Easing Back In

Off the back, riding easy

It was around 40F Tuesday morning as I stepped out the door into the darkness. Thankfully, the wind was calm. Unfortunately my tail light wouldn't come on, but I was already running late so I took off to meet a few others at the end of Nashville for the ride out to the lakefront. I was wearing everything from shoe-covers to winter jacket, since I fully expected to be spending some time alone. I'm trying to ease back into training, and the cold weather and this lingering cough are definitely slowing the process.

Out at the lakefront I turned around a little early at West End, and was able to spin easily most of the way to Bayou St. John until the rest of the group caught up to me. There, we picked up some more riders and the pace started to rise, but it was clear that most of the group wasn't interested in going too hard that day.  Later, about halfway out along the bike path to the Kenner casino boat, I dropped off the back to give myself a few extra easy miles, turning around early, and then picking up the group again on the way back. I got back home a little cold but none the worse for wear, so - mission accomplished.

After breakfast and a shower I headed over to the local Volvo dealer to see about getting a replacement key for the car. They need you to show up in person with ID and registration in order to get a new key. Since it was going to take an hour and a half to get the car in there to program the new key, I walked down to The Bicycle Connection and hung out with Donald and VJ for a while. When I got back the told me that there was some kind of problem with the car and they couldn't get it to go into program mode, so they gave me a loaner and I went off to work.  Later that day they had it fixed.  The problem had been with their computer, not with the car.  The cost for a new key?  $360 without the metal "valet" key.  That hurt.

This morning I went out to meet the WeMoRi. The new route, necessitated by the closure of the Wisner Overpass, starts out with the same lap on Lakeshore Drive and continues to Robt. E. Lee and Wisner as before, but turns at Harrison to cut through the park to Marconi.  Then it's back to Lakeshore Drive for another full lap with a sprint at the end near Brisbi's.  The pace wasn't too fast, so I was pretty comfortable sitting near the back of the group, coughing occasionally and wiping my nose constantly, but otherwise OK.  It was just as cold as Tuesday had been, and I'd gone out without shoe covers, so my toes were pretty frosty by the time I got home, but not too bad. I guess a few more days to ease back into things and perhaps I'll be back to normal by the weekend.