Pre Peach Tree Road Race Update

The 6.2 mi Peachtree Road Race is just around the corner, but am I ready? I've been following my Marathon training program, I've added weights, and I'm still riding once a week. I'd say I'm better off now than I was before I attempted my first marathon. Unfortunately, that's not saying much considering the little amount of training I did for that marathon.

I started my marathon training program about 2 months ago with a 3 mile run / walk routine. Although my mileage is still low and I'm still on the run / walk routine my legs are much stronger and more importantly they're injury free. I attribute this lack of injury to my slow introduction to running. It's giving my body time to get used to the constant pounding it'll be taking from the concrete and blacktop. It's also allowing me to more easily adapt to the ridiculous heat index we've been experiencing here in Florida this year.

A few weeks ago I joined the YMCA so I could start lifting weights. I've only been able to go a couple times so far but I'll be hittin em hard after the Peach Tree Road Race. This should also help keep the injuries at bay once I get into the 10+ mile training runs. One small injury and I could very well be sitting out one or both of the Goofy runs come January.

Riding is my passion, but I'm sure you already knew that. I would ride every day if I could, but I can't. I live too far away from the good trail systems to get a daily dose in so we have to make time on the weekend. This once a week ride comes at the expense of a training run. I'm supposed to get a run in both Saturday and Sunday - especially important for someone planning on running the Goofy. I've been riding about 15 or so miles each ride with the exception of a 32 mile ride on the Santos Epic Trails last weekend. My wife, Theresa, had been off the bike for about a year due to some back issues, but she's been joining me on the weekend rides and doing very well. She's even agreed to try a 50 miler with me next year! AWESOME!

I'll post up with a Post Peach Tree Update in a week or so.

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55nine Performance & Wobble Naught

-- UPDATE --

It is with the deepest sadness that I am writting to inform you of the cancelation of my Wobble Naught fitting. I thought I'd have the funds but things aren't looking so good on the financial front. I'll have to hold off for while. Please join me in my mourning process.



A couple weeks ago I had decided to sell my Superfly and order a custom frame. The reason behind this was simple, I wanted a frame that fit me better than the Superfly. The Superfly is an amazing frame with the G2 geometry and the custom offset Fox fork. I simply felt that it was a bit small for me, specifically the stand over height and toptube length. Even though the frame is an XL it doesn't fit me too well due to my abnormaly long wingspan and very long legs.

After some careful considerations, like the fact that I'd be without a bike for 6 to 9 months, and a few discussions with Eddie O'dea from 55nine Performance I decided to hang on to the Superfly and get a Wobble Naugt Fitting. I'm confident that Eddie can adjust the bike to properly fit me despite my previous concerns regarding the size of the frame and my abnormal wingspan and leg length.


The fitting is schedueled for July 9th. This, of course, is durring our annual 4th of July Georgia vacation so I should be able to get some good miles in right after the fitting.

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Toyota Tundra - My First Full Sized Truck

I've been sporting a Toyota Tacoma for the past 6 years. The first Tacoma I owned was a 1st generation extended cab version with the TRD off road package. It was small even with the extended cab, especially for someone my size. I can honestly say that I never got used to cramming myself into it. Despite the small size I absolutely loved that truck. It's till my favorite truck, even today.

In 2006 Theresa and I had decided to trade in the miniature bad ass for a newer, bigger, 2nd generation model. This one had more leg & head room than the previous generation. Plus, we decided to get a double cab in case we wanted to haul anyone else around. We used that truck for everything from tailgating at the Rays games to hauling bikes, from moving friends furniture to moving mulch. It really did serve us well. It was still just a bit too small for me, especially when we were hauling passengers and my seat had to be moved up.

After discussing the possibility of getting a full sized truck for months we finally decided to look around. We knew we weren't going to spend the money on a brand new truck, so we started browsing for a used one. Let me tell you, there aren't many used Tundras around. We went to our friendly neighborhood Toyota dealer, Gettel Toyota, to see what they had. We were in luck, they had 3. After noticing a used ash tray and a bad smoke stench in the first one we quickly moved on to the other two. One was a beige double cab V8 and the other was a white double cab V6. The beige one had the more desirable V8 but the white one had a slightly nicer interior and some body trim that the beige one didn't. It also had close to 30,000 fewer miles.

After weighing our options we decided to take the white one for a test drive. We now own a White 2007 Toyota Tundra. I've already installed my Rocky Mounts Clutch bike racks in the bed so the truck is good to go. We even tested them out this weekend with a drive up to Wilderness Trails and a 15 mile ride. The only thing that the Tacoma had over this truck is storage space, but who needs to tote all that crap around anyway?

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Pulling The Plug on Hammerhead...

...and poppin the top on a Santos ride.

I have officially decided not to ride the Hammerhead 100 this year. It was supposed to be my first hundred miler ever, but I got lazy for a few months and am in no condition to even attempt the 50 mile option. My level of fitness just isn’t there. Not to mention the $70 entrance fee! Finances have been tight in the Schroder household the last couple weeks and that $70 could be used to get a lot of beer..er...I mean groceries. I am instead considering a ride at Santos.

Good luck to those of you who are still panning on riding!

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Boeshield T-9: Interim Review

I’ve been using Boeshield T-9 for just over a month now and I must say that I’m not as impressed as I thought I would be after my First Impressions post. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great chain lube, but it’s not quite a great as some other reviews had let me to believe.

Boeshield T-9 does a great job of creating a nice even coat over the chain which I would assume aids is rust prevention. I’m saying “I would assume” because I don’t know for sure how it handles rust due to the severe drought we’ve been having here in Florida lately.

Where it falls short of my initial expectations is with it’s ability to keep the chain quiet, specifically the squeaking noise that chains often make when they need another application of lube. I have found that, although it does prevent noises for a little longer than the Clean Ride, It’s not by much. I might get an extra 10 or 15 miles of squeak free riding and that’s about it.

To get the best results from T-9 you have to apply it the night before a ride to give it time to “set. If you’re a procrastinator like I am you probably apply the lube right before you load the bike into your vehicle or even a few seconds before you hit the trails. This won’t fly with the T-9. It needs those few hours of “setting”  time to be effective.

I’ll keep using the T-9 for a few more months so I can give it a proper final review, but I think my next chain lube review will be the Epic Ride that The Naked Indian suggested when I first started this review.

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