Myta never beating the “buy a bike every year” allegations.

Jokes aside though, I feel this bike project is a milestone marker more than another impulsive addition to my fleet. I’m going into 2026 without my mom, so I’m balancing grief and facing new responsibilities while still holding space for things that ground me and bring me joy.

Part of my grounding and dealing with grief is building this bike. So I want you to all meet Lucien, my heavily customized Blocks Lo-Fi touring bike.

Changes to My Stable

I sold my Traction Gritt to a friend who’s had an eye on the bike since early 2024. It’s definitely in good hands, and I know I’ll still see it around during bike tours. But through so many rural adventures and urban exploration rides, one Audax Populaire, and even a crash in our condo’s basement parking, I’ve honestly outgrown it.

My Trek Domane, Ajax, is still my performance bike.

So why add a steel bike?

Let’s say the way I ride and my appreciation for bikes have shifted over the last few months.

Building Lucien felt like the next step in my bikerist geekery, a chance to create something that fits who I am now, not who I was when I first started cycling.

Why Blocks Lo-Fi?

I didn’t want to splurge on an expensive frameset, especially since this is my first steel bike project. Vintage steel was tempting because they’re much cheaper on FB Marketplace, but I could never find one in my size, and the cost of modifying an old frame would have ended up being higher than simply starting with a modern one.

The Blocks Lo-Fi gave me what I wanted right from the start: A steel frame, in my size, without breaking the bank. Sorta.

Blocks is proudly Filipino in design and branding, which I love, but from what I’ve gathered online, the framesets themselves are made in Taiwan. Still, that doesn’t take away from how well the Lo-Fi fits my needs.

The project is divided into three phases: Initial assembly, rack installation, and repaint job. Between these phases, I tested the bike in different scenarios so I can get to know him better in terms of riding experience and maintenance. He’s definitely more than a pretty face; with nearly 300km in just a few months, Lucien is a formidable two-wheeled machine.

Phase I: Initial Assembly

Neo-retro was the way to go for this build. I kept it classic with silver acents while grounding it all with some black on the cockpit. Going black instead of dark brown leather felt like a more practical route while sticking to a timeless look.

Some parts came from FB Marketplace or from friends, but I wanted to make sure most parts of the drivetrain were new.

Since my Trek Domane rolls on 700x38c tires, I decided to get 27.5″ wheels for Lucien. I was able to score a pair of second-hand wheelsets with Weinmann rims from FB Marketplace, complete with tires. I only had to change the hubs from Koozers to Traction because they were quick release and weren’t in the color scheme I envisioned for the bike.

The cockpit is where I got a little creative. Instead of modern shifters, I went with the ENE Ciclo Bar End Control from Tambay Cycling Hub. I was supposed to use a second-hand handlebar and quill stem, but they weren’t compatible with each other, so I had to get the Nitto Grand Rando dropbar and the Soma Sutro 80mm quill stem.

I kept the sitting area cohesive with a Ritchey saddle and seatpost, and completed the look with black and silver IRD brake levers and black bar tapes from Bicycle Project Manila.

On the drivetrain, I went for Shimano GRX front and rear derailleurs and a Deore 10-speed 11-42T cassette, TRP Spyre flat mount mechanical disc brakes, and a Sugino Alpina 34-46T crankset paired with MKS Gamma pedals. I settled with a Shimano bottom bracket upon Built’s recommendation; the chain is second-hand.

To bring out that retro edge, I added silver Velo Orange fenders and a 1940s French-inspired bottle cage from Blue Lug. Little things like bike lights and the bike computer mount came from my box of old gear, while a neighbor moving out gave me a bike bell for free.

I spent nearly five hours at Built Cycles Makati one Saturday in August, watching Kuya Don, the head mechanic, assemble the bike. All in all, I spent around P119,500 for the build.

Phase II: The Rando Rack

The day after building the bike, I went to Rack en Roll in Visayas Ave., Quezon City (against my will; I avoid that area for personal reasons) to have Lucien measured for a customized front rack.

I initially wanted to buy a Nitto Campee front rack from Blue Lug, but after dealing with astronomical post-delivery fees of my first purchase from the shop, I’d rather support our local crafters since they can do a similar version of the rack at a friendlier price.

That same week, I inquired with the Leon Denim workshop to order a large deep olive green rando bag. Iver Aldas was kind enough to accommodate my request despite his busy schedule.

Both Rack en Roll and Leon Denim took more than three weeks to finish my rack and bag, just in time for my Lobo loop ride last September. These cost a total of P16,500.

Phase III: Paint Job

The last phase of this project was to paint the frameset.

It’s no secret that my favorite color is green. It doesn’t scream for attention, but its subdued elegance still turns heads. But the bike’s original color grew on me for a while, so for a few weeks, I ruminated over keeping it blue at least for a few months. Eventually, the budolry kicked in. In the first week of October, I decided to have my bike stripped of its digital blue colorway and give it a new life in a deep forest green with a muted purple shift.

Honestly, it reminds me of the soft glow of twilight breaking through a canopy.

I went to Bike Project MNL in St. Ignatius Village, QC, to have it painted, but I soon realized that the process wasn’t simple. Aside from the paint job, I availed of the additional services:

• Rustproofing
• Bike skin installation
• Disassembly/reassembly

When I left my bike with them, my only request was that I should have the bike back before my mom’s birthday on the 29th (the day I publish this post). So believe it when I say I was surprised that they finished it within a week. Of course, I immediately picked it up.

The cost was P13,200. For the number of services done and quick turnaround time, it was all worth the price.

A Project of Love in the Midst of Grief

Photos in gallery below from Bike Project MNL.

From Phase I to Phase III, I spent a total of P149,200 over four months.

My mom was still alive when I told her I wanted to build a steel bike, and she fully supported it. It’s such a shame, though, she’s not around to share the joy I feel after completing my bike, from part acquisition to paint job. That’s why I felt it was a good decision to publish this on her birthday, so that she’s still part of the build no matter what.

In all sense of the phrase, though, I’m spent, and now I just want to enjoy my bike. At the same time, I need to allocate my funds on other matters, especially since I have to do more adulting things for a while.

And this project has helped me process my grief better: Through building Lucien, I pushed for something I had always wanted to do while carrying the weight of loss and adulting in full force. In short, he’s both a project of craft and a personal anchor.

Because honestly, I could have just paid for the frameset, brought it home, and let it gather dust for months in one corner of my room until I “felt better.” But grief and acknowledging the absence of a person will always be there, and my mom wouldn’t want me to stay stuck in a moment. So with Lucien, Ajax, and every cyclist in my circle, I pedal forward.