07-05-2026, 10:03 PM
Ok, I just purchased the most expensive single item of riding gear that I think I’ve ever done.
Alpinestars V2 GTX Air boots. I wanted something better than the papier mache Tourmaster Echos that I’ve been wearing. I purchased those on EBay a while ago as emergency backups in case my Nice, leather Tourmaster Epics ever failed.
One of the Epics is at a shoe repair shop having a broken zipper fixed. I heard the guy is good but that I’ll be lucky to get them back in a few months. (I’m told his work is worth the wait).
On week one, a stone put a divot in the front of the back-up boots, made of whatever Tourmaster uses now instead of leather. Needless to say I’m not counting on them to provide much protection in an emergency.
The Alpinestars fit nice, are vented for summer, and I had a stack of gift cards that the museum found- a few years’ worth of birthday and Christmas cards included- that had apparently fallen behind my boss’s desk.
That lessened the impact of nice, full-price boots. Test rode them on Bike #5 and they feel very comfortable. Had to size up to a 46 from my usual 45 to get the width I need, but dimensionally in length and width the are the same as my Epics, so no “clown shoe” effect.
Alpinestars V2 GTX Air boots. I wanted something better than the papier mache Tourmaster Echos that I’ve been wearing. I purchased those on EBay a while ago as emergency backups in case my Nice, leather Tourmaster Epics ever failed.
One of the Epics is at a shoe repair shop having a broken zipper fixed. I heard the guy is good but that I’ll be lucky to get them back in a few months. (I’m told his work is worth the wait).
On week one, a stone put a divot in the front of the back-up boots, made of whatever Tourmaster uses now instead of leather. Needless to say I’m not counting on them to provide much protection in an emergency.
The Alpinestars fit nice, are vented for summer, and I had a stack of gift cards that the museum found- a few years’ worth of birthday and Christmas cards included- that had apparently fallen behind my boss’s desk.
That lessened the impact of nice, full-price boots. Test rode them on Bike #5 and they feel very comfortable. Had to size up to a 46 from my usual 45 to get the width I need, but dimensionally in length and width the are the same as my Epics, so no “clown shoe” effect.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.