So, job quit, stuff put into storage, transfers and ferries booked, final day in Barcelona before setting off on the trip around the EU.

Traffic is a nightmare in BCN and it's often quicker and easier to use the city bicycles than ride the motorbike for short journeys. I was wrapping up a few last minute things ready to leave the next morning.

The city-bicycles are often not in the best shape but I'd not had any serious problems before - just creaking brakes and slipped gears. I was keeping up a good pace to stay with the traffic, pedalling at a steady rate, I pushed down with the right foot and suddenly all the resistance disappeared as the chain came off before jamming. The bike tumbled to the right, I hit the ground hard and scraped along the road.

I was in quite a daze, some passers by helped me to a nearby pharmacy. Looking at my right hand, it didn't quite look like it was supposed to and there was an unusual crunching sensation on moving it. I went quite light headed at first feeling sick before the adrenaline kicked in and I was able to think somewhat clearly.

What followed were eight hours in A&E, x-rays, waiting, the bizarre sensation of being put on gas and a strange echoing pain whilst two doctors wrapped ropes around my fingers and pulled hard to put my dislocated wrist back in position. The main thing was the overall diagnosis though - a complex, interarticular fracture to the radius of the right arm. Surgery required the following week. Most certainly no motorcycle trip around Europe the next day.

Just over a week has passed since then. I've had the surgery and am now sporting a titanium plate in the right arm. Recovery seems to be going well. It's now just a question of what I do next.

The doctor recommended three months before getting on a motorbike, but said I should have use of the arm in a few weeks.

I'd like to set off on the trip as soon as possible, but don't want to rush it if doing so would be unsafe. The only thing is that if I delay the trip any more than a month, it would mean most of the trip would be riding through the European Autumn and Winter. Cold. Wet. Doable. But not necessarily much fun.

So, I wanted to know if anyone has had any similar experiences with unforeseen delays? Broken arms? Recovery times? When they got back on a motorbike?

I'd put a lot of time and money into setting the trip up and I'm in the process of trying to decide whether to press ahead this year as soon as I feel my arm is usable or to cut my losses, find a new job for the time being and delay setting off until next year.

Any thoughts and advice welcome - cheers!