OUCH! A PSA

[bentwrench]

I thought I should probably share this little mishap in hopes no one else suffers this fate.
As riders with big or wide width feet can tell you sometimes your foot touches down on turns before your pegs or floorboards. Since I wore out my red wing riding boots(they stop making the model I've bought the last couple of times)  I've tried a few brands for fit and can't seem to find any that will fit my flat,wide high instep foot with any comfort.
It was a big error on my part to wear my soft soled hikers out on Sat. afternoon.While riding through a twisty detour route on the way home my left foot touched down and turned my foot backwards over 90 degrees.

The ER doc called it a fibular ankle fracture.I guess it could have been a lot worse,it set it self back into place,they didn't have set it.
So it's a cast and crutches for me for next several weeks and I'll be missing the first couple of spring events this year.Wearing the miendl hikers on the bike was really dumb as they stick like glue over any terrain even wet rock.

If anyone knows where I should be shopping for boots I would be grateful.I'm open to custom made ones at this point
BW



 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang ! That sounds painful.

[oldsmokey]

Oh ya. I know what you mean. Maybe ten years ago I did that on a twist with a dip, but I had boots on. Sent one heck of a shock wave to my hip. I have Redwing 3505 and 2412.  12 EEE.
Hope the healing goes well.

[2KVISRiderDan]

Man, that's a terrible thing to have happen at the beginning of riding season. Hope you heal well & quickly. Check out the Milwaukee Clothing Co. "Trooper" boots. I bought mine several years ago from J&P Cycle & they fit my size 9 EEE feet very well. I also have a high instep and very low arch.

[Jess from VA]

Man, I've had the left shifter foot catch and drag in corners a number of times.  I never hurt my foot, but I've sure twisted up my knee real good.  The Rattlebar heel-toe shifter and small cobra boards make me leave my toe out on that side.  I've just had to learn to slide the foot in or lift the foot in dragging left corners, only on that side.

My favorite riding boots are military/police swat style boots (black not suede) which are made in about every wide size available (I need EE myself), and waterproof or not, lace or side-zip, steel or hard or soft toe, steel shank or not, thinsulate or not.  (But avoid boot tongues made entirely of cordura nylon, water and cold get in there on bikes, even if the boot claims to be waterproof)

My favorites are Danner leather waterproofs (with leather tongues).  All mine are 8", but you can get 6" uppers.  The traction on all these boots is much better than on my bike specific boots (both pair).

No footwear can be bought on line with trust for fit (like helmets), so try to find if you have a police supply house nearby, as they will likely have a lot of choices to try on for fit.  So do military clothing if you can get on any bases.

I use Spenco Polysorb insoles in all my footwear, so I take a new size 9 Spenco with me for try on, yank out the cheapo cardboard insole out of the new boot (they are rarely glued in anymore), stick in my Spencos, and try the boot on for size. This is the best $15 you will ever spend to get all day walking around comfort in a sold boot, but you may have to go up a half size (or not) to use them.

The only downside to these swat boots is that they are never as warm and dry as all bike specific boots that have no opening in front at all, which can let in some water even if waterproof, and always lets air in at speed  (just side zips that have Velcro closures over the zips).

I've always liked wellington style slipons, but they will come off in a fall and slide. (remember the foot picture?)

Danner, Rocky, Belleville, Bates, Ridge, and many more.

http://www.militarybootsdirect.com/black-combat-boots.html

http://www.danner.com/men/law-enforcement/striker-torrent-side-zip-8-black-leather-6.html

https://www.amazon.com/Spenco-Polysorb-Trainer-Athletic-Cushioning/dp/B003IXF6BY

[bentwrench]

Thanks guys, Jess the police supply sounds like a great idea,thanks.

[rocketray]

Redwing does rebuild their shoes....drop them off at one of their stores and see what they say--for sheer protection  motocross boot are hard to beat---google up "Tech 8's"

[J.Mencalice]

They'll ship East.

https://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store/browse/footwear/mens-footwear/workservice/_/N-afz

A western U.S. middle pricing/middle quality sporting goods store.

https://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store/browse/footwear/men-s-footwear/hunting-boots/_/N-ai3

[Bigwolf]

Bentwrench,
That has to be really painful!  Thank you for sharing that story.

  I have not injured a foot yet but have touched the pavement many times with my 14s and mainly on the left but sometimes on the right.  My boots are too long to fit on the boards so I ride with my feet turned out to clear the brake pedal on the right and the shift peg on the left.  My regular riding boots have slid ok but I have been wearing logger boots when weather is wet and they grab the pavement.  Enough so to have pulled my foot off the floorboard at least once.

Your story tells me I have got to make a change if I don't want to bust an ankle or worse.

Bigwolf

[Bighead]

Bentwrench, let me say if your foot turned 90* from nomal and you only had a fibular fractire and treated with a cast instead of surgery.....consider yourself one of the luckiest men alive....i put stuff like this back together for a living .....so I kinda know what os the norm not the exception.

[bentwrench]

Bentwrench, let me say if your foot turned 90* from nomal and you only had a fibular fractire and treated with a cast instead of surgery.....consider yourself one of the luckiest men alive....i put stuff like this back together for a living .....so I kinda know what os the norm not the exception.

Yep,that's what the er doc said too.He said it is spiral fracture that's why it went right back together.

[Hooter]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

[northernvalk]

I try to drag my heels on purpose to give me a warning as to when the bike is going to start scraping peg. it is hard on the back edge of my boots, but it does help in aggressive riding.

[The emperor has no clothes]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Guilty. I ran to Walmart yesterday to get a TurboTax in shorts and tennis shoes.  (I did wear my helmet)

[..]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Or Crocs. Or flip flops or sandals. etc etc etc 

[..]

Couple of years ago I was waiting to pull onto a 4 lane near Maggie Valley when a parade of 5 H-D's went by.

Brain bucket
Wife beater
Shorts
Crocs

On each rider. 

[Hooter]

I see it on every brand of bike.

[northernvalk]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Or Crocs. Or flip flops or sandals. etc etc etc 

In my younger years, I had a toe nail ripped off when riding in sandals....raised water valve...ouch! Never done it again!!!

[Jess from VA]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Or Crocs. Or flip flops or sandals. etc etc etc 

In my younger years, I had a toe nail ripped off when riding in sandals....raised water valve...ouch! Never done it again!!!

This is the reason I ride with floorboards.  On pegs, I had the tendency to point my toes down and hook my heels on the pegs (more like rear-set sport bike pegs).  I hit some sticking up obstructions (like raised manhole covers), and man did that get your attention (even with boots).  Yeaoowwch!

[..]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Or Crocs. Or flip flops or sandals. etc etc etc 

In my younger years, I had a toe nail ripped off when riding in sandals....raised water valve...ouch! Never done it again!!!

This is the reason I ride with floorboards.  On pegs, I had the tendency to point my toes down and hook my heels on the pegs (more like rear-set sport bike pegs).  I hit some sticking up obstructions (like raised manhole covers), and man did that get your attention (even with boots).  Yeaoowwch!

I've ridden behind large footed riders who had the same foot style. I've mentioned the close proximity of toes to danger to them. No change in foot position resulted so now I just let the dice land where they may.

[Jess from VA]

Man, I only had to hit two manhole covers to change my habits.

This is of course only on center control bikes, like the Valk and my Hog.

All my other cruisers had the foot position up front with comfortably bent knees, and pegs were OK there, you couldn't point your toes down up there.

[bentwrench]

Man, I only had to hit two manhole covers to change my habits.

This is of course only on center control bikes, like the Valk and my Hog.

All my other cruisers had the foot position up front with comfortably bent knees, and pegs were OK there, you couldn't point your toes down up there.

There are some trade offs with cruisers,while I like the pegs or boards under my butt for control reasons I give up a little safety.A buddy brought that up this week,I reminded him about all the times he couldn't get his butt up off the saddle riding these rough Pa. roads and didn't have the control central located pegs give you and the mounts on forward controls tend to touch down sooner that the valks.

I was really fortunate with this fracture,it could've been much worse.Yesterday they cut off my hard cast and gave me a moon boot. Doc said a week or two I could be at work(light duty) I like my job and being off and not able to ride with nothing to do but read and watch lame movies all is driving me bonkers.

[cookiedough]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Or Crocs. Or flip flops or sandals. etc etc etc 

In my younger years, I had a toe nail ripped off when riding in sandals....raised water valve...ouch! Never done it again!!!

This is the reason I ride with floorboards.  On pegs, I had the tendency to point my toes down and hook my heels on the pegs (more like rear-set sport bike pegs).  I hit some sticking up obstructions (like raised manhole covers), and man did that get your attention (even with boots).  Yeaoowwch!

I like my cobra larger floorboards, but with boots on of any kind there is no way to get my foot underneath the shifter to upshift, would have to get a heel/toe shifter to make it work.  Thus, I do wear tennis shoes 99% of the time and with floorboards vs. smaller footpegs,  I never have to worry about hitting my toes leaning down onto the pavement.  Only time I wear strap on sandals is on my 250cc scooter but not flip flops, the sandals are strap on and will not come off.  I do not have to shift a scooter and feet are protected in front from plastic but NOT for an accident of course.  I only scrape floorboards 2-3xs per riding season so not a canyon carver for sure. 

I say ride with how you like to ride and if you can deal with the consequences of an accident with no helmet, no jeans just shorts,  and tennis shoes, go for it.   Now if I was like the 25K harley rider I met last year who has fallen off his fancy harley 3xs the past few years he said,  I would probably go all leather chaps/jacket and even boots since accident prone.

[bentwrench]

I've had boards on this valk and moding the shifter helped.The cobra swept boards make it tough with feet my size.I may try a set of std. cobra boards in the future.First it's time to shop for boots.

[Jess from VA]

Man, I only had to hit two manhole covers to change my habits.

This is of course only on center control bikes, like the Valk and my Hog.

All my other cruisers had the foot position up front with comfortably bent knees, and pegs were OK there, you couldn't point your toes down up there.

There are some trade offs with cruisers,while I like the pegs or boards under my butt for control reasons I give up a little safety.A buddy brought that up this week,I reminded him about all the times he couldn't get his butt up off the saddle riding these rough Pa. roads and didn't have the control central located pegs give you and the mounts on forward controls tend to touch down sooner that the valks.

I was really fortunate with this fracture,it could've been much worse. Yesterday they cut off my hard cast and gave me a moon boot. Doc said a week or two I could be at work(light duty) I like my job and being off and not able to ride with nothing to do but read and watch lame movies all is driving me bonkers.

I've been lucky with very few approaching-serious injuries in my life.  Cutting off the finger tip was the only broken bone (and that hardly counts, though it hurt for a few years in cold weather).  But the badly sprained ankle I had in HS was probably the worst; it healed up OK I guess, but I had on and off recurrent symptoms from that for 30 or more years.  I don't know if they were technically re-sprains, but if I over-stressed it running, twisting or jumping, I'd be gimping around for a few days.  I seem to recall a Dr telling me I'd have been better off with a clean break.  You might be interested to know that a spiral fracture is the most common in babies and small children who wedge a foot (like in a crib or learning to walk), then fall over.  Soft bones may heal better than old ones (without residual disablity).  My brother went down a stairwell, and learned to walk on his cast.

From my motocross and dirt days (of youth), I still like to stand up on my boards from time to time, to stretch or blow hot air out of my clothes for a few minutes or express displeasure with a Winnebago going 15 knots in a 2-lane no passing zone.  At 5'9" (and short legs), I 'm the perfect height on the Valk; my ass just above the seat, my arms a perfect reach to the bars.  Many times riding with Hogs and other cruisers with the forward cruiser peg position (not true forward controls which extend beyond the front of the motor) my buddies try to stand, and they have to physically pull and hold themselves up with their arms... for about 3 seconds only.

I say never look a few days of R and R around the house as a bad thing.  

And BTW, I also had chronic recurrent bilateral Achilles tendonitis for many years (worse on the ancient Rt ankle sprain side), and I got amazing relief (and actual healing) from one of those personal ultrasound units you can get.  Called Sonic Relief, it looks like a plastic toy, does not get hot or buzz, and you have to use a conductive jell, but a few applications on each side would give miracle results on my ankles.  It wasn't so good on a knee trying to penetrate the fat patella knee cap.  So if your injury results in recurrent symptoms, one of these could be worth the expense.   http://www.sonicrelief.com/  (mine, which plugged into the wall but converted 110 to 12Vt, which may now be discontinued, was only about  $125)

[BudMan]

I too have a tendency to drag the outer edge of my left foot in aggressive cornering, due to an old ankle injury.
Having a very high arch makes it almost impossible to wear boots that do not lace or jip to close so this has been my solution.
https://www.chippewaboots.com/footwear/footwear/road/shop-all-road-boots/27862
I've worn this boot for several years with no complaints. They're pricey, but I feel worth the money. I was concerned about my feet getting wet in them in the rain due to the way they open, but I've ridden them in A LOT of rain and never had a problem.
When I bought mine they said American Made, now I see they say American Crafted of imported materials or some such. Anyway, they come from New York, so as a Southern Boy, to me they're imported anyway.

[bentwrench]

There's a chippewa  dealer in my area.once I'm healed up I'll check them out.

[Wizzard]

And then there are those that ride in tennis shoes!   

Guilty. I ran to Walmart yesterday to get a TurboTax in shorts and tennis shoes.  (I did wear my helmet)

Worse yet,, I have seen some in flip flops

[..]

I too have a tendency to drag the outer edge of my left foot in aggressive cornering, due to an old ankle injury.
Having a very high arch makes it almost impossible to wear boots that do not lace or jip to close so this has been my solution.
https://www.chippewaboots.com/footwear/footwear/road/shop-all-road-boots/27862
I've worn this boot for several years with no complaints. They're pricey, but I feel worth the money. I was concerned about my feet getting wet in them in the rain due to the way they open, but I've ridden them in A LOT of rain and never had a problem.
When I bought mine they said American Made, now I see they say American Crafted of imported materials or some such. Anyway, they come from New York, so as a Southern Boy, to me they're imported anyway.

Oops in California

http://www.classactionrebates.com/settlements/chippewa-footwear/