I prefer mountain to road riding, but my list of mtb injuries finally managed to take me off the mtb bike. I really miss riding in the woods, but I can't say what caused me to fail. The crash that caused my neck injury that keeps on giving was a slow fall where I hit a root at the wrong angle...it was how I fell that caused the neck-snapping. After that I tried to continue, but went from one mtb injury to another. Were they from not fully committing and second-guessing myself? From not having enough general riding experience before attempting mountain biking? Possibly both in one degree to another. When it worked it was SO sweet though that I hated to give up. I've also known of several who have suffered broken backs on the same beginners trail that I crashed on in the last couple of years.

Good job Thekarens! That would be a bit scary if you weren't expecting it - but you knew what you needed to do and did it!

I DO know that I am far more confident in my general riding than I was prior to mountain biking. Road riding just isn't as much fun as it was before I hit the trails for the very first time. If I ever live someplace there there are less technical riding options such as fire roads I will consider replacing my FS and go for it - but until then I will continue to explore with riding on the road and running on the trails Oh yes, and encouraging women to try it out and follow their bliss if they find they also love to ride in the woods!