You know how your mind wanders when ya ride that commute? Well, this morning my mind concocted a really cool idea. How about a new sport: Commuting!

The course? An eleven mile route with a mix of rural and high traffic areas, a few good hills, school buses, irate drivers, glass, and dodgy intersections.

The contestants would all leave the "house" (a few trailer could be set up for this) at the same time. They would have to carry their loaded (pannier'd) bikes down a set of stairs. Each contestant would have to carry a laptop weighing at least 3 lbs and a change of clothes in a bag weighing at least 1/2 lb. The clothes could be pre-determined (like, guys would have to have at least shoes, socks, slacks, shirt, tie or jewelry, towel... girls shoes with socks or stockings, slacks or skirt, shirt, scarf or jewelry or accessory, towel) and each contestant would have to have a bottle of water, lights, etc. The contestant would have to leave the "house", ride the course (maybe they could catch a bus if it gave them a time advantage but they would lose road-time points), and arrive at "the office" (you could use a Y or a gym with showers and set up like, cubicles on the gym floor) and shower and dress. Clock stops when they sit at the desk and dock the laptop.

Winner gets a new fully loaded commuter bike and a check for $500 or something.

Think of the sponsorship opportunities. It would be a cheap way for a bicycle maker to market.

I'd do it.

Anyhow, in my head this morning, Howard Cosell spoke to his co-host in my head. "She's coming up over what they call Devil's hill, but she's got the advantage of about a mile in front of the second place commuter..."

Ah. Imagination.