Ramadhan the Muslim Holy month

Ramadhan is on its 20th day today. Its ten days away from the Eid where observing Muslims will celebrate their succesful conquest. To observe the fast is akin to going to war and winning small battles along the way. Ramadhan is the month to train oneself to be a true muslim. The devils are locked away so they are no excuse for ones bad behaviour and misdeeds or wrong doings during Ramadhan.

There is less or no hard activity during the month for riders. It is not much due to the no eating in the day time but more due to the possibility of loss of concentration and to minimise risk. It is termed as risk management. Im quite different for riding during Ramadhan makes me more alert and suprisingly I take calculated risks better. I can see and make better judgement. Maybe its just me or I perform better with an empty stomach without all the toxic that modern food provides. It clears mind.

Good deeds are practised more during Ramadhan. The giving of alms and helping the unfortunate are the most popular form of good deeds beside the breaking of fast with orphans conducted by the Muslim masses. My riding friends conduct charity ride to help in providing food and neccesities to unfortunate folks deep in the interior kampungs. On a more personal note, I just try to help the unfortunate nearby and giving alms to mosques committees for them to provide to the needies. They know better.

Muslim everywhere will try their best to be closer to god by performing prayers and put up their hands for blessings. Beside the five times a day prayers, solat tarawikh are performed after Isyak every night lead by an Imam usually invited from the middle east. They will try to be better persons.

The Solat Hari Raya will be the climax of Ramadhan where Muslims will pay tithe and perform the prayer. That will mark the end of Ramadhan and wish they will continue with good deeds and abstain from committing sinful acts.

I hope and pray to be there for the next Ramadhan.

The old age rider @ OTAI

The glass door of the single storey shop creaks open and in enter two Malay guys in their thirties. Both are of short stature at barely five feet and half. They dont look like they are built for riding big bikes. The tall guy who walks in earlier is going through the catalogues and eavesdroppings to the questions from the two Malay guys about exhaust pipes and other accessories that will add more power to their already powerful R1s.??????. The salesman entertains them reluctantly. He is a big fellow pushing 60 years old, been riding motorcycles three third of his entire life with a clean record. He can spot a poser from miles away.

Flashback to the eighties.....

The skinny kid, not more than 18 years old pushes the 600 lbs bike out of the shed which is actually the basement of his house where he lives with his parents and siblings. He punches the electric starter as he straddles the bike comfortably with both his feet flat on the ground and he feels very safe which boosts his confidence level. The bike is a 1100 cc, four cylinder machine of Japanese make.The bike moves forward slowly as he releases the clutch and feeds in the throttle. Twin shocks at the rear and a set of telescopic upfront take care of the basic suspension system and still the bike is such a joy to ride being flexible and general purpose. He rides it everywhere even on gravel roads and beaches.

Yesterday,What you buy is what you get. There are not many accessories available to make your bike better from the factory specs and set up. Make of tires available are limited to one or two international brands. There is no soft compound,medium or hard. Riding compound is all you have, the rest is up to your skill and good judgement We make do with what we have. To be safe we have too use better judgement every time we are out for a ride. The technologies available are basic and human input are very much required. There are no ABS, no fuel injection, no traction control,nadday. We are solely in control. To survive the streets we must master our craft and to learn from a good teacher.

Back to present day.....

The two guys leave without buying anything. They are talking to each other while walking out of the shop." I should have put my new bike on the lorry this morning and drive my bike here", I can hear one of the guy says to the other. They walk toward the comfort and air conditioned automobile parked in the front, enter and drive away into the flow of the lunch crowd.

Blood line

He stands still on the bike and rocking occasionally to maintain balance. The spectators are in awe wondering how he can balance the bike on a small tire contact patch. Suddenly he lunges forward and onto the spool. Again maintaining his balance, he picks up the front wheel and hops on the back wheel, rotating before he drops the bike onto the concrete gracefully.

He was born in 1991 to parents who are sports freak. Mother is a former state hockey player and roller skates champion. Father is ex motocross racer and works in the outdoor recreation industry. His father loves cycling and especially mountain biking.
The old man still ride trials but on a trail bike instead.

Aris takes up trials only slightly more than a year ago. He is a natural rider and is able to learn riding techniques and applies them pretty quickly.Now he has to juggle his time between training days at the lake park and going to regular class for his diploma.

To be the World Biketrials Champion is his target,it is quite a long shot yet but not impossible. In the meantime he just make do with demo rides making a few bucks for his pocket money. The recent demo at an International Mountainbike event is his biggest demo to date. He will try to compete regularly overseas whenever possible too.

To him riding trials is about learning the correct elements to be a complete person. One must have the desire,passion and lots of self confidence to be able to ride well. Right theory, diligence in practice and to gain as much experience as possible are the additional components to be succesful.
Desire and determination is what he has and big natural talent too.....it is in his blood.

On every Sunday

His right hand thrust and twist the remaining cigarette unto the ashtray. The sun is rising and visible from the balcony of his condo unit. He restlessly waits for his wife to come back from her weekly marketing. The kids are still sleeping, their usual practice on Sundays. His wife of 22 years, a beautiful woman in her early forties shows up at the door carrying groceries and fresh food from the Sunday market.

Ali ia a middle age man with strands of white hair on his head. Standing at six feet and slim built make him look younger then his age. He is just an ordinary guy like any other man on the street. There is no special telling about him. He likes to trail ride on Sunday either on his MTB or dirt bike. It is a form of escapism for him and he rides hard. He does things with his bikes no other man his age would do.

The ignition switch is turned on. As the starter button is pushed, the engine starts and theres a soft noise coming out of the standard exhaust tip. He takes a glance at his watch and the hands are showing 8.30 am. He wheels the bike from under the bike shed after a say of his usual prayer. Wishing good morning to the guards who man the entry and exit of his condo,he takes off slowly as the engine of his green Kawasaki is still warming up.

The area where he lives is a busy commercial centre. Daily traffic jam is a normal occurence made worse by a school located just beside his condo complex. Sunday morning is the most quiet and unhurried day in a week and he loves that. It shows on his face but he still has to get away on his bike for a few hours. It is his weekly ritual.

The road to the sec 9 commercial centre from the exit of his condo is quite steep with two slow speed bumps. He stops at a mamak shop for breakfirst where 3 other rider friends are waiting. A glass of teh tarik and roti chanai is his usual fare.One of his friend walks to the counter and pays the bill. He puts down the empty glass and puts off the cigarette. Everyone puts on their colorful helmets ,wear their gloves and start their bikes heading to their chosen destination for the day. The clock on the wall is showing 9.30 am.

All the friends are middle aged as he is and with white hair too. They are friends due to their passion in riding. Each has different story to tell with regard to their biking experiences.

First few minutes of the ride is via tarmac road before entering a powerline trail. From there he heads toward an offroad trail circling a lake and eventually ending up on top of a pipeline trail. He jumps the water bars and reaches a short tarmac road which connects to another part of the pipeline trail. The rest of the ride is via oil palm estates before he exits to another strech of tarmac that connects to the riders destination. The other riders follow his lead.

From the tarmac road he can see their destination a few kms away, a small strip of cleared path up a mountain and lower mountains around it. The majestic mountain is covered with forest and is very green except for the path built by farmers to reach their plots. Now tarmac turns to dirt road and he begins to enjoy his ride. The bike is leaned into corners and the rear end slides exiting and enters another one. After a series of corners he reaches the base of the climb. A short breather is required. He stops and he sips some water by the mouthpiece of his waterbag. As he waits for the rest.

He begins the climb. The engine of his bike strains in second gear as the bike wheelies and the front wheel dodges ruts and rocks. He tries hard to progress and makes it. Stopping at the top he turns around and watches everybody riding up the mountain safely. Everyone gathers up and ride close to each other to the little hut on the top. He pulls a small wheelie and throw his fist into the air as a sign of victory. Someone shouts"hey thats fast".

The 360 degrees view from the top is breathtaking. He takes out a stick of cigarette from his pocket and lights it up. Satisfaction shows on his face and deep down he senses that feeling that only he can feel but can not describe.

They descend the mountain and head for home with the sun right over their heads.
He is going back to face the reason why he does all this, to be a regular family man again. They are bills to pay, food on the table, kids education. He will return home as a recreated man full with energy and determination to face all these realities after half a day of living and enjoying in his own small world.

It will be another stressful week before next Sunday. He prescribes his own weekly medicine.... on every Sunday.