Post by ogiedoki on Aug 16, 2017 9:54:37 GMT 8
Hello everyone. I'm a Fil-Am who'll be heading back to the Philippines for a three-week vacation in the next couple of months. I used to be an MTBer ages ago but got out of it for other hobbies. I got back into cycling about six months ago but I'm more of a roadie now - though I still enjoy taking my old Gary Fisher hardtail for a spin and plan on buying an up-to-date XC bike in the near future. Anyway, I was hoping you gents could help me out with some questions I had. I got interested in road riding because of all the charity road rides we have here in the States and since I started I've been almost constantly training. I'm signed up for another century ride about a month after I return to the US so I've been considering how I can keep up my training while back in the Philippines.
I could hit a local gym and just use their weights and stationary bikes but if I get the itch to go for a ride back there I was wondering how feasible it would be to bring a road bike with me versus buying one over there. Yes, I know road riding over there seems like asking to be maimed, mutilated, and immolated but I'm sure my family and I will end up in one of the provinces where it's a safer idea at some point. One option would be for me to buy a nice aluminum road or gravel bike here in the States on closeout sale and schlep it with me as part of my checked bags on my flight. Already did my homework on that and don't see it as an issue but the question is whether it would be cheaper and more practical to just buy a bike in the Philippines. I go back to the Philippines one or twice a year for 2-3 weeks at a time for vacation so I could use it again on a future trip.
So basically the question I was hoping you guys could answer is: how much should I expect to spend on a decent road bike in the Philippines? Nothing super fancy that's all carbon, electronic, and expensive as a night out drunk in Las Vegas. Aluminum frame with Sora or Tiagra gruppo would be enough I think. Over here in the States you can get one of those from a name brand like Orbea, Fuji, or GT on sale for $500-700 so how does that compare to the Philippines which benefits from being next-door to Taiwan and China? I checked some internet sites like Lazada but the listings all seem to be Chinese no-name bikes with questionable quality (especially since the pics all seem to show the saddle installed off kilter lol).
I know this is an MTB forum but Pinoy road bike forums seem to be as common as manok molars so thanks in advance for any help you guys can supply.
I could hit a local gym and just use their weights and stationary bikes but if I get the itch to go for a ride back there I was wondering how feasible it would be to bring a road bike with me versus buying one over there. Yes, I know road riding over there seems like asking to be maimed, mutilated, and immolated but I'm sure my family and I will end up in one of the provinces where it's a safer idea at some point. One option would be for me to buy a nice aluminum road or gravel bike here in the States on closeout sale and schlep it with me as part of my checked bags on my flight. Already did my homework on that and don't see it as an issue but the question is whether it would be cheaper and more practical to just buy a bike in the Philippines. I go back to the Philippines one or twice a year for 2-3 weeks at a time for vacation so I could use it again on a future trip.
So basically the question I was hoping you guys could answer is: how much should I expect to spend on a decent road bike in the Philippines? Nothing super fancy that's all carbon, electronic, and expensive as a night out drunk in Las Vegas. Aluminum frame with Sora or Tiagra gruppo would be enough I think. Over here in the States you can get one of those from a name brand like Orbea, Fuji, or GT on sale for $500-700 so how does that compare to the Philippines which benefits from being next-door to Taiwan and China? I checked some internet sites like Lazada but the listings all seem to be Chinese no-name bikes with questionable quality (especially since the pics all seem to show the saddle installed off kilter lol).
I know this is an MTB forum but Pinoy road bike forums seem to be as common as manok molars so thanks in advance for any help you guys can supply.