A nostalgic tour of Cartimar, cycling’s original melting pot

For many long-time cyclists, the go-to place for all their shopping needs has always been, and likely always will be, Cartimar. Here, we feature three of the big shops on Leveriza Street where people come together to shop, get repairs, hang around, and hob-knob with some pros and big names in Philippine cycling.

Tradition, tambay, and tech. Each of these shops has them in great measure, and that’s what makes a trip to Cartimar a nostalgic, pleasurable, and enlightening experience.

Paulina’s Cycle Center

Established in 1978, this cornerstone business was one of the firsts to take initiative in catering to the needs of the emerging cycling market. Beyond catering to the suave triathlete of today, the classy roadies and the laid-back mountain bikers, Paulina’s Cycle Center still stocks and repairs old bikes used by local traysikab/pedicabs.

These days, Paulina’s showcases brands like Felt, Cube, and Scott at their family-friendly shop in Blue Bay Walk complex (where they offer an affordable yet thorough bike cleaning and tune-up service) yet their shop in Cartimar remains an accessible and “caters-to-all” cycling hub that people have come to know and love.

Everybody knows the original hand-painted sign outside Paulina’s in Cartimar — Everybody knows the original hand-painted sign outside Paulina’s

Ross Cycle

If there was a place considered as the cyclist’s hangout in Cartimar, it would most certainly be Ross Cycle. Here, cyclists of different interests (road, mountain, triathlon, fixed gear) and skill levels (newbies, enthusiasts, elite racers, and professional cyclists) gather to share stories and have Ross’ skilled mechanics, who also ride their bikes regularly, check up on their gear.

This atmosphere is the draw to a bike shop that was set up in 2001 in the middle of the mountain bike boom. These days, Ross Cycles feature brands like FSA, Mavic, Argon, Kuota and Ridley—well-known components and bikes that serve a lot of triathletes in their race endeavors. They are also the dealers for Fizik saddles and Lazer helmets, so if you’re looking to check out the latest from these brands, Ross Cycle is the place to go.

The frontage to the unofficial cyclist’s tambayan in Cartimar — The frontage to the unofficial cyclist’s tambayan

The mechanic’s touch is something people come back for at Ross Cycles in Cartimar — The mechanic’s touch is something people come back for at Ross Cycles

VeloCity Bike Shop

What started as an idea among a bunch of bike buddies in 1995 turned into one of the first highly regarded boutique bike shops in Cartimar. VeloCity has always been known for bringing in the best and latest from high-end brands to the Philippines, and presenting it in a spacious, comfortable, and elegant space. With its air-conditioned shop, carefully groomed displays, and wide range of upscale gear, VeloCity is Cartimar’s cycling tech central.

They are the authorized dealer of Seven Cycles, one of the most sought-after brands for custom-made titanium bicycles. For triathletes, they carry the range of Rolf aerodynamic wheels and the different models of Adamo triathlon-specific saddles. They are also the official dealers of Giro and Bell helmets, which are some of the finest lids you can put on your head.