
Cycling Matters Podcast
By Mikka, King, Jan & Brian

Cycling Matters PodcastJul 19, 2021

#036 Capturing a New World on a Bicycle
In this episode, we talk to Jilson Tiu, a freelance photographer and photojournalist who has a huge following for his work depicting Metro Manila streets and sceneries.

#035 Cycling and Coffee on the Edge of Sierra Madre
In this episode, Mikka talks to the people behind Habagat Coffee and Outdoor Lifestyle and how the cycling community impacted their local business.

#034 How Can You Get Stronger During _CQ?
In this episode we try to discuss, how do we actually get stronger or faster? We’ll hear about the different ways people stay in shape, or even just stay sane while being away from our usual pre-pandemic outdoor rides and training.

#033 How Did We Actually Start Riding?
We're back for another season! Get to know our new teammates and how we each pedaled our way into the cycling life on this new episode of the podcast.

#032 Tips for Rainy Day Bike Commutes
In this episode, we talk about cycling during the rainy season. We discuss which is worse: cycling in the hellish heat of summer, or in the downpour months of the rainy season, we talk a little bit about our best or worst experiences about riding in the wet, and we wrap up with some tips for safe cycling in the rain!

#031 Should We Ride Outdoors?
In this episode we talk about an issue that has become the center of a few discussions in the local cycling community: non-essential bike rides. We hope to discuss what should be considered essential, and what should be non-essential and therefore skipped altogether. Then we talk about the best practices we can follow when we are out riding our bikes.

#030 Building Locally: Rurok and the Filipino Mountain Bike
In this episode, we talk to PJ Tolentino, the design engineer of Rurok Industries., a Filipino company that designs and builds mountain bikes. We ask him about what makes Rurok bikes special, what their current product slate is, and what technologies are built into these bikes!

#029 Women Matters: On catcalling and other matters
In this episode, we’ll be tackling points reminiscent of our very first Women Matters episode, but in a new light, given that more women are biking now due to the circumstances we have and in light of the recent catcalling issues.

#028 Building Locally: Nyfti and the Filipino Folding Bike
In this episode, we talk to Carl Mamawal, one of the founders of Nyfti Inc., a company that produces what it calls full-size geometry bicycles. We ask him how Nyfti started, about the many iterations of their Raio bike, and what a Filipino-produced bike means for our local bike transport scene.

#027 Misconceptions about Cycling in the PH
In this episode we talk about how cyclists stink. Mabaho, madungis, kasi “masyadong mainit para mag-bike sa Pilipinas!” We also talk about how it’s too dangerous to cycle in our cities, too dangerous for any sane person to consider doing it. We talk about how cycling should only be an option for those who can’t afford better! We talk about how cycling is only for cyclists! And a few other unfounded, baseless misconceptions that usually come from people who don’t actually ride bikes!

#026 Building Locally: Bikes for the Filipino
In this episode we talk to Alex Silva, a proponent for the development of a local bike frame building industry in the Philippines. We ask him why he thinks local construction is important, what it can do for Filipino cyclists, and we talk about the CUB.

#025 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
In this episode we discuss beginner mistakes that you can avoid! With so many people trying their hand at bike commuting, we’ll discuss some of the “beginner” mistakes that we’ve experienced and even ask our live listeners on Facebook to contribute their own tips so that we can learn from each other.

#024 How The Bike Will Save Us
In this episode we talk about how the pandemic has made the push for inclusive transport more pressing, and why bikes have to lead the way into the future. We talk about how the world is embracing the bicycle, what it could mean for the future of travel, and how the bike might save us!

#023 To Bike or Not to Bike?
In this episode, we will be discussing the importance of exercise and physical activity during the pandemic, given the guidelines released last May 13, 2020 on limited outdoor exercising.

#022 Cycling as an Instrument of Healing
In this latest installment of our Women Matters series, we talk with Ann Angala, former manager of top acts like Eraserheads, Bamboo, The Dawn, Barbie’s Cradle, and Asin. She talks to us about her advocacy against domestic violence and how she has used cycling as an instrument of healing.

#021 Pasig Transport: Before and After the Pandemic
In this episode of the Cycling Matters Podcast, we talk to Anton Siy, one of the millennials who are working hard to create more equitable and sustainable transport policies in Pasig City. We discuss the great strides that they are making and things they're looking forward to doing as we prepare for life after Covid-19.

#020 The Riding Dutchman
Hidde van der Wall comes from a nation of super cyclists but he has been living and cycling in the Philippines for awhile, riding his bicycle in Manila like he grew up here. As one of our collaborators at Cycling Matters, Hidde shares with us some stories about cycling culture in Europe, how different it is from our own, and his thoughts on the best and worst of riding a bike in the Philippines.

#019 Cycling in the time of COVID-19
How has the cycling world been affected by the pandemic? What kind of effect does a suspension of the public transport system have on our community and how can we adapt? We talk to Life Cycles PH Co-founder Keisha Mayuga about how they're helping front liners get to work by bike.

#018 Audax PH Part 2: Making it to the Finish Line
This episode is Part 2 of our Audax Special. This time around, we are joined by Dominic Go, who managed to set the fastest time in the 200 km brevet of last December’s 200 km event in Subic—a record which stands even today! We’ll ask him why he’s so strong, what went into his preparation, how that day went for him, and some tips for doing well in a cycling event.

#017 Long Distance Cycling: Audax PH
This episode is Part 1 of our Audax Special and we’re happy to be joined by Carmela Pearson of Audax PH. We’ll talk about Audax, her experiences as a cyclist and an event organizer, and what to expect from Audax PH this 2020 season.

#016 Cycling Dreams for the New Decade
Finally, after mentioning Brian “one of our CM partners” Giron a lot of times last year, he finally joins the show! Starting this episode, we’ll be hearing more of Brian as a host and not just a mystery CM guy to whom we always refer whenever we talk about some technical cycling stuff! Also in this episode, we’re going to talk about our cycling hopes and dreams for the year 2020!

#015 Our New Year's Resolutions for Cycling in 2020
Our last episode for this season! We're rounding out the year with our resolutions for the new year and the new decade! Check out what we plan to do in 2020 and let us know your resolutions in the comment section.

#014 Indoor Cycling as an Effective Workout
In this episode, we have guests from CycleHouse Indoor Cycling! We’ve been talking a lot about cycling outdoors—bike commuting, long distance cycling, cycling as a sport, etc. This week’s episode is a little different. We’re gonna talk about how cycling can also be an effective workout through indoor cycling. Something to consider for your New Year's Resolutions?

#013 Riding your Bicycle in a Car-Centric City

#012 Recovering from a Road Cycling Crash
In this episode, we talk about something in cycling that could happen to anyone—beginners, enthusiasts, and even professional cyclists—and at the same time wish that it would never happen to us. Jobim Bimbao, a landscape architect, talks to us about his personal experience of crashing and his road to recovery.

#011 Tropang Women Bikers: A Women Only Cycling Club
In this episode, we talk to one of the admins of a Facebook group that's catered to female cyclists: Tropang Women Bikers. She talks about her experiences as a female cyclist and how their cycling club has given her, and other members, a way to help fellow women get into cycling.

#010 Women Matters: A Beginner Female Cyclist Meets a Veteran
This episode should be interesting because not only are we going to talk about Women Matters, we’ll also be discussing it from the perspectives of a veteran female cyclist and a female cyclist who just started bike commuting. Listen as they share their experiences and learn from each other in another episode of the Cycling Matters Podcast.

#009 Working toward a Bicycle Friendly Philippines
In this episode, we have guests from Bicycle Friendly Philippines, a movement that works towards a more conducive environment for cycling by coordinating with policy makers, government agencies and local government units.

#008 Recovering from a Bike Commute Crash
In this episode, we are speaking to a folding bike commuter who has stuck to cycling as his mode of transport despite having a pretty colorful experience of transitioning from being a regular commuter to becoming a daily bike commuter within 11 months.

#007 Bike Commute Struggles in Metro Manila
In this episode of the Cycling Matters Podcast, we talk about the struggles of getting around by bike in a city as car-centric as Metro Manila. We discuss how it’s like for us, getting around by bike. Then we move on to how we think Metro Manila is car-centric.

#006 Strava Matters
In this episode of the Cycling Matters Podcast we are all about Strava. We talk about how Strava is actually useful even if you’re not on the “enthusiast, fitness, and competition” end of the cyclist spectrum. Then we ask ourselves the more fun and contentious questions especially with segments and KOMs!

#005 The Bald Trekker Ger Victor
In this episode of the Cycling Matters Podcast, we are joined by our guest who is also known as the Bald Trekker! We will talk about blogging and content creation in the cycling community, Ger’s dreams as the Bald Trekker, and also what he thinks about the Filipino cycling culture!

#004 Cycling Wear: Brip or No Brip?
In this episode, we discuss why cyclists wear lycra, the kind of outfits we wear when bike commuting, and the age old question about wearing underwear in your cycling shorts.

#003 Women Matters
In this episode, we start a discussion on the experiences of women who cycle in the Philippines. We ask a few of our women friends why they ride and what they think are the unique aspects, both good and bad, of cycling as a woman in the Philippines.

#002 Bicycling as a mode of Transportation
In this episode, we talk about bike commuting in Metro Manila. We’ll talk about what works and what doesn’t, our best and worst bike commuting days, our wishlist for a bike friendlier Metro Manila, and why the bike is the solution for many of our transport issues!

#001 Welcome to the Cycling Matters Podcast!
In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and why we’re starting a podcast! Then we talk to Ciclo about the market for homegrown cycling apparel. We ask Chaz and Jangan about the history of their company, the unique quirks of designing and marketing to the Filipino cyclist, the challenges of growing a local brand, and what we can hope to expect from the homegrown cycling apparel industry in the future.

#000 What is Cycling Matters?
Cycling Matters is many things. We are a happy collective of cyclists who have gotten tired of just waiting and ranting about how unhappy our local biking conditions can be. And we are also an experiment in pushing for positive change through the insightful reporting of cycling news, the production of accessible educational content, and the celebration of Filipino cycling culture.