A good friend asked me to accompany him to buy his very first folding bike. I personally do not…read moreknow anything about folding bikes, but only mostly about mountain bikes because I used to ride one. Braving the trip to Quezon City, we left early, hoping to have lunch at nearby Maginhawa. We got there and we were amazed to see that even if it was relatively early, the shop was already packed with customers, staff busy tuning and attending to customers who came before us. Our turn came and one of the staff keenly listened to my friend's specifications and concerns. After about 10 minutes, the boxes arrived and despite asking for a certain color, he brought another color as option. Good thing he did so because my friend chose the second bike. Haha! We could have assembled it ourselves if we knew how, but they gladly did it for us. We were so giddy while waiting for the bike to be finished that the gentleman in charge gave us a generous discount. We felt so accomplished after with the newly bought bike, and had extra cash from the discount enough to buy both of us a full meal.

Glorious Ride Bikeshop in Sikatuna is the best all-purpose bike shop in Quezon City. They…read morespecialize a bit more on mountain and trail bikes, but they carry road gear and accessories as well. The store looks deceptively small from the outside. Once you step inside however, you'll be left speechless as you're greeted with a visual feast of bike parts and accessories. The staff are courteous and will immediately greet and assist you. What I like about them is that they are genuinely helpful. They don't follow you around making you feel like a criminal. The store has three floors. The ground is dedicated to small parts and accessories like saddles, action cams, cranksets and others. This is where they service and assemble bikes too. The second floor acts as the stock room for built bikes, while the last floor is dedicated to a wide array of bike helmets and shoes. Check them out!

This is conveniently located next to the saint augustin church. Renting a bike was easy and my…read morebike was easy to use. You fill out their waiver online and then leave them an ID. They took my Alaska drivers license and held on to it the duration of my rental. It's 100 Pecos an hour. What a deal! They take 100 Pecos as a deposit and even charge by half hour increments. It was very hot the day I rented the bike and was so glad there is a breeze while riding vs walking in the heat. Service is great and best value.

Nice to have a refresh on Philippine history, specifically what happened inside the walls of…read moreIntramuros. JD was a very good tour guide, maybe just a suggestion that it would be nice if they have a better way of showing us the photos they're carrying. I was honestly surprised by the very good condition of the bikes they were using. Will definitely take this tour again in the future (with our guests).

If you're in Manila and want to try your hand in riding a fixed gear bike or have yours repaired,…read morethere's only one place to go to - Tryon Riders. Tryon is located in J.P. Rizal Avenue, Makati. It's a bit easy to miss so while on the road, look for a big poultry egg shop on your left. Yes, you can't miss it with those visuals. Tryon has something for everyone. Whether you're a beginner (like me) riding fixed for the very first time, or a veteran in the fast world of single gears, the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Tryon is there to help you out. There are products to suit every budget, from generic frames from China, to DosNoventa frames in the 6-figures. One of the most amazing things about them is that you can pay via PayPal, so if you're a bit wary of bringing too much cash, you can opt to pay online or via your credit card. However, paying in cash nets you a discount so there's that.

ROX is basically an outdoor lover's playground. Three floors of serious gear, an indoor climbing…read morewall that goes up multiple levels, and everything from bikes to hiking, camping, snow, and motorcycling essentials. The brand mix is solid, Birkenstock, Allbirds, Reef, Billabong, Roxy, Columbia, Garmin, Camelbak, New Era, Nike, Fox, Deuter and more. It's rare to find this range in the Philippines, which makes this place feel like a real destination, not just a store. Even if you're not shopping, it's fun to walk through and explore. If you're into the outdoors, this is the kind of place you could easily lose an hour in. Great value coming here

One day, I decided that I wanted to try Rock/Wall Climbing so I wrote it down on my bucket list…read more After a few days I started googling places that had Rock Climbing gyms. I found really good ones but they were in Quezon city, a bit far from me. Fortunately, I found one that was just a few minutes away. I found out that R.O.X., a one stop shop for anything outdoors, had Rock Climbing facilities. What's great is that their shop is in the heart of the city: The Fort, and they are just in Bonifacio High St. They're literally inside a mall. How convenient! So I skedaddled to their Rock Climbing facility and signed up for a class. The thing was, there are no classes. There's just a quick briefing about the activity, plus a few tips. A few warnings and advices later, I found myself with a harness, a wall to climb, and zero experience. The coaches were very friendly and supportive. They guided me at the start and when I got the hang of it, I just found myself at the top of the wall tired and sweay. When I was done, I had climbed three walls; one easy, one intermediate, and one difficult. The learning curve for rock climbing isn't that steep. All I needed was myself, the desire to learn, and I had fun with it. Rock Climibng was a bit challenging but it was a very awesome experience for me. I really had fun traversing the walls with just my arms, legs, and a harness for safety. It's a bit expensive though, but a good price for this kind of activity (considering that the coaches also help you if you're a beginner). You might spot famous rock climbers in this place! When I went there, I had the privilege of seeing one of the female Filipinos who climbed Mt. Everest. And yes, I was very intimidated and honored at the same time.

Always a lifesaver, this litte neighborhood bike store. They are always so helpful with my little…read morebike and it is one of the cheaper shops in the area. No need to go all the way to Quiapo to get something fixed or readjusted. The bike mechanics work super fast and they give good advice for bike care and maintenance.

Whenever you're driving along D.Tuazon in Quezon City, your eyes will be immediately drawn to…read moreSimple Cyclery and the bikes they have on display. Bikes of different colors, shapes, and sizes line the outside of the shop, seducing passersby with their sexy aluminum alloy and steel curves. Simple Cyclery is all about simplicity. Their focus is on fixed gear and track bikes as well as single speeds, commuters, and even folding bikes. Each bicycle they sell is captivating and looks like they were just plucked from a magazine. If you're thinking of getting a bike for your own (or someone else), go inside and talk to the man in charge, Mr. Gilbert Sy Chan. Whether you plan on building one from scratch or buying one off the rack, he'll gamely walk you through on what you need and what to expect if you want to dive in this wonderful world of 'simple' bikes.

There are many establishments that sell sporting goods and apparels. But when it comes to my…read morebadminton equipment, I usually go to Juego in Greenbelt 4. This store has a complete line of accessories from shuttlecocks and rackets to grips and badminton apparel. Based on my experience, this store carries several brands of badminton shoes, including Yonex, Babolat, Li-Ning, and Kason. Badminton enthusiasts, and even those who are just starting to play the sport, know the value of wearing the right kind of footwear. Badminton shoes need to be lightweight with ample cushioning, particularly in the ankle area, and with thinner non-marking rubber soles that have good traction and grip. So I really appreciate the time and guidance that the staff at this Juego branch gives to their customers, specifically to those buying their shoes for the first time. I also respect the fact that they sell locally-made shirts and shorts at very affordable prices. Although this store specializes in badminton goods and apparels, they also have items for tennis, volleyball and basketball. It is also worth noting that this Juego shop is small, so it could be quite difficult to try on badminton shoes for someone who's big and tall as me. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from the staff.