So there are 2 kind of riders... one who has been in a wreck and one who will

[matt922]

3-4 months into riding and an old lady pulled right in front of me and i flew about 20-25 feet.  I was just released from the hospital after having a rod to put my broken femur(thightbone) back in place.  

still undecided about riding again...

[fastwin]

Jeez, sorry to hear that. That crap can happen whether you've been riding 3-4 months or 30-40 years. The roads are filled with bad drivers, distracted drivers, careless drivers, old/blind/deaf drivers... the list goes on. Then there's weather and road conditions and your skills or lack there of. It's a lot to process and think about before you decide to get back up on two wheels again. This has been discussed here ad nauseum (OK maybe not that much! ) but you will do whatever you feel right about doing. If that scares you off from riding again then so be it. Either way, you will be called something by everyone. Smart, brave, chicken, stupid, etc. Who cares? Do what's right for you. After all it's your head, your life and your broken femur.

Just glad you are OK and on the mend. That's all that really counts.

[Preisker]

The last time I hit the pavement (knock on wood), was in '79.   A bit of road rash on my arm where my sleeve rolled up.   Rode the bike home. 

I agree with Dolph, you can't ride scared, it screws your riding up.     Coming up on 40 years on 2 wheels.    I practice, more or less, every day.    I ride my dirtbike as much as I can, but not enough, actually.   Also, as with Dolph, I attack the road, riding really agressively, never just "putting around".   I think your focus is the main thing that keeps you alive and upright.    If I'm not focused, I go home and park it. 

[fastwin]

+1!

[Goat_Herder]

3-4 months into riding and an old lady pulled right in front of me and i flew about 20-25 feet.  I was just released from the hospital after having a rod to put my broken femur(thightbone) back in place.  

still undecided about riding again...

I am glad you are ok.  Having just went thru an freak accident like this, I totally understand what must be going thru your mind about riding.  I agree with oldfastwin on doing the right thing for yourself.  It's your decision and you must do what feels right for you.  There are going to be alot of people telling you what to do and react differently to what you say.  It's funny that, after laying in bed for a week, I was feeling pretty down.  All I could think of at that time was how great it would be to get back on the bike and go for a ride.  I knew then that I will be back when I am well.  I am sure you will come to a conclusion at one point and it will be the RIGHT decision for yourself.

When people ask me about riding again, my answer has been "definitely yes".  For those who doesn't know me well, they would look at me like I am an idiot and would try to talk me out of it.  The conversation would usually end of them shaking their heads...  My boss (rides a GS and a K bike) is glad that I will be back in the saddle.  He even predicted that I will be back on a Ducati.

[DesmoLu]

glad to hear you're okay. I've found that the general crash is a good analogy for life in general - there are those who've crashed and then there are those who don't know shit about life at all.
this world is a pretty crazy track. I've always had a hard time explaining it to the people in my life that I need to live mine at all full lean, but just make sure that how ever you decide to ride it that it is YOUR decision!

[Speedbag]

Yeah I get that.  Be careful.  I lost a cousin to a deer.

make the beast with two backsing deer. 

(been a while since I used my catch phrase)

[hillbillypolack]

Happy that you're okay.  It's true though.  Sooner or later you're gonna take a tumble, whether its by your own hand or someone elses.  Not fun to see me typing that, but it is true.

That reason right there is why I rarely commute on a cycle.  People texting, coffee in hand, talking on cell phones while behind a wheel isn't the crowd I'd choose to ride through.  Weekends or an occasional Friday to and from work are my preferences. 

[iRam]

Nice to know you guys are relatively alright.
No matter how safe we ride, we cant control what the irresponsible drivers out there are doing. So Be extra vigilant, ride smart and hope for the best.

[scduc]

I used to think getting on the road before the cager's was the smart thing to do. I've seen a couple of prancers along side the road just waiting to jump out in front of me. I think your better off with cars, because you do not expect them to pull stupid stunts. Deer, you can almost guarantee they'll jump out in front of you. To all that have been down---glad your ok. To those on the waiting list---do not ride like you're planning on going down. Fear is your worst enemy.

[fastwin]

Damn turkeys!

[Jarvicious]

A turkey was almost my first wreck.  The back way down to the Duc shop is a pretty good road and just as I was zipping across a bridge over a creek a turkey came flying out of the creek bed.  I had to duck under him, otherwise he would have made direct contact with my face bone.  Scary stuff.

[jerryz]

I am 54 now and been riding since I was 14  ,, i have had 8 minor accidents 4 of which were my fault due to speed ,lack of concentration, experience  and dope. And i have had 1 very serios Accident where i was clinicaly dead on the table 3 times ,then a year in hospital and another in a wheelchair but I still ride all the time ...you gotta die sometime might as well be doing something i love preferably sex with a beautiful woman  but bikes come second.