Tambike Session

Lester Babiera shares how cycling has inspired him in increasing his productivity — from the simple planning for his bike commutes, completing century rides and creating a system for his biking endeavors. The Tambike Session host shares tips and tricks on how riding a bike contributes to his career, personal projects and goals. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: @firstbikeride Tambike Session...

Festive 500, Rapha’s annual year-end cycling challenge, dares cyclists to complete a 500-kilometer bike ride from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve. It’s definitely hard but many bikers are eager to complete it every December. In this episode, Lester Babiera asks cyclists Ally Alvarez and Bogart Amarra to share their preparations and experiences in finishing this difficult feat. Follow Lester's cycl...

Pasig Transport, Bike Friendly Philippines and Pinay Bike Commuter conducted free bike lessons every weekend this year for everyone who’d like to learn how to ride a bicycle. And during its last session, we visited and saw an incredible scene of many people balancing on two wheels for the first time. In this episode, we invited Karen Crisostomo, one of the program’s chief advocates, to discuss mor...

Do you want to give a gift to your loved ones who ride a bicycle but don’t know what to get? We got you covered in this episode. Together with cyclists Oya Bautista and Jason Samoza from Oh Yeah Cycling Club, we list down the best bike-related items that you can give to your friends. From the affordable reflectors to more expensive groupsets, you’ll surely find ideas for your present. Follow Leste...

We all know that cycling is already fun — and it’s even better when you add camping to this awesome activity. In this episode, Lester Babiera is joined by biologist Niño Caguimbal and astronomy enthusiast Kashogi Astapan to discuss the essential things to note in bike camping. They share tips about things to bring, how to carry your load and some basic preparations.

Cyclists’ major concern revolves around safety. They always ask the question, “Is it safe?” It’s not as if it’s dangerous to ride a bike in the country but there are issues that need to be raised. In this episode, Lester Babiera talks about the unsafe spaces of cycling in the Philippines — from bad infrastructure, harassment, discrimination to mental health issues. Follow Lester's cycling Instagra...

For others, cycling in the rain can be therapeutic. But for some, it can be very inconvenient. How do you prepare for a rainy ride? In this episode, Lester Babiera talks with Justice Gatpayat aka Conyo Biker about their wet and wild adventures of biking in the rain. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: @firstbikeride Tambike Session is an ANIMA podcast.

When you’re a beginner, having a companion to help you with biking makes things easier — navigating around the streets, fixing a flat tire or even choosing bicycle parts. But what if you don’t have that buddy to guide you? In this episode, Lester Babiera and photojournalist Lisa Marie David talked about their early days cycling during the pandemic, the lessons they learned and newbie tips from the...

Aside from physical health benefits, riding a bicycle improves one’s mental health too. In this episode, we talked with cycling and mental health advocate Aneka Crisostomo about how bike rides improved her wellbeing and she uses her platform to inspire others to get into the two-wheeled lifestyle. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: @firstbikeride Tambike Session is an ANIMA podcast.

Many people were asking how I brought my bike with me during my recent trip in Visayas. In this episode of Tambike Session, I will share my experience about flying with my go-to bicycle — from booking, packing and all the things you need to know about getting on a domestic flight with your two-wheeled ride. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: @firstbikeride Tambike Session is an ANIMA podcast.

Prolific photographer Jilson Tiu shares his techniques in taking photographs during bike rides: his set up, how he carries his gear and his adventures on a bicycle with a camera. He also tells what he loves about biking and how it helped him as an artist and a commuter. Check out Jilson's photos of his cycling adventures here . Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: @firstbikeride Tambike Session...

Cyclists fear the idea of getting their bicycles stolen. We’ve heard stories of bikes getting taken in the comforts of their homes, parking areas and outside business establishments. But what should one do when this dreadful incident happens? In this episode, bikers Manuel Bausa and Gab Fuentes talk about their own experiences of losing their bikes and how they recovered them. Follow Lester's cycl...

Classes are back after two years of online learning and students are now encouraged to ride a bicycle to school. Some universities are flaunting their bike-friendly facilities and the presence of bike lanes in our cities are more evident. But are these enough to entice them to bike to school? We talk with bike commuters Alen Gonzales from Ateneo and A3 Del Rosario from UST about their experiences...

Lester Babiera recently marked his second year as a cyclist and in this episode of Tambike Session, he looked back at his cycling journey and shared his thoughts about biking now that our roads are getting crazier because of traffic. He shares his adventures handling his project First Bike Ride, the advocacy and the things he still wants to do in cycling. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: ww...

Iloilo City takes pride in the title “Bike Capital of the Philippines.” But like many people asking the question, does it really deserve the title? Lester Babiera recently visited this city with Ilonggo cyclist Oscar Nava and they generally had a pleasing biking experience. In this episode, they talked with Iloilo-based bike commuter Early Sol Gadong about the daily situation of cycling in what’s...

Community rides are getting popular in the country as cyclists gain more confidence in riding with a big group since the pandemic restrictions eased. Lester Babiera talks with Jauncho Agoncillo and Lance Dela Rosa of Everyday Cyclist PH about organizing this kind of activity after arranging many open calls and helping newbies in biking by doing longer rides with the cycling community. Follow Leste...

More women are bike commuting in the Philippines and we invited Geri Amarnani of Pinay Bike Commuter to tell us more about their experiences as cyclists in our cities. From saving time, mental health benefits to issues of harassment, this episode of Tambike Session discusses the benefits and struggles of female bike commuters in the country. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: www.instagram.co...

A recent news report quoted a study from commuter group AltMobility PH that a Filipino cyclist can save more than 200,000 pesos a year because of cycling. While some agree, there are others who think otherwise. In this episode of Tambike Session, mobility advocate Ira Cruz explains how biking can be cost-effective despite the amount of money you spend on maintenance and upgrades. Follow Lester’s c...

On this episode of Tambike Session, Lester Babiera had a chance to talk with biking couple Levi Reyes and Sara de Guzman from “Levi and Sara Cycle” about their lives as vloggers and their multi-day bike ride adventures. From bike commuting to becoming cycling advocates, the duo shares their experiences and struggles. Listen and learn more about these two cyclists who keep on inspiring Filipinos, e...

We’ve been asked many times: “how do I make cyclists go to my business?” In this episode of Tambike Session, Lester Babiera discusses with cycling advocates Elijah Go Tian and Justin de Dios on what bikers look for in patronizing enterprises. Is it bike parking? Shower? Cycling merch? From their experiences going around Metro Manila looking for remarkable bike-friendly spots, they sure can contrib...

Completing a 100-kilometer bike ride, or what they call “gran fondo,” is definitely no easy feat. In this episode of Tambike Session, Lester Babiera discusses with Cycling Matters’ King Filart and awesome biker Nike Lotilla about their century ride experiences. Indeed, it’s fun looking back at those hard bicycle trips. Why are people doing a gran fondo? The three cyclists give their reasons with s...

There are many things to love about both Korea and the Philippines, and our favorite Filipino-Korean couple share with us their take on this. From safety and security, to affordable prices and friendly customer service, enjoy this episode and may this inspire you to appreciate not only Korea but the Philippines as well. Follow Lester's cycling Instagram page: www.instagram.com/firstbikeride T...

June is Pride Month and in this episode of Tambike Session, Lester Babiera had a conversation with LGBTQIA+ and Cycling advocate Thysz Estrada about the pressing issues of her communities and her experiences biking in the Philippines as a transwoman. Thysz explains the significance of Pride Month in the Philippines, describes the queers, shares her story on how she was welcomed in her cycling comm...

Last April 2022, the first leg of the inaugural Gravel World Series organized by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) happened in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. We talked with cyclists Binz Angeles and Neil Claves of Team Built Cycles about their experience as participants and winners of this race — they’ll take us to the routes and memorable parts of the event. As part of the Top 25 finishers of their age...

With all the uncertainties and anxiety that we’re experiencing now, it’s good to cling into something for hope. Lester Babiera discusses the “ray of light” that he holds — the goodness that he found in the cycling community. Let’s look back at the good things that some cycling groups in the Philippines have done. From the little things such as reposting advocacy contents, bike donation drives to g...