54 Days - Meet Cody Small

This Post courtesy of Carter Goodnough

Like many, if not all of you, I can look behind and still remember the year 1986. Greg Lemond wins the Tour de France, becoming the first American to do so, and overnight everything changed. Suddenly almost all of America is riding a bike, and being a cyclist is ‘cool’. But alas, for our youngest rider Cody Small, nothing really changed. You see Cody was only three!

He’s never known anything but American domination in a sport that the French claim to have invented and tried to make their own. The exact roots of Cody Small remain a mystery, lost somewhere along the way between 8-tracks and cd’s, but this much is known...

He was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. His parents, formerly nobility from a tiny, long-lost European Principality, are wonderful people, having spent their entire lives building solid reputations – only to see it all ruined by the exploits of their eldest.

As a child he was a parent's nightmare, getting into all sorts of trouble. He'll never forget how much trouble he got in for filling his parents bed with jellyfish found on the beach. In kindergarten Cody’s pet scorpion got loose in the classroom. This was followed by the evacuation of screaming kindergartners and an overly stressed Principal trying to locate the little sucker. To this day, the scorpion has never been found! There was even a blind ferret named "piggy boo" - he loved that thing - even though she had to be given away because of her malicious affinity for other children’s' fingers, and the minor detail that she used to get lost in the walls of the Small house for weeks. I could go on and on with more stories, but I’ll just sum it up by saying it was an interesting childhood.

Time warp to recent events: Cody came out to San Diego for college and escaped with a BA in Graphic Design, minoring in the fine arts from Point Loma Nazarene University. It was finally decided to start a career in design at the agency of Bulldog Drummond because the circus performing wasn't paying the bills. And no one else would hire him. (Cody was also cool enough design the TrainOfPain logo at right). “I vow to return to my act someday when I earn enough money by selling my kidney on the black market” Cody proclaimed. Quite possibly his greatest asset; a lovely, young wife named Emily, whom he married less than a year ago. When not working, he claims to be ‘either on a bike or thinking about being on a bike...or enjoying a delicious glass of merlot’. Oh, my silly lad, please see ‘greatest asset’comment above!

Cody loves Monty Python, acting out many of the skits, late at night in the privacy of his home… and wishes he was British. But alas, working at Bulldog Drummond is about as close as it’s going to get. That and staying highly caffeinated on tea.

An avid traveler, Cody has been to many corners of the world, including Europe, Mid and Northern Africa, Japan, Israel, other Middle Eastern destinations, the Bermuda Triangle, and a few I'm forgetting (but never Lompoc, which he’ll get the chance to check-off during the ride). Cody’s life is one big paradox; he’s lactose intolerant, yet adores anything dairy. Try not to ride behind him in any pace line that develops. Perhaps the craziest thing he ever did, before committing to the Train of Pain is to have is run naked through a McDonald's. When approached about joining the Train of Pain; without a moments hesitation he affirmed his place – forgetting the minor detail that he didn’t even own a bicycle – having sold it to purchase a diamond ring in an attempt to acquire ‘greatest asset’ (see also: silly lad!!)

Other than his dormant circus act; Cody’s many talents include painting, photography and playing guitar – even promising to lead the crew in a rendition of Kumbaya My Lord at some point during our journey…

As the youngest member of our tribe – it has been decided that he will be required to carry all bags. Just how young is Cody? He claims to have a favorite Ninja Turtle: Donatello.Have any of you ever even seen the show or one of their movies, let alone have a favorite?

I rest my case.