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!

Fox is a brand that mainly sells gear and equipment for people who are into motocross. It's a rich…read moreboy's sport usually since buying a bike and filling it with gas and so forth tends to cost a lot of money. That said, I found myself going to this store for the simple reason of wanting to buy gloves. I walked by the park one day and saw people doing calisthenics and using the park's pull up bar. I approached one of the people and he talked to me about how to start building myself up towards my first ever pull up. He then gave me advice that should I ever need gloves, the Fox gloves are some of the best. Their durable and of a decent price. True enough, I ended up buying a pair, and these things help me grip the bar and do push ups so I avoid grazing my palms against the concrete or the ground.

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.

Okay, judge me all you want, but sometimes I patronize a business just because the proprietor is…read morecute. I admit that sometimes, even if the business is mediocre, I would go back as long as I can shamelessly ogle at the owner. Well, if the business is really excellent, then it's a great combination. I can say this about Bambike. The shop, display room and tour headquarters in Intramuros is run by Bryan McClelland, Eco Tourguide and Founder of this awesome startup that creates study bikes from local bamboo. It's a great concept - sustainable bamboo cultivation meets great industrial design, multiplied by an innovative business model and made even more unique by its attempt at mainstreaming ecotourism and responsible consumption among Filipinos. The Bambike Tours, for instance, help people get acquainted with Intramuros, a historical site, and Bryan's tour covers most of the important spots that you don't only participate actively in the tour, but it's also a great way of promoting the biking culture in Manila, where people (ehem ehem) lazily catch trikes or pedi cabs to avoid walking that last mile (then again, in this heat, who can blame our compatriots, eh?) Anyway, more than just a great business run by a cute face, I love that Bambikes is doing something creative while providing a livelihood to local craftsmen. I am saving up for a Bambike so that I can also cruise in style in the city. Good job, Bryan!

Even on my second time taking this tour, it was still fantastic! I was amazed to learn so many new…read morefacts and details that weren't covered during my first trip. A big plus for the upgraded experience--the tour guide now uses a tablet to share visuals. Sam was an excellent guide: full of energy, enthusiasm, and passion. Highly recommended!

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.

If you're from Quezon City and don't feel like making the trek to Makati for your fixed gear…read morebicycle needs, a trip to Built Cycles in Commonwealth is in order. While they don't have an inventory as varied as Tryon, they have more than enough accessories to take care of your random needs. The friendly staff immediately talks to you the moment you come inside the store. They'll ask you what you need and how they can help you out. The are the official distributor of Araya, a Japanese brand that specializes on bike rims. Built Araya bikes are also available with high end parts included such as Brooks saddles. For your fixie needs, they sell a combination of brand new and used Nitto accessories like handlebars and seatposts. They aren't just selling fixed gear bicycles. Mountain bikes of different shapes and sizes for every budget are readily available in-store.

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.

Greenhills Shopping Center is one of my favorite shopping mall in the Philippines. I've been going…read moreto this mall since the 80's. It's known for its diverse range of stores and products like clothing, cellular phone sales, repairs and accessories, jewelry store, toys, pearls, souvenir items, restaurants, bars, video arcades, religious facilities and the ever popular tiangge that sells imported and local products for bargain hunters. A lot has changed but it is still one of the most beloved malls in the country.

It's been two years since I last visited Greenhills and their renovations have paid off. It…read moredefinitely had a nicer, modern look with a more open feel in the main mall. Restaurant row was more inviting with more sit down choices and better design. Security upon entrance was still the same. Large bags were inspected upon entry. The tiangge section (Shoppsville side) was untouched with rows and rows of stalls selling pearls, clothing, suitcases, shoes and more. Everything here can be haggled over. I was on the search for some local food items but the stall I sought out was closed for some reason. The chapel in the mall was still something unique to see but quite convenient to attend mass. The indoor garden across the way was updated and more inviting than I remember with more seating. Parking here has always been and will likely still be a challenge. Security guards still direct traffic but drop off areas by the mall entrances do get backed up frequently. Definitely enjoyed the shopping experience more than before.