Hi there- I have pairs of both high top and ankle height boots for winter. I sprained my foot/strained my ankle last Friday and was hoping to get a ride in by Friday to test out my new ice bike. Just wanted to check to see what the preferences are for people who wear boots. If I can wear high top boots, my foot/ankle is more supported. My ride is 8 mi with a grinder hill at the end. I haven't tried riding since I hurt my foot, but I think I might be ok with the high top boot. The low top is iffy.

Thanks!

I ride in either trainers or a pair of German ex-army boots I picked up from the surplus store, it depends on the weather and what I'm doing at Uni that day.
I've never had any issues with the boots movement wise and they reach about a third to almost half way up my shin., the only difference I do notice is that the sole is much thicker, so the first time I used them it felt weird and almost floaty as my feet weren't going where they normally go when I pedal.
Conversely last time I played with the fit of my bike, I was wearing my boots, so when I got on it next with my trainers my seat was a tiny bit too high.

I personally cant ride with high tops, i wear low top boots with neoprene socks under them to make up the the lack of snow blocking height. But if you can ride with high tops go for it!!

Not sure what you mean by high/low top, but my winter boots go a couple inches above my ankle, and I leave the laces fairly loose for increased flexibility.

I've not tried riding in boots since college, but my experience in doing a lot of running in boots tells me to pay attention to how you have them laced (assuming they're lace ups). Make sure you have no impairment of mobility to flex/extend through the regular pedaling motion. Sometimes it means using an alternate lacing pattern to de-stress the area over the ankle to allow more mobility (without impairing lateral support).

I rode through an ankle sprain in college by wrapping it, but it wasn't winter :-)

I ride in 10-eyelet Fluevogs on cold or wet days. Freaked me out the first few times, now it's no big deal.

Thank you for the tips.
When I say high top I mean about halfway up my lower leg. Wasn't sure if it would prove ridiclous to try pedalling in them. Didn't want to find out "yes" at the start of 8 miles!

Ankle/foot definitely feels better when I keep it moving so I'm hoping for the best and not a throbbing leg on the way home.

They probably won't look very good with your spandex.................Just kidding.

In colder weather I've taken to wearing hiking boots over wool socks, with waterproof/windproof socks under that. I think the previous post about not lacing them too tightly is valid, as your ankle will have to flex some when pedaling. Also I ride with old-fashioned toe clips.

I did have to make longer straps for the toe clips, as the ones that you find for sale are just too short - I have big feet, and even if I wear jogging shoes, much less the hiking boots, I can barely get my foot in the straps. I cut strips of leather from an old belt, drilled out the rivets from a too-short pair of toe clip buckles, and attached them to the longer straps with copper rivets and washers. Work great.

Make sure they don't put much pressure on your Achilles tendon. It took nearly a year for my ankle to recover after wearing my boots too tightly and messing up my achilles.

I ride with a pair of high top ex Cdn Forces combat boots. I wear them mostly because of their durability and that I can stuff my pant leg into them. The pair I have on right now cost me $25 over five years ago and they are still going strong. And in response to tpelle I have worn them with spandex and no, they didn't look very good... but they worked....

The boots you wear, are they really good with ankle support? I also just recently sprained my ankle and I am not really happy with sitting around, I think the best ankle treatment would be to work your ankle a little bit with out forcing it, I was thinking about maybe riding for a couple of minutes and see where I go from there but, I want to make sure I have proper ankle supportive boots.

Try them and see for yourself.

I wouldn't know. I wear sandals.

Since you are in Madison, you probably have the option to return home via bus if need be. Ride bike in, and if the ankle causes problems, ride bus home (or even bail on the way in-no use in prolonging your injury). If you aren't familiar with Madison's bus routes, use the trip planner at www.mymetrobus.com