An Overlooked Peril of Moto-Commuting

Great big stompy boots are one of the benefits we motorcyclists enjoy. A good pair of boots not only protects the rider in the case of an unplanned vehicular exit, but also increases the riders comfort while riding. If you don't believe me, try wearing a pair of Converse All-Stars instead of your usual stompy boots on your next ride (don't crash though. All-Stars provide minimal protection.).

Of course, we wear our boots when we ride to work. Leaving a pair of sensible shoes in the office is a reasonable plan, although to be honest, most of the time I would just wear my boots all day.

Since I've stopped commuting by motorcycle, except for extremely rare occasions, I brought my work shoes home since I can just wear them all day.

A few days ago, however, I got to ride to work. Naturally, I wore my Big, Stompy Boots. Little did I know forces were conspiring to make me walk about two miles during the work day. As a web developer, it's pretty rare for me to even get out of my chair, much less hike around the city.

So, on this particular day, I wound up stomping around the downtown Phoenix area in boots that were not made for walking. I swear my boots weigh three pounds each. By the time I finally got back to my desk, I was tired enough to almost fall asleep.

There are two morals to this story. The first is: I need to get out hiking more often. The other is: having a backup pair of lightweight shoes is always a good plan.