First, let me say that *anyone* who completes a triathlon, ever, has tons of respect from me! I can only imagine the bike, and can't imagine myself ever being in a competitive swim or run!! And to do them all on the same day - you are amazing!!

That said, I also have a similar worry about training in the coming bike season. With this new health condition, I don't know yet what my exertion tolerance will be this mountain biking season. I'll be returning to a race that I won the last time I raced it, and I know that I have little chance of winning it this year - partly because the race has grown and will have many more competitors, and because I really don't know how hard I can train, or how hard I can ride this year.

This is tough. It wasn't until I got pretty decent and fairly fast (keeping up with the fast guys on the friendly weekly ride, beating the medium fast guys on a regular basis and in some races), that I realized that I really am competitive. Knowing that this is going to be a tough adjustment this year, I've been trying to change my mindset already.
Ah... well, thanks!

You know what though, I am total AWE of people who go out mountain biking. I did a little bit of it on a very flat and "paved" surface- made of rocks...and it scared me to DEATH!

I can't imagine actually riding over rocks, dirt, tree roots... etc.!

Good luck with your upcoming year. It is hard to go back to something, and not be "as great" as you were before.

I hope it all turns out OK and that you have fun riding your bike!