Riding like Superman on a tall bike

Like many people, graphic designer Jzn Palma learned to ride a bike when he was a little boy. But unlike many people, he didn't get a car when he grew up. Instead, he got a tall bike.

"Once na nasa tall bike ako feeling ko ako si Superman kasi parang lumilipad ako," says Palma, who bikes to work on a fixie during the week, and takes his tall bike for a spin on weekends. Although he doesn't get to use it everyday, Palma says riding his tall bike is one way of encouraging others to use the bicycle instead of gaz-guzzling, smoke-belching motorized vehicles. "Gusto ko 'yung makita 'yung tao o mga sasakyan na iba 'yung point of view, na on a higher ground. Na hindi lang siya for fun, parang na-hehelp niya yung community na ma-encourage niya yung mga tao na, 'Uy may tall bike, parang ang sarap sakyan nun,'" Palma told GMA News Online. Every weekend, Palma rides his tall bike around Bonifacio Global City. Palma notes that the tall bike isn't just for fun, either. "Natandaan ko nung mga late 1800s or 19th century ginagamit siya pang light ng lamp. So hindi lang siya for display... functional siya," he says. Now that lamps don't need to be lit, Palma says he uses the tall bike for another kind of illumation. "Ngayon so parang ibang light naman yung sinisindihan ko... yung idea na, 'Uy ang sarap mag bike, mag bike tayo,'" he says. At over five feet, the tall bike looks intimidating, and Palma admits it wasn't easy to ride at first. It took him a while, but he eventually learned to mount and dismount without leaning on anything. When it comes to stoplights, Palma says he has to hold on to posts, and sometimes, nearby vehicles. Palma says people are generally amused by the tall bike, but there are also those who react negatively. "Usually 'yung mga taong nakakakita sa akin, mas marami naman 'yung natutuwa. 'Yung iba parang naiinsecure, sinasabihan ka na mukhang sa circus, mukhang tanga," he shares. But this doesn't discourage him, because he says even negative feedback is good, because at least his tall bike gets to be seen. Palma explains that in other countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand, the tall bike scene is very much alive. "Na-influence sila ng mga Westerner na nagpunta doon dati I think noong mga 2004, ininfluence lang sila na magtayo rin ng tallbikes," he says. A 2009 article in The Oregonian says, "Building your own ride is central to the tall bike ethos of rolling your own way." But unlike other tall bike enthusiasts who make their own tall bikes, Palma had his bike assembled for around P20,000. "Sa kanila naman, mutant bike, talagang sila 'yung nagbobolt, gumagawa mismo ng bike nila. Kasi sa akin parang gusto ko ng maganda at pinag-aralan yung... hindi lang basta," he says. Safety is an important consideration, especially because his tall bike is also a fixed gear bike, which has been called a "suicide bike." With no brakes, riding a fixie can be quite dangerous, but Palma says it's up to the biker to keep it safe. "Mas nagiging careful ka kasi alam mong wala kang brake eh... although sabihin nating mataas siya or wala siyang brake, nasasayo kung paano mo siya imanipulate. Kumbaga ikaw yung magmamanipulate sa bike, hindi 'yung bike 'yung magmamanipulate sayo," he says. Palma prefers fixed gear bikes because they are like "an extension of your body." "Hindi siya maibibigay ng normal bike na it has brakes, it has gears, kung ano 'yung galaw ng katawan mo, 'yun din ang gagalawin ng fixed gear," he says. For Palma, deciding to have a tall bike built in 2011 was just another part of his passion for biking. Previously, he had gotten into low riders with his best friend. Last June, biking also figured in his proposal to his fiancee, who also rides a fixie. Palma explains his advocacy for biking: "Kasi pag nagba-bike ako, nagiging free ako, tapos nakakarating ka sa destination mo using your own energy, ganun. Tapos 'yung parang iba 'yung binibigay sa akin na benefits ng bike," he says. — BM, GMA News