Some say that of what we do, just riding to work or for play. There are risks to everything in life. If I thought too much about the risk of just getting up in the morning I'd stay in bed. "sorry, can't come to work, too dangerous out there"

My vote is it's worth it. Or more to the point you could not ask an athlete like her to spend a lifetime reflecting "what if I'd taken up a safer sport?". She would not be "her" playing tidlywinks or probably even road riding.

I work with the disabled. I also have a spinal compression fracture. One thing I've learned is nobody promises you even one more day of perfect health or even another day. Life changing injuries happen at any time in in the most unexpected ways. Actually most of the disabled I talk to were somehow harmed at work. That's it, I'm staying home.

Good for her for making lemonade! An inspiration. Ride on