Boot Repair

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Boot Repair

Postby Deano on Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:03 am

I’ve had a couple of pairs of motorcycle boots that work just great until the fine tread patterns wear off of the soles. Then the number of “oh sh!t” moments when my foot looses traction at an inopportune time increase dramatically. My favorites are a pair of Vendramini Marathons, which have seen daily use for the last year and a half. They had very little tread left in the key contact areas. The importer informed me that they could be re-soled by Vendramini (Italy), but the cost would be nearly $200, once all the shipping and other fees were added up. That’s a little steep for $320 boots. :x

Since they have molded soles, I was pretty skeptical that I could arrange for a local repair. I decided to visit a local shoe repair shop, which was listed as an authorized Vibram repair business (http://vibram.us/repairconsumer/). I was pleased to see that the man who ran the shop appeared to be a true cobbler (Arina's Shoe Repair, Silver Spring). I did not know they even existed anymore. Anyway, he ground off the old soles and bonded a new pair of work-boot style soles onto my boots. Very nice job for $60. They seem to work very well so far, and the traction is much improved.

It’s worth considering if you have a pair of boots that you are not yet ready to toss. You can find other repair options via the web, but I preferred to support a local artisan. I’m guessing any full-service shoe-repair shop could do the same.

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Postby BMWGirl on Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:22 am

can I just say - your boots look awfully sexy there on that heart paper!!
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Postby Dough Boy on Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:36 am

Looks like he did a good job.

And yes, why that super-gay paper?
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Postby Deano on Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:05 am

They are placemats that my daughter picked out. I’ll let her know they are super-gay. :wink:
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Postby DogHouse on Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:13 am

Deano wrote:They are placemats that my daughter picked out. I’ll let her know they are super-gay. :wink:


Gay as in happy, right?
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Postby kjackson on Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:20 am

Nice job on the boots.

Those placemats are perfect daughter placemats. My daughter who just went off to college 'just had to have' the pink desk chair we saw at Staples. No matter how old they get they're still our little girls.

Kermit

p.s. No chauvinism meant or implied using the term 'girl'. She is very independent and much the young lady but regardless what the PC language police say she will always be my "little girl".
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Postby Patryk on Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:17 am

Hey.. the place mats are see-through! Very cool!

Does anyone remember this joke? What is this?

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Postby Maria V on Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:17 am

Deano wrote:They are placemats that my daughter picked out. I’ll let her know they are super-gay. :wink:


Not that there is anything wrong with that. :D
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Postby BMWGirl on Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:19 am

Maria V wrote:
Deano wrote:They are placemats that my daughter picked out. I’ll let her know they are super-gay. :wink:


Not that there is anything wrong with that. :D



of course not - what's wrong with being happy???
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Postby Maria V on Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:51 am

BTW, thanks for the info on the boot repair - I have thought about having the soles built up to gimme a boost.
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Postby Deano on Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:03 am

Patryk wrote:Hey.. the place mats are see-through! Very cool!

Does anyone remember this joke? What is this?

bloCuse


I give up. :?: :?: :?:
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Postby Patryk on Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:05 am

Deano wrote:
Patryk wrote:Hey.. the place mats are see-through! Very cool!

Does anyone remember this joke? What is this?

bloCuse


I give up. :?: :?: :?:


It's a C through blouse!!!


I know, pretty darn lame. :roll:
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Postby DogHouse on Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:20 am

Patryk wrote:
Deano wrote:
Patryk wrote:Hey.. the place mats are see-through! Very cool!

Does anyone remember this joke? What is this?

bloCuse


I give up. :?: :?: :?:


It's a C through blouse!!!


I know, pretty darn lame. :roll:

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Postby Unity on Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:35 am

Maria V wrote:BTW, thanks for the info on the boot repair - I have thought about having the soles built up to gimme a boost.

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These'll boost you. :P

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Postby Maria V on Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:39 am

Ummm, not that much. Just an inch or so, tops.
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