— pixelus @ 8:41 am — 
March 15, 2007I am not a racer nor a downhill rider.
I am a simple bike to work dude. And before I discovered the joys of this, I was a plain, old and sad weekend biker. I would bike all alone to places frequented by bikers, only to admire their souped up bikes and watch in awe as they speed along the highway, overtaking me and leaving me kilometers behind. Sometimes, I would arrive where they were, just as they were preparing to leave again, after having stopped for a leisurely snack.
It was actually by accident that I started to bike to work, almost a year ago. I was still using my old trusted motorcycle to move around. It happened that my then 7 year old daughter was confined in the hospital and I had to be with her the whole morning. My work starts at 3 in the afternoon, so I had to go home after lunch to prepare for work. Of course I rode the motorcycle to go home, but when it was time to leave for work, the good old motorcycle wouldn’t start! I tried several times to start it but it seems that it has made up its mind to be uncooperative. It was already past 2 pm and if I didn’t leave soon, I would be late for work. That’s when the idea of using the bike occured to me. I packed my work clothes in the only available backpack we had and I put on my old jersey and jogging pants and rubber shoes and off I went.
Now, I am just happy to bike. Anytime. Anywhere?
My StumbleUpon Page
Nice website. Cycle in Manila - madness!
keep up the good work
Miles
Thanks for the visit Miles. You should have seen us last April 15, 2007 when almost 5,000 bikers were set loose on the streets of Manila for the 9th Tour of the Fireflies. If that is not madness, I don’t know what is. But certainly we all enjoyed it!
Hey! Discovered your website through Google blog search and I find it really nice and refreshing.
Hope you don’t ming me linking to it. 
Jovan
Hi Jovan,
Thanks for the link. I really appreciate it. I have already subscribed to PCN since last year, and as you can see, I have already linked to it. I will add thelonerider and bisikleta today. Thanks and happy riding and blogging.
nice blog, the materials are interesting. hope to read your bike trips regularly.
ei kuya rino nice blog huh! paemail naman ung mga pics sa ride natin kanina. u know wat something annoying happened to me. ikukwento ko sayo.
nice blog!
be hanging out here more. been a believer of a clean air manila. and though im more of a runner, i think we are one in the idea. 
cheers!
Hi Banggigay. I am glad to know that we are one in the idea of helping to keep Metro Manila’s air clean. I hope we can meet one day, you on your run and me on my bike!
hello! Nice site here! You are in to ‘clean air act’. Biking also promotes wellness… that’s really environmental friendly… keep it up… Godbless!
nice site , i am really appreciate this message of clean air act. promoting Filipino mountain biking and social awareness ..
i have also a blog site focusing adventure racing and i am starting right now , ok lang po b n magkipag link trade tayu sir?
keep it up… God bless!
http://philippineadventureracing.blogspot.com/
Yes,why not, Diegoos, it will be most welcome. Good luck on your blog, and do send me some information you’d like me to post here. I just added your site to my blogroll here and in crankandpedal. Thanks for the links too.
Hi Pixelus,
I found your blog very interesting. Sayang, we were in Manila
last summer, but I missed that 9th Tour of the Fireflies.
I am a runner and used to bike in Roxas Boulevard with my brother every Sundays…long time ago.
No, I’m in Hong Kong, and still running. I’m dreaming of riding
on a bike again.
Salamat po.
tonychel
Hi tonychel,
Next year’s Tour of the Fireflies will be bigger in scope so I hope that you will be hear for that event and that you will be able to join.
Do ride your bike again, marami kang na mi-miss na magandang adventures on a bike, especially dyan sa Hongkong, where I’m sure na marami ring trails where you can ride.
Salamat din!
nice web blog dude! long live! BIKERS.– bike lovers here-=
Thanks humberjet. Let’s live to ride!!!
Biking is in my blood also. Been on two-wheels for almost 20 years now. It’s the feeling of freedom that makes it wonderful.
geri a.k.a. raredog’s last blog post..The Great Leaner
Hi,
Nice new site make over. Thanks for the heads up that you changed your web host. I added you in Link exchange:
Let’s link up and add more pinoy community to our sites:
you can find your link here at:
http://pinoynetwork.org/blog/index.php/my-link-exchage
Cheers,
sandy
I would like some pictures of you riding wheelies!
Eric \”Speedcat Hollydale\”’s last blog post..Willanserbellouwskifimkerskinnzz
nice website hope we could help pinoy biker community meet thru this kind of website . . MORE POWER TO YOUR SITE ! lets link up check this website :www.thebikemate.com
Hi Arnel,
Thanks for visiting. Yes, it would be good to have link exchange. Pwede bang mag-avail ng discount sa store mo? hehehe.
wahaw! sarap ng hobby mo…i wish i could bike too kaso prone ako sa semplang eh. hahaha. will link yah po ha…
hi salamat sa pagbisita sa blog ko ha… naku, you might want to read this post –
http://kengkay.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/big-bikes/
my hubby is a mountain bike enthusiast pero ako, medyo bano sa bisikleta, although i want to learn yung totoong mag bike. marunong lang ako pang CCP e, hehe. kasi dito kahit saang parte mayroong bike lane… sana sa pinas magkaron din ng ganyan para makatulung sa envt at sempre, mas konting gastos sa pasahe.. i admire you for your dedication!
thanks for visiting my site and the comment! nice blog… i especially like ur intro…
“Working for a Bike-Friendly Metro-Manila and being part of the solution instead of the problem.”
wonderful outlook in life. will be visiting ur blog always.
Just stumbled into your site . . . I’ve heard of the Tour of the Fireflies via my local bike group (San Francisco Bike Coalition) kasi na-feature sa kanilang “recyclable” calendar. Balang araw, dadalhin ko yung ’sikleta ko sa Maynila - siguro sa susunod na Tour of the Fireflies??? Let me know kung kailan para makaplano na ako . . .
PS: Long time bike commuter ako (mula pang dumating ako rito sa states kasi medyo may pagka environmentalist ako maski noon pa) at long-distance rider ako maski damatan na (33+ yrs na akong wala sa pilipinas). Sa tutuo lang, advantage na babee ako pag nag solo, self-supported tour kasi matulungin ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga lalaki maski di naman sila marunong magpalit ng flat or kung ano mang problema sa bike. hahaha.
Nice & interesting site Rino!!
Loved your site, loved your goal. But you wont see me riding the streets of Manila….dont even trust being a padestrian. Give me the countryside anytime.
Does the Philippines have a clean air act, or is it just not enforced. These drivers would probably save money if they upgraded their engines. And if they were driving on brand new roads funded from a petrol tax, they would probably save money as well.
Add me to your blogroll if you will. Thanks!
@Andrew: I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I have seen it for myself how Manila traffic could easily be one of the worst in the whole world. We do have a clean air act but sadly, it’s mostly on paper and the government is the least bit worried about enforcing it. It’s the NGO’s that’s mostly involved in this endeavor. Thanks for leaving a comment. I appreciate it very much.
@Karen: thanks for visiting. You did not tell me you have your own blog!
@Santi: I wish you left your URL or email.
THANK BUDDAH I STUMBLED ONTO THIS WEBSITE! Just what i was looking for! You’re the MAN, Pixelus!
Here’s my story…
Over a year ago, I was in cebu- ’twas september of ‘06 when I rediscovered my childhood fondness of bicycles. Of course I had outgrown my old kiddie trike now, (i still have it in our bodega collecting rust though) so I decided to invest on a good mountain bike. One of the best decisions i made in my life.
I had my MTB cargo-shipped to manila before I even got here. Mine is over A year-old bike, still shiny but not too shabby (rides pretty darn well too. hehe!)
Now, it has been nearly a month since I was reinstated back here in our manila office. Unfortunately, due to manila lifestyle, I can only ride my bike on weekends. I was getting bored of my same old routes… Also consider the fact that I had been riding alone and just around and about Pasig city. Truth is… I miss the thigh-punishing 2-hour uphill climbs (in midring) up the Hills of Busay, Cebu. as well as the rush of downhill thrill; two hours going up the hills-then back down the foothills where we started in under 20 minutes (my fastest downhill speed was 72km/h. even i was surprised! hahaha!)
Bottomline is: Weekend riders like me, now have a great source of information. http://ruralpinoybiker.com
I’m looking forward to meeting you all this saturday.
May Buddha Bless Us All!
-wehster-
Pasig City
im sorry, its kuya rinio, not pixelus. i got names mixed-up. my bad. sorry po.
nice blog! i have cousins who got into biking to stay fit. and man! i must say they don’t look younger than their age and they are already in their fifties. keep it up!
I may seem like an ignorant person, but do you by chance know of any bike rentals inside manila? I want to take my girlfriend on a leisurely bike ride inside my park village as an anniversary gift. Was wondering if there were any I could rent from in manila–preferably Makati..
(pa-email ng reply hek)
great stories and great website too!
im also a starter when it comes to two wheels.. i hope we could ride sumday.. kepp the air free from pollution.. and after a good ride.. sanmig lights nman
@vincent: I’ll check with my buddies in the Firefly brigade kung meron. I personally don’t know of any, except sa UP where they are still setting it up.
@nashimoto: Have you heard of the Tour of the fireflies? Sama ka don. It will be held on 20 April, Sunday. Sa Tiendesitas ang start/finish. It is the biggest gathering of cyclist dito sa atin. Or better yet, we are recruiting marshals for the event. May training every Sunday sa Tiendesitas din, starting at 6:30 am. Sama ka!
Hey Rino, I just stumbled upon you by accident while looking up Terry L stuff for the coming weekend… Nice blog!
Anyway, hope you’re well, see you at the Tour, no doubt!
Hi Megan, thanks for dropping by. Yes, see you at the Tour!
Hi Megan, thanks for dropping by. Yes see you at the Tour!
Rino,
Glad to know you’re doing well. Its been a while since I saw you. The last time was at C3. Pixela area. I joined the Tour of the Fireflies with my daughter and son. Saw a portion of your article in the newsletter given by Karen C. I’ve renewed my love for bikes now that my kids are old enough to appreciate them too. Take it easy friend. I hope to see you in the streets soon.
Andy