Common Types of Bicyles

There's a lot of bicycle types which i don't really give a thought until i found this new enthusiasm towards cycling. They mainly are categorized into functions or sports in which they are featured:


Racing Bike - for racing purpose, mainly for speed. Light construction, stiff frame and aerodynamic. They include road bike (race bike), track bikes, cyclo-cross, Triathlon and also TT bikes

Commuter bike - for everyday use, kinda basikal tua or basikal with bakul. Normal or comfortable rider's body position. Gets rider from A to B. Touring bike also fall in this category.

MTB - broad tires, suspensions and commonly found everywhere in Malaysia. Subcategories are XC (cross country), DH (downhill) and freeride. Most bikes are found in the xtreme sports you watch in TV.

Tricks/BMX - for stunts, tricks and also racing. BMX is also famous in the extreme game. 

Special/other bikes - folding bike, electric bike, tandem, tricycle, monocycle, trishaw et cetera.

Those are bikes that we usually see and can be easily categorized. There's a lot more bicycle types out there. Enjoy the cycling world.

Day 1 - West Wind hits the road again

It's the first day after the West Wind came back from repair. It has got new RD (Acera) from Shimano as the good 'ol Tourney was bent and damaged. 

West Wind used to serve as a commuter bike from Desa Anggerik to IBL. Just a few weeks in his service, Tourney had to give way due to irregular (kinda rookie) cycling and shifting by its master. 


Inspired by TdF, Leadville 100 and some other prominent races, West Wind was sent to TrailRiderMad for repair after more than 18 months of dormant hibernation.


And the cycling starts today, regardless of Ramadhan. Well, its only about 7 kilometers P17,P3 and P18. Not too bad for a start. Plus, M bought me Folker F1 helmet, one more reason to cycle today. 

Hope that this journey will continue (istiqamah). Vamos H!

in retrospect

      old display set of dining table 
      cheapest dates for ramadhan
      inflatable mattress
      minced meat
      floor mat from nilai 3
      empty living room
      proton wira
      many more...


dear God, we do realize how life's improving and things are moving. your blessings are countless, that impossible for us to count every single one of them....

Enter Ramadhan

“…enter ramadhan, the gates of Heaven are open, the gates of the Hell are closed and the evil devils are chained…”                                                                       (Bukhari, Muslim, Nasaaei)

Ramadhan is very special. Not particularly because after that we have Eid, ramadhan's full of blessings. 

Beside the fasting, iftar and taraweeh prayer,Quran was descended in this month, al-Qadr lingers among nights of ramadhan. We are more prone to do good deeds in this blessed month.   

Culturally, in a muslim nation such as Malaysia, ramadhan is much celebrated. Mosques are filled with activities, and people. These bring good drive for many relatively inactive people to go to mosque or to multiple his prayers at home. Most people fast (non-muslim find it a good time to diet), and they can fast for 12-13 hours a-day, better than committing the daily 5 times  prayer.


Free food is everywhere, just you be in any mosque upon maghrib. For the people of business, this could be a month of good return too. Smokers can stop smoking for at least 12 hours, and many would find it weird to do bad deeds. 


Well, tomorrow is the first day. Hope for a great day. Dear God, bless us.

Uncle Cotton Pillow (Pakcik Bantal Kekabu)

it was late when we left Fendy's wedding (we were actually delayed due to happy shopping merry-go-round at amcorp mall). on our way back, not over the highway, we stopped at a stall (well, a small shop by the road would be a better description) to buy cotton pillow. 


it was no one as we slowly looked at the hanging pillows. well, cotton pillows are good compared to pillows made of synthetic fiber, duck down is not suitable because it is always hot here. later came an old man (not too old maybe) from the back of the shop. he is uncle cotton pillow.


"sorry, i went for the toilet. i thought of closing, but here you are. so, what are you buying? have a look first, we can discuss the price", said uncle cotton pillow. 


he was pretty talkative, or we can better say entertaining, asking we we from and such. my better half also bargained a good price for two cotton pillows. kinda good, i think, as we drove home happily, two fat pillows heavier, leaving RM 62 to uncle cotton pillow. plus we learnt that there are three typical types of cottons (for pillow); the gold -, the dry- and the cheap cotton.


despite all, we were touched as he told us his story. he was in service, a navy. just retired few years back. you know that these people have some extra allowances during their service, he had a business. he owned a petrol station in cheras. he was pretty "buck" those days. 


he told us, he can't sit in a proton, he didn't do warung (roadside stall selling food). he drove either merc or bmw with his income above 25k a month. decent, flashy life. 


but in god's will, he became a loan guarantor for someone. that someone went away in the dust, we supposed, leaving him that time with a large amount to pay on that someone's behalf. he was in a deep trouble and later declared bankrupt. 


that bankruptcy brought him back on earth, right at his cotton pillow roadside shop. he said what happened taught him, made him a better person. he is now an easier to be approached man, uncle cotton pillow, unlike mr. petrol station. he talks to people with respect. he learn to know god.


he told us, "if you want to seek tranquility or if you want to release some steam out of your mind, don't look for music, karaoke, dancing or whatever therapy you might know. just wake up deep in the night, perform tahajjud prayers and recite zikr. maybe you'll find what i've found".

Dear Allah, I thank you for this day

Dear Allah (SWT), I thank you for this day.

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving Allah (SWT) and understanding. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through Allah (SWT) eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of Allah (SWT)

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember your example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that Allah (SWT) changes people and Allah (SWT) changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than Allah (SWT). Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

15 days to Ramadhan

It's Nisfu Sya'aban. That means Ramadhan will be here in about half a month. I wish i could find its sweetness and promises. Hope this time around, i would be able to find the right path again. Lord, bring me closer to you. 


errr...there's still time to write down my Ramadhan resolution. 


Allahumma barik lana fi Sya'aban wa ballighna fi Ramadhan. 

Le Tour de France 2010

The Tour 2010 finally comes to its end. Alberto Contador wins the maillot jaune for the third time in four starts. Unlike last year where he proved himself the strongest rider there is, he was challenged to the max by Andy Schleck. Plus, Alberto wins the Tour without any Stage win. From different perspective, people may say few things:

• Alberto wasn't at his best this year , or ;
• Alberto is getting more matured and being more calculative, or ;
• Andy is getting a lot better and Alberto is beatable and more...

All in all, it has been an enjoyable Tour this year: Spa neutralisation, cobblestones, "unwritten rule", Chaingate, Battle of Tourmalet, thrilling ITT, Cavendish scoring five again and many more.

Well, it's a long way forward towards next Tour. Hope to see those guys racing again. 

Truth and recommendations are not always acceptable

"And indeed, We gave Musa (Moses) the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers. And We gave 'Îsa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear signs and supported him with Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel عليه السلام)]. Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some you disbelieved and some you killed. And they say, "Our hearts are wrapped (i.e. do not hear or understand Allah's Word)." Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe."
                                                                                                         (Al-Baqarah: 87-88)


Some group treat people who wanted to guide them to the right path like their enemy as people who did nothing to their wrongdoings are considered their friends. 


Guiding people to right path and preventing whatever Haram is a responsibility upon all Muslims. Shall we do nothing to correct things out, we are considered to agree with with the wrongdoings and as if we were one of them. 


Oh Lord, please forgive us...