Oh SusieQ - We all love riding our bikes, and stay as positive about the risks as we can - but one big incident like that and all the doubts and fears just come rushing in, don't they?

Well, first off you were so lucky on many fronts. You have much to be grateful for. And now you're wondering if it is worth it, the risks to yourself and your family, etc. Well, I am sure someone has said it to you before and I will say it again: there is risk to everything. Risk to getting up in the morning and going outside, risk to eating certain things, driving a car, getting dental x-rays, etc., etc. The question is - is the pleasure you get from doing the activity worth the risk?

I have had a lot of nasty crashes riding my bike. Fortunately, no serious injuries yet. I've decided that for me, riding a road bike (and occasioanlly racing) is worth the risk. Nothing else gives me the sense of freedom and empowerment of riding a bike. It makes me healthy, it makes me a happy person and, therefore, a better wife and mother. I believe that riding sets a good example for my daughter and encourages her to be active.

No one but you can answer the question of whether continuing to ride is worth the risks. Someone might suggest you try mountain biking because the car danger, at least, is reduced. But there are additional risks to that which aren't present in road riding. So there's no easy solution.

I hope you heal well. I'm sure you will.