Ian How took up cycling to lose weight, ends up gaining a lot of followers

A computer programmer by profession, How inspires thousands with his biking vlogs
Jul 24, 2020

IAN How is one of the most popular cycling vloggers in the Philippines today, but his journey was totally unplanned.

Like most everyone else, he picked up cycling to lose weight and live an active lifestyle.

“Late December 2014, nag-decide ako na i-try ‘yung cycling kasi medyo malaki ‘yung built ko dati,” How told SPIN Sidelines. “Hirap ako gumalaw. Gusto ko mag-trim down pero ayoko rin naman mag-build ng muscle. Gusto ko lang mag-tone down ng konti.

"Nag-tingin-tingin ako sa Facebook, YouTube. ‘Yung cycling, out of curiousity lang," he continued. “Naghanap ako ng second hand na folding bike tapos dun na nagsimula ‘yung cycling journey.”

A computer programmer by profession, How said he was also dealing with some health issues at that time, which is why he decided to trim down.

“Na-diagnose na ako ng high blood. Medyo sa built ko rin, hirap ako gumalaw. Ang hirap mag-sintas ng sapatos, may mga ganung bagay. Mga simpleng kilos na kinakapos agad ako ng hininga kaya ako nag-decide na maging active,” said How.

It worked.

“Around 175 ako niyan. ‘Yung pinakanag-trim down ako, around 135 pounds. Kaya lang nung 135 na ako, ang daming nagsasabi sa akin na para akong nagda-drugs. Kailangan ko bumawi kaya medyo nag lie low ako. Nag-gain ako ng konting weight uli,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

When he really got into cycling, How started to challenge himself by doing long rides, which became one of the popular subjects in his vlog.

“Nung bago ako, siguro mga 10 kilometers ko, long ride ko na ‘yun at marami na akong pahinga nun. Pero gradually, lumalayo ng lumalayo,” he said.

He first took on the Laguna Loop, a ride through the cities and municipalities of Rizal, Laguna, and National Capital Region around the Laguna de Bay, as supposedly his first long ride. He never got to finish it.

“From bahay namin, nasa 220 kilometers pero hindi ko natapos kasi naglakas loob lang ako. Ang balak ko, hanggang Pililia windmill lang sa Rizal. Tapos nag-check ako ng mapa, ‘yung papunta ko ng Pililia, ang dami kong bundok na uphill na dinaanan. Dami ko na rin nilusong. Sabi ko pag bumalik ako, dadaanan ko na naman ‘yung mga lusong at ahon.

CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
Watch Now

“Pag-check ko sa mapa, sabi ko parang malapit na lang kapag inikot ko ‘yung Laguna. Pero hindi pala ganun kadali. Pagdating ko bandang Los Banos yata, hirap na hirap na ako. Pagdating ko ng Sta. Rosa, nag-decide na ako na sumakay ng bus pauwi,” How said.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

Doing a vlog was not part of his plans. He only started vlogging in August of last year to chronicle his first multi-day rides.

“Nung naka-experience na ako ng multi-day rides, nakakapunta na kami sa Mountain Province at sa Bicol, masyado akong naa-amaze outdoors. Naisip ko, ang ganda i-share ito pag-uwi mo, share mo sa friends mo, sa family mo.

"Kaya lang, minsan naalala ko after ng isang ride ko sa Ilocos, nung nakita ko ‘yung mga pictures, navi-view lang namin sa TV. Naisip ko maganda sana kung video ‘yun at kinukwento ko siya habang nagra-ride ako. ‘Yun ‘yung parang deciding factor na gusto ko i-vlog ‘yung mga rides ko,” said How.

How said he he didn't expect the huge reception of cycling enthusiasts to his vlogs.

“Nung pinaplano ko ‘yung vlogging, kausap ko diyan ‘yung anak ko. Sabi ko, gusto ko mag-vlog ng cycling journey ko tapos ‘yung monetary factor, hayaan na natin," he said. "Iniisip ko nga, upload lang ng upload, after one year kung wala pa rin, okay lang, at least na-document ko ‘yung mga rides ko. Nandoon na siya forever online.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

“Tapos nagulat ako, in just a few months, ang ganda ng reception, ang daming followers. Happy na ako,” How said.

How now has more than 137,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, most of whom he inspired to also take up cycling and lead an active lifestyle.

His most viewed vlog about a three-day ride to Bicol and back, uploaded in February, has over 1.8 million views.

On being an inspiration to fellow cycling enthusiasts, How said: “Nakakatuwa. Pinag-uusapan nga namin ng mga ka-grupo ko, tumataba ‘yung puso namin na maraming nai-inspire at maraming nag-quit na sa bike dati, nung napanood ‘yung video, ‘yung iba bumili ng bike, ‘yung iba, hinanap nila ‘yung mga lumang bike nila tapos pinaayos nila. ‘Yung iba naman, mataba sila, pumayat sila. Nakakatuwa.

“Kausap ko ‘yung isang kasama namin sa ride, si Sir Noel, nakakatuwa na ang daming nai-inspire sa atin, pero ano lang naman ginawa natin, nag-bike lang naman tayo tapos nagpapatawa lang tayo. Siguro nakaka-inspire nga lalo na kapag nasa outdoors ka na, very relaxing ‘yung feeling,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

How even had this ride with PBA players Jio Jalalon and Aldrech Ramos.

His advice to those who wants to take on cycling and go into long rides?

Take it slow.

“’Yung paglo-long ride, parang step-by-step procedure ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan ‘yung kakabili mo lang ng bike tapos lumarga ka na agad kung saan-saan," he said. "Sa simula, kagaya ko, mga 10 kilometers lang pero as you go along, kung makahiligan mo ‘yan, unti-unti mabi-build mo na ‘yung stamina at endurance mo hanggang sa makakalayo ka na.

"Kung gusto mo talaga, puwede mong gawin ng gawin basta tiyagain mo lang, makakalayo ka rin,” said How.

Watch the full SPIN Sidelines interview with Ian How below:

Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

Read Next
Watch Now
Sorry, no results found for
  • POLL

    • Quiz

      Quiz Result