I read a news headline on the internet today that made me chuckle just a bit: "Family of Reggie Bush [soon to be top 3 NFL draft pick] did not pay rent on home." I laughed because it struck me as funny that someone thought that this was news. It has become so common place for athletes and their families to receive special treatment, that I can't fathom why anyone would be shocked when news of such treatment breaks. I actually would have floored if the headline had read "Family of Reggie Bush found to have paid wads of cash for crummy apartment in crime infested neighborhood." Now that would have been news...

I finally took the plunge this past Saturday, as I participated in my first weekend group ride. With a confidence boost from my performance in the Thursday "slow ride" I decided that I could try to hang with the hammerheads for a little while on the longer and more challenging route. Saturday's ride started out under threatening skies, but we still managed to stay out of the rain until we dismounted at the finish. Overall I was very pleased with the ride, which turned out to be 28 miles at a 19.6 mph clip for me. I managed to hang with the group for everything but the one long (1.5 mile) climb on the route, where the group graciously waited at the top for me. Getting dropped on a climb is a double whammy, because not only are you suffering up a hill but you've also lost the benefit of the draft. Due solely to that one 1.5 mile stretch, the lead group managed an average pace that was about 1 mph faster than mine. I'm encouraged following this ride for a couple of reasons. First, it's genuinely refreshing to have the time and energy to go on these rides (i.e., I'm not on nightshift anymore). Second, the guys that I'm trying to keep up with are the very ones that I will be trying to beat once cross season starts. So, the fact that I'm only slightly behind these guys gives me lots of hope that I could be slightly ahead of them 6 months from now!

Is it too early to start talking about cyclocross season? Cyclocross has become the focus of my entire cycling season. I raced cross last year at a weight of 225, I'm now 210, and I hope to be at 190 by the start of the '06 cross season. Also in preparation for the upcoming season, I've finally started tagging along with the Addictive Cycles group rides. The first ride I participated in was a 20 mile spin at 19.8 mph, and that was the slow ride! Considering the fact that I was dropped from the group prior to the 5 mile mark in last year's group rides, I'm pretty pleased with my progress!

I was in the bike shop recently discussing the impending birth of our bun, when Scott Hodge inquired about my preference of gender. Scott was very surprised to learn that I truly don't have a preference, but that I am much more concerned with the health of the bun. I know that boy or girl, our child will truly be a blessing and a challenge, and I can think of a lot of great gender specific things that I can do as a father for either. However, Scott had a different take; Scott's view was that 18-20 years from now I could either pay for a wedding or post bail, so I'd better hope for a girl!