Cycling Is A Continuously Growing Sport That Encourages Community And Sustainability

You’ve probably encountered an Instagram story or two (or even more!) from your friends who have recently discovered the beauty of cycling. Since the pandemic began, more people have engaged in the sport for obvious reasons—this individual activity allows us to get out of our homes with minimal contact with other people.

However, these solo sojourns eventually grew into a gathering of two or more groups. As restrictions ease up and hobbyists meet more riders along the way, cycling quickly grew a community that’s now steadily rising in numbers.

That’s why for adidas’ recent Members’ Week, the brand decided to delve into cycling, tying up the activity with the arrival of one of their latest pairs, the Velosamba Vegan. As the sport inspires not just fitness but also green living (an eco-friendly way to hop on an adventure anywhere, without all the harmful gas emissions!), the brand realized that it’s the perfect time to introduce the interest to their following.

The cycling shoe boasts of technology that performs well and has been designed with environmental and animal ethics in mind—ultimately minimizing the impact on the planet’s resources, which makes perfect sense for the cycling enthusiast. 

“We wanted to make a statement and establish adidas’ presence in the sport of cycling. With this, we had to go and look for an already established partner within the cycling community as this is the first time we were doing this,” adidas Philippines Membership Manager JM Guidote shares. As they were looking for someone to partner with for this affair, the team was surprised that there are actually a lot of different groups within the cycling community.

However, Build Cycles was an inevitable choice. “On their Instagram page, you’d see their ABCs—adventure, bicycles, community. How they highlighted ‘community’ matched the brand’s drive to connect with like-minded individuals,” JM recalls. 

And so they teamed up and made the Velosamba Vegan Community Ride happen—uniting people with a passion for the sport to go around the streets of BGC, Makati, and Pasig. The event turned out to be an entrancing experience—a merge of different interests, all in one afternoon.

For one, the green lifestyle is amplified in the ride. “With sustainability being one of the major concerns today, it’s really amazing to see individuals take up cycling as an alternative way of getting to their desired destinations,” Build Cycles co-founder Melvin Sun says. As they sport Velosamba, it even felt more embodying the cause, as it proves that an eco-friendly product can work both on and off the bike. “These well-performing stylish shoes can hopefully reduce our impact on the planet. This takes out the need to have different pairs for different functionality,” he adds.

What’s more, the ride strengthened the community, with attendees who come from different groups and walks of life. “I can’t stress enough the joy there is in people,” host and casual biker Vince Velasco muses. “Sharing experiences with those who have your passion is just different. And there is a community for everybody. For coffee rides, long rides, exploration, and more!”

Melvin agrees. “We are always excited to meet individuals and groups from different backgrounds and industries. Our goal in this community is to share the love for cycling and elevate like-minded individuals and companies that inspire creativity on and off the bike.”

They are also able to build support for small businesses, which are often the pit stop of choice of cyclists. “An important highlight for us is the opportunity to support other small businesses like us,” the Build Cycles co-founder points out. “We were able to visit local coffee shops, The Curator in Makati and Dito sa 1 in Pasig, whose owners are also recreational cyclists.”

Through the initiative, these partners hope that more people would be more compelled to rekindle their love for the bike. As Melvin describes, it’s the simplest way to go on an adventure—and a lot of bonuses come along the ride, like better fitness, eco-living, and most importantly, the feeling of freedom.

Encouraged to try out cycling? The boys share their tips. For Melvin, one should equip oneself with the basics—helmet, tools, and proper hydration kits. Reviewing the routes will also come in handy, as bike lane infrastructures in the country are not very beginner friendly, he explains.

He also suggests finding a group that you can connect with. “They can start by visiting their local bicycle shops and hopefully meet other individuals with same interests and goals in relation to their cycling journey,” the cyclist offers.

Meanwhile, Vince chimes in one more significant point. “Have fun!” he exclaims. “Start with something manageable. Find encouraging and fun people to ride with. And do you! Whatever type of ride works for you is the best ride.”