Q: What can I do to make my new boots more comfortable at the back of my knee?

A: If your new boots are leather, then they should start to soften and drop once you’ve ridden in them a few times. This is because they’ll develop wrinkles at the ankles when you flex and bend. Typically, you can expect your leather boots to drop between 1-2 cm, although how long this will take depends on how often you ride and how soft or rigid your boots are to begin with.

However, to get some immediate relief, you could insert a pair of heel risers. Slipped into the heel of your boots, they’ll raise the back of your leg around half a centimetre, which is often enough to make the boots more comfortable. Some people even ride with these heel risers permanently, while others only use them until their boots are worn in.