Bicycle in the Philippines?

[Viking]

I have been tempted to get a bicycle. Not so much for exercise but to get around a bit in the neighborhood without the need of riding a tricycle.

Do anyone of you use a bicycle here?

I know bicycling has become more popular during the recent years and there is much to choose from.

I don't need anything fancy but I want reasonable good quality. I would hate to see it start corrode after getting wet the first time.

A simple but good bicycle, that is all I need. I am a tall guy, 190 cm/6,2 so I need something that will fit me.

Do you have any suggestions?

What brands and models to look out for and more importantly, what should be avoided?

[Old55]

Cycling has become popular in Philippines. There are a number of clubs that do group tours or informal runs. 

Cebu City has implemented bike lanes that are shared with scooters I think? 

We lost a popular forum member some years back who was hit and killed cycling. He had a wife and two young children.

[Tommy T.]

2 hours ago, Viking said:

more importantly, what should be avoided?

Hi Viking... not trying to be facetious, but: traffic; cars, taxis, tricycles, jeepneys. motorcycles, dogs...

Edited December 7, 2022 by Tommy T.

[Viking]

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

Cycling has become popular in Philippines. There are a number of clubs that do group tours or informal runs. 

Cebu City has implemented bike lanes that are shared with scooters I think? 

We lost a popular forum member some years back who was hit and killed cycling. He had a wife and two young children.

 

31 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

Hi Viking... not trying to be facetious, but: traffic; cars, taxis, tricycles, jeepneys. motorcycles, dogs...

Thanks for your consern!

I don't intend to get into the busy streets but more in the area around our house. There is a lot of small streets around here that I would like to discover, and doing it on a bicycle would be great. The traffic on these streets is not a big risk since the speeds are not faster than a man can run.

But I am thankful for your advices.🙏

[Kingpin]

1 hour ago, Tommy T. said:

 not trying to be facetious, but: traffic; cars, taxis, tricycles, jeepneys. motorcycles, dogs...

Also pollution, basically avoid cities in general if you like the outdoors, unless you're in a very big very private subdivision.

[JJReyes]

If you are a weekend cyclist, it is best to join one of the clubs.  They have a lead vehicle and one at the rear with large flags to signal motorists there are cyclists in between.  Any breakdown or flat tire, the bicycle can be carried on the roof top.  Someone in the group usually has a medical background.

[Viking]

2 hours ago, Kingpin said:

Also pollution, basically avoid cities in general if you like the outdoors, unless you're in a very big very private subdivision.

The pollution is really bad in the cities, especially along the most trafficked roads, but I find it tolerable on the small streets I wanna use a bicycle on. It's not really an outdoor thing for me, but a convenient and cheap transport.

An alternative would be to get a scooter, but I believe the risk with that is even bigger, because then you will probably get on the streets with heavy traffic and much higher speed.

[Viking]

1 hour ago, JJReyes said:

If you are a weekend cyclist, it is best to join one of the clubs.  They have a lead vehicle and one at the rear with large flags to signal motorists there are cyclists in between.  Any breakdown or flat tire, the bicycle can be carried on the roof top.  Someone in the group usually has a medical background.

That's a good suggestion when cycling as exercise.

I just want it to go around the neighborhood, maybe a couple of kilometers from our house.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Here, where I live in Canada, LOADS of adults ride bicycles.  Or they call them that.  Yet I haven't seen any adult riding a conventional bike in years.  They all ride those electric assist bikes and go as fast as cars in city traffic.  I assume they will catch on in the Philippines soon enough, if they have not already.  Why pay registration on a motorcycle when you can ride a "bicycle" for free.

[Kingpin]

7 hours ago, Viking said:

The pollution is really bad in the cities, especially along the most trafficked roads, but I find it tolerable on the small streets I wanna use a bicycle on.

Where would you want go, that you can get to without a highway? Unless you're deep in the province, the small streets are in the squatter areas, and they aren't really bike-friendly at all.