bike boots and ankle flex
Discussion
Ive just bought some side vertebra boots out of fear of breaking my ankles, probably looks hilarious on a CG, but anyway. I am finding it harder to ride with the boots than with ordinary shoes or trainers as the boots are much stiffer to flex the ankle downwards to get under the gear lever to change up gears, especially first to 2nd. Is it the CGs comedy riding position or do boots just take some time to get used to or am i just doing it all wrong?
Incorrigible said:
Although I've just been out in jeans and trainers "because I wasn't going very far" will I never learn
I do that actually, if i'm just going down to the garage (2 miles down the A36), I just sling and jacket, gloves and lid on. That said, I wrote my first car off on that very stretch
. I was driving like a plank though. 
A friend of mine loves riding on the back, and plans to get a license this year - thing is, he has no gear, so Ive lent him a lid, gloves, back protector and neck warmer and he wears jeans, sturdy jacket and workmans boots. I would rather he had full kit, but i've made sure he knows the dangers and he's happy to go out riding in it.
alfa dailey said:
Ive just bought some side vertebra boots out of fear of breaking my ankles, probably looks hilarious on a CG, but anyway. I am finding it harder to ride with the boots than with ordinary shoes or trainers as the boots are much stiffer to flex the ankle downwards to get under the gear lever to change up gears, especially first to 2nd. Is it the CGs comedy riding position or do boots just take some time to get used to or am i just doing it all wrong?
Is that a CG125. I was thinking one of those might be woth getting. Is it? I though the same about saftey gear what do you wear?
Hi yarissi
Yeah the CG is a beauty, seriously its not too bad a bike its looks a bit like what noddy might ride (especially in red), scores v low on the lady magnet scale but if your not worried about that and just want to pass your test its fine and cheap to insure. Engine seem to take a fair bit of thrashing and most learner schools use them. The brakes are shocking being drums and they all seem to suffer from slightly iffy fueling, need choke or patience. Im also pleased to say it a bit faster than those kids on scooters in the drag race stakes.
In terms of riding gear i just planned what I would want to wear on a bigger bike and got that, so boots, jacket, trousers, helmet and back protector plus gloves. I didnt buy leathers or anything too pro and managed to get some quite a few bits on sale. Are you thinking of doing DAS?
forgot the best bit i can ride to work all week on a fivers worth of petrol, in my car it cost £40 plus depending on how often I 'indulge'
>> Edited by alfa dailey on Wednesday 16th March 19:48
Yeah the CG is a beauty, seriously its not too bad a bike its looks a bit like what noddy might ride (especially in red), scores v low on the lady magnet scale but if your not worried about that and just want to pass your test its fine and cheap to insure. Engine seem to take a fair bit of thrashing and most learner schools use them. The brakes are shocking being drums and they all seem to suffer from slightly iffy fueling, need choke or patience. Im also pleased to say it a bit faster than those kids on scooters in the drag race stakes.
In terms of riding gear i just planned what I would want to wear on a bigger bike and got that, so boots, jacket, trousers, helmet and back protector plus gloves. I didnt buy leathers or anything too pro and managed to get some quite a few bits on sale. Are you thinking of doing DAS?
forgot the best bit i can ride to work all week on a fivers worth of petrol, in my car it cost £40 plus depending on how often I 'indulge'
>> Edited by alfa dailey on Wednesday 16th March 19:48
stooz said:
i dont think they will flex much, personally I would suggest trying to adjust the position of the gear lever, usually they are on a rachet thread.
He's very right.... The boots may wear in, but check your gear lever is in the right place. When sat on the bike in your natural riding position the lever should be parallel with the ball of your foot. Too high or low and it makes shifting more tricky. You'll know when you've got it right as your ankle will feel "loose" when changing gear.
Don't scrimp on the safety gear either, especially in the early days of bike riding. I lost 2" out of a leg in a 30 MPH ding
IMHO, and with the benefit of twenty years of hindsight, spend a little more than you can afford on the protective gear 
Vertebrae's are good. Just get used to them and if possible, adjust the gear lever to help.
I really feel that you should never ride without leathers or some kind of decent protection. My mate fell off at 100mph last Sunday, but fortunately was unscathed although his Arlen Ness leathers were torn across the back and the back protector pretty scraped up. Imagine the tarmac ripping away at the spine instead, then consider taking the car for those short trips.
Sorry all, doom and gloom on such a lovely day, but it's important.
I really feel that you should never ride without leathers or some kind of decent protection. My mate fell off at 100mph last Sunday, but fortunately was unscathed although his Arlen Ness leathers were torn across the back and the back protector pretty scraped up. Imagine the tarmac ripping away at the spine instead, then consider taking the car for those short trips.
Sorry all, doom and gloom on such a lovely day, but it's important.
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