Ain't that the truth!

Welcome to the group. Not much more I can add to the above as I've only been on the bike as an adult for 3 years (minus the time I spent out medically) and my license will say 56 this year. I too had a wake up call of being WAY(!) overweight. Got a yard sale 26" bike and rode the wheels off it and my gut. Got a road bike and was told - you should race. Found out my fast twitch muscles are still in the rocking chair on the front porch and ability to recover from explosive efforts which are found in crits is/was not my cup of tea but I could do a TT type effort and I more than likely wouldn't be involved in a crash. Did OK last season in CAT5 TTs.

I haven't done any formal VO2 stuff, only FTP tests to find what numbers I should train at

If you want to race then a thumbs up; don't leave the earth wondering what might have been. Try all of the disciplines to see which you enjoy the most. You will be racing against CAT5 folks until you get the 10 mass start deal done then you get to race Masters which are just wiser versions of kids that are screaming fast.

This is a phenomenal group and I get more out of it than I put into it. Hoping to turn that deal around one day.

Don't be a stranger.