Wear your boots!

Yesterday, my oldest son, Michael, went with Mark and Mavrick to ride their bikes.  Michael rides a quad now, that is, when he rides.  We found out in the spring of 2011 that Michael has Juvenile Arthritis in his feet and legs.  He was on an 85 then, and I think it kind of scared him, not only because the bike was bigger (he had just come off of a smaller bike), but also that it is more difficult for his body to heal if he does get hurt.  Michael has always been extremely cautious, so he decided that he would be more comfortable on a quad.

Michael doesn't have a passion for it like Mavrick does.  Or even his dad for that matter.  They both enjoy the speed and the opportunity to cheat an accident.  Michael's cautious side prevents him for getting too crazy.  More often then not he will decline the invitation to go riding with them.

But yesterday he went.  They offered him the opportunity to video some of the riding, and his creative side won out.  Now Michael has all the gear that the others have, but for some reason doesn't think he needs to wear it.  Even his boots.  He always wears pant, never shorts, but usually his jeans and not his riding pants.  So yesterday he wore a new pair of jeans and the tennis shoes I bought him month ago for school.  They had a great time.  Everyone was glad that he went and he is even excited about going with them again soon!

However, when Michael woke up this morning his feet were in real pain.  It had been months since he had been on his quad, and he was on it for several hours yesterday.  Between the standing and gear shifting, he really had irritated the arthritis in his feet.

Keep in mind, on a quad the foot pegs are quite a bit larger then the foot pegs on a bike.  It is so important to use the proper gear, on a bike or a quad.  There is a reason the boots have the soles and are stiff and go up to your knees.  Whatever you are riding, wear your boots!  It is just not cool to go to work with your feet hurting on Monday morning because you decided you didn't need to wear the $300 pair of boots in your gear bag.  And it's really not cool when you have a burn scar on the inside of your leg because you burnt it while your boots were in your closet at home.  Just wear your boots!