Eggshells

It's been nearly two weeks since I came down with this cold and it wasn't until yesterday that I started to feel almost normal. I ventured out, intentionally overdressed, to meet Andrew for an easy ride on the levee. The temperature was in the mid-50s, the streets were dry, the wind was low, and it was nice and humid. It think it was a good decision and I felt fine, although it was amazing how strange it felt when I first got on the bike. Clearly, though, it will be some time yet before things are back to normal. There's still some lung and head congestion, and then of course there's the fact that I haven't really been on the bike consistently for almost three weeks now. I think the last time I was off the bike this long was when I broke a collarbone. Come to think of it, I'd rather be recovering from than than from this cold.

This morning it was raining.  I probably would have ridden out to the Giro and done just part of it if the weather had cooperated, but riding in the rain right now would be a big mistake. I'll essentially be walking on eggshells, or maybe riding on them, for the next week or so.  I'm afraid to do anything hard because I don't want to risk pneumonia with my airways still compromised.  It's a balancing act.

By tomorrow morning this cold front will have pushed through and the temperatures will be in the 40s.  I'll probably go across the lake with a few of the Tulane guys to check out a possible new course for the race. It's scheduled for the last weekend in February and essentially nothing has been done yet, so it's going to be a big push. There's a nice 17 mile loop up north of Enon that seems perfect. There would be only 5 turns, and of those only two of those would have the riders going through stop signs. The looming problem, however, is where we can park all the cars, and therefore where the start/finish will be. Then of course there's the matter of tracking down land owners and getting permission. Anyway, I'm a little worried about jumping on the bike for a 65 mile ride in cold air and headwinds at this point, so I'll be trying to keep my efforts as much under control as I can.