Got back up on the bike Yesterday, did my shorter course, surprisingly shoulder and ribs felt better on the bike than when sitting or lying down. Am much more aware of my position on the bike when I touch a brake lever, I am able to shift way back on the bike for braking, just need to make it second nature. I also did something else that some may deem as controversial but in my case its good. I switched the braking for the front wheel from the left to the right bar grip. My right hand has much better fine control, and I find that I tend to hang on to the handlebars with my right hand if I am extended out on the bars and reaching back with only one hand for a brake lever. Now that will be the rear brake and the front one will take more conscious effort to pull. Awareness of which brake lever was back or front had not become second nature to me as I just began riding 5 months ago.

Sincerely appreciate all the shared wisdom, quite an ordeal going over the bars, "back in the saddle again"...