Maj.Taylor,
It's Dude by the way...
You sound a lot like my coach, and you make much sense.
I know you're right, but sometimes I try to forget about the hardware I have inside me all the pain and hard work rehab was to get to where I am now. No way I want to throw that out the window by doing something stupid on a bike now.
So,
Goal for next outdoor season will be this:
Enter my first time trial so that I can say I've taken part in an organized cycling race, albeit the safe version of one. I promise....no crits....no road races.