

I bought mine in early 2009 at ROX for less than P20,000.00.  I got size 17.5" which is okay for my 5"6' height.

The frame is made of Alpha White Aluminum.  Color is glossy black.  I like it because it looks classy.

The fenders match the frame.  It protects you from having mud and water splattered on your pants.

Like I said, the handlebars are swept-back for a more upright sitting position.  It comes with a bell, but I changed it to cateye brand, which is much better.

I use this bike when going to the grocery or the drugstore.  Also use this bike to visit my relatives who live in the nearby subdivisions.

If I could only bring this to the mall and lock it at a bike rack I would.  But I'm afraid of leaving it, even if double locked.  Baka pag balik ko, wala na. 

It's probably why I ventured into folding bikes.  At least I could fold the folding bike and bring it with me inside the mall.

I do wish I could use this bike more often because it is a very good bike.