When buying something, you normally go to the shop, get your item, pay at the cashier, and leave when the transaction is finished. But in the house of Budolbuddy, a “New Bike Day” can feel like a “Happy Birthday”—a special moment worthy of celebration.

To give some background, Marlowe Apeles started restoring vintage bicycles before building bikes for his friends during the pandemic. Eventually, he created the page known as Budolbuddy where he offers his services and expertise to help clients build bikes with thoughtfully curated parts.

I recently accompanied a friend when he picked up his new bike, a Rune Rufus Stone, which he ordered from Marlowe. There was an air of excitement as we carpooled to the mechanic’s house at a subdivision in Antipolo.

After arriving at the gate, we rang the doorbell and were greeted by barking dogs. We went inside and passed through a courtyard before entering an air-conditioned living room via the iconic sliding door, where clients usually pose for photos with their new bikes.

Held on a stand was the Rune Rufus Stone with its mustard paint basking in the afternoon light. On the other side was the kitchen where Jeza, another bike mechanic, was cooking tinola for a late lunch.

While waiting for the food to be prepared, we chatted with Marlowe to get to know more about the bike and its components. Rune is a boutique brand from the UK with the Rufus Stone being its first offering. The frameset’s premium quality commands an asking price of P92,000 from Budolbuddy.

The Rufus Stone resembles a classic randonneuring bike—a nearly horizontal top tube, a lugged frame, a quill stem, and a curved fork—and combines those features with modern standards such as flat-mount disc brakes, thru-axle hubs, and thick 650b tires. It rides just as well as it looks.

According to the manufacturer, the bike was designed to be a jack-of-all-trades for chill and leisurely cycling. This is exactly what the owner had in mind as he wanted something comfortable, versatile, and elegant for coffee runs, city commutes, and eventually, bike-tours.

I was impressed with how the bike was outiftted with an eclectic mix of generic Taiwanese parts, high-end Japanese components, and a midrange all-mechanical groupset. Despite this, they all complemented each other nicely. Not a single piece felt out of place.

The drivetrain features an 11-speed Shimano Deore M5100 with an 11-51T cassette for steep hills. But the gears are shifted using an Ene Ciclo friction shifter. The 1x drivetrain is completed with a 40T crank.

Stopping power is provided by a pair of lightweight TRP Spyre SLC calipers. Although these are performance-oriented parts, they are a far cry in price from Growtac Equals or Paul Klampers.

The wheels can easily be the most expensive part of a bike. But that wasn’t the case with this one. The Weinmann rims cost roughly P1,500 apiece, while the Traction hubs are usually P5,000 for the pair. Of course, they had to be silver for the sake of aesthetics.

The cockpit is easily the most unique part of the bike. The Nitto Kite bar (also known as the b355) provides a moderate amount of backsweep. But the low stack of the Cinelli quill stem—an interesting find on its own—results in a riding posture that’s playful without being aggressive like a road bike.

After sharing a meal, we tested the bike around the neighborhood before having a casual and fun photo shoot. Once everything was done, we loaded the Rune into the car and prepared to go home.

However, since we were near Sumulong Highway, we might as well pass by Ahon Coffee—a common stopover for cyclists on weekends. After having coffee and snacks, we went to my friend’s home in Kapitolyo, had a feast, and then biked around the neighborhood at night, like kids playing on the street.

When was the last time you felt like a child? It’s hard in this day and age, especially when life is so busy and fast-paced.

There is a saying that goes: “Bikes bring business.” But they also bring people together. That Saturday was a core memory—a fun day where the common passion for bicycles brought a group of friends closer.