World champion bikers in town for 3rd PhilBike expo

Filipino biking enthusiasts get to interact with world champion riders Kenny Belaey and Viki Gomez, who are on hand for the annual PhilBike expo starting Friday at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The PhilBike Expo, the lone international-standard trade and consumer cycling show in the country, is back for its third year.

Joining Belaey and Gomez are Japanese teen sensations Takumi Isogai and Yu Shoji, fast-rising stars in flatland BMX.

The 33-year-old Belaey is a a four-time Elite World Champion and six-time Elite World Cup winner while Gomez, who is making his second straight appearance in PhilBike, is a three-time champion in the flatland World Circuit Series and regarded as one of the best in the sport.

“The best advice I can give to young kids is to take a bike, any bike have fun, just try new stuff get on YouTube, find exactly what you wanna do, you want a mountain bike, road cycle, you want a BMX flatland or trial bike and just learn,” Belaey told INQUIRER.net. “Go step by step, don’t take it like if you see a pro do it and you wanna be one right away. You need time to learn and to get into it and enjoy it.”

Belaey and 14-year-olds Isogai and Shoji gave a preview of some of the things to expect come Friday as they showed off gravity-defying stunts and tricks during the Extreme Kings Bike Exhibition and Workshop at The Venice Piazza in Taguig.

Also expected to put on a show for bike enthusiasts is Candian Geoff Gulevich, a renowned mountain biker.

The event brings together over 100 brands from the world of cycling and fitness.