I've read every post in this thread and will re-read as well. Thanks to so many knowledgable members here.
So, I got my fingers greasy and counted gears: 50:34 up front and 28:11 in the back.

Despite *some* brains, I could use some comments about whether I should change out this gearing or just do the
training and leg exersizes. Again, a quality group here.

Regarding a tri frame vs. road frame, the tri frame is sometimes heavier but more aerodynamic. As most of you know, the tri folks claim to get more sustained
speed from being tucked into the aero postion. Regarding the triathlon in this thread, (Savageman 70) there are astonishing downward passages
as well as miles of climbing. So the aero position will help on the down passages. How does a relative newbie like myself know if a certain bike
can be trusted for an all out down sprint reaching potentially faster than 50 mph? I think it feels exhilarating but nowbody sane wants the bike to go berzerk and the rider winds up in a wheelchair for life. My TREK has newish tires and feels stable but I do hold back. I don't mind falling off at 2 mph and getting embarassed because of still mastering bike shoe clips but don't want to tear up my body falling off at 60 mph but do want to feel that exhilaration. Just for perspective, I rode a Peugeot UO8 like mad in late teens and early 20s and stopped for have two of them stolen and then "life" and career. Now, back on new technology 40 years later. I can do the training, just don't want to die or get crippled.