Boot fit assessment (movement vs restriction)

What It Does

Identifies when equipment — not body — is causing foot and lower leg problems. A boot that is too stiff in the ankle forces a fixed foot position regardless of what the rider tries to do. Fix the boot before trying to fix the rider.

What to Feel

The difference between a boot that allows ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion and one that stops movement at a fixed point. The ankle wanting to absorb but having nowhere to go.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming boot fit is irrelevant to riding position.
• Only checking fit standing still in the shop rather than under movement.
• Blaming the rider's body for a pattern that the boot is creating.