I'm glad you did - I'd thought the thread was dead, but just came back to it - to find a ton of valuable information.

It's interesting to read about your MIs - congratulations for coming through it well enough to continue riding!

Since I last posted here I've started a course with a coach, knocked out a sub-5-hour century, and had several other good rides - all intended to build up for a few exploratory races at some point early next year. Who knows if that will all be enough ... I'll know when I first sign up. perhaps I'll follow the same route you were discussing, and start with an open 20km TT, just to break the ice.

Thanks for the reminder - I'm going to Amazon right now, to order it!

Earlier in this thread I mentioned that I would be talking to a coach soon. I've joined her fall indoor CompuTrainer classes. She's a well regarded coach, some of the people on the training course are very accomplished riders, and I'm learning a ton. I'll do the winter course as well, and am still riding (a bit) through the cold season, so it will be interesting to see how it all pays off come spring time.

What do you consider to be a 'decent clip'? E.g. at what percent of FTP?