From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: Re: Scott boots
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 05:33:38 GMT

NOTE: crossposted to .dirt and .racing, edit the headers if it wanders
too far in one direction or the other.

nak@cbnews.cb.att.com (neil.a.kirby) writes:

>It's been a LONG time, but if Scott still makes their plastic/steel boots, they
>might be worth considering.  The big deal with them is that they pivot where
>your ankle bends.  Most boots bend about a handsbreadth above the ankle -
>meaning a possible bone break there.  [I'm about to show my age] Cycle did
>a feature article years ago on them.  The Xrays alone were worth looking
>at.  The boots were designed for dirt bikers, who tend to fall off more
>often than pavement guys.  The orthopedic surgeon they talked to really
>liked them.  The kneecap protector might make them too tall, and I don't
>know if they work with leathers really well.  The motocross riders really
>took to them in a big way.

>Any lurkers out there with a pair of these beasties want to comment?

It's been a while since I've been accused of being a lurker, but I've
had a pair of the plastic fantastic Scott boots for about 10 years. They
do offer great protection, but they are a bit clunky and they take a
while to get used to. Off the bike they are almost impossible to walk in
on uneven ground because of the restricted ankle movement. To use
aviation terms, you've got full pitch, but very little roll, and no yaw.
On smooth ground they're fine, but if you step on a rock or stick, they
tend to toss you sideways since your ankle can't roll. You'll never
twist an ankle, but your friends will get a good laugh when you fall
over sideways. :-)

Once you get used to the lesser amount of "feel" for the controls, they
work fine on the bike, and they have absorbed some very hard knocks that
could have been rather painful. There have been a couple of times when
I've noticed a gouge in the plastic after a ride, but not been able to
remember hitting anything that hard. Other times I've known very well
what I've hit, and have been darn glad to have the boots. They are great
for kickstarting, I've broken the instep on a couple of plain old hiking
boots, but the Scotts have held up fine, and they spread out the force
quite well, so a sore foot isn't as likely.

They are fine when you're on the bike, but if you have to get off and
push/lift/drag the bike (Moab for instance), then they really get in the
way. And if for some reason you happen to be scrambling along beside the
bike while it tries to accelerate up a broken rock hill without you, you
can get some nice bruises from the edges of the hard plastic parts. Who
knows, maybe I would have twisted or broken an ankle in a different boot,
but I do know where the Scotts bit me.

For roadrace or MX racing a lot of these things wouldn't be a problem,
but for trail riding they can be a nusiance. Especially when you want to
park the bike and hike for a little ways. You _really_ do not want to go
hiking in the Scott boots!

I've never owned a pair of conventional cowhide dirt boots, so I can't
directly compare the two, but I'm planning on buying a set of dirt boots
next year because of the limitations of the Scotts. (I just reposted my
dirt boot summary to r.m.dirt last week, if there's any interest I can
post it to r.m.racing too.) I do feel a lot safer putting a foot down in
the Scotts than when I'm wearing work boots or hiking boots. I don't
know if the Scotts faded out because they just went out of fashion, or
if there were any real problems reported with them. When I bought mine
Scott had quit making them, and I got a good deal because they were
being closed out.

Oh a couple more things. The buckles like to eat knuckles if you give
them half a chance. And the Scotts are nowhere near waterproof, but they
do a wonderful job of holding in the water once they're wet. :-(

Well, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about an
obsolete, out of production boot! :-)
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  BIX:blaine_g
580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108           Favorite road signs:
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46             FJ1200   Winding Road Next 77 Miles
My other motorcycle is a Quadracer           Caution: Passing Areas Not Marked