“Taped the ankle and went riding,” hmm. Sounds like a Ben Bostrom move to me! He’s paid the big bucks. I don’t know about you, but I’m not.
April 2002 I low-sided my Blackbird in a parking garage. One of those things: cold tires, bad traction, etc. Well, it pitched me off quite smartly at 10-15mph. Somewhere along the line, I landed on my left ankle and jammed my big toe. The bike was fine; frame sliders are a good thing for low-speed impacts. I however ended on crutches for ten days and a sore/taped ankle for awhile. I really couldn’t ride again for a month. To this day it can be rather sore, though I keep it limber.
Ankle injuries suck.
Another buddy got it way, way worse: he drilled in his Viffer hard and somehow ended up with multiple fractures of the left ankle. Two surgeries, a lot of pins, and a month in the wheelchair later, he began to recover. Nine months later, I can tell it pains him a little. That’ll be with him for life. Not sure he’ll ride again this year, since the bike’s heavily damaged as well.
A company called Daytona makes a boot called the Security. Fully armored, expensive ($700), but worth the dough if you spend significant sport-riding time. I use Sidi Vertebras but might give in and buy the Daytonas one of these days. If you “need” them, I’m sure it’s worth it.
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{
-=DRB=-
Mill Creek, WA U.S.A.
}
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