Was cruising with my riding group in Virginia, when I took a curve too fast, too wide. Ended up in the hospital, with a broken ankle and badly bruised shoulder.
It could've been worse. FAR worse. Thankfully, I subscribe to ATGATT, and made it out with relatively minor injuries. If you, or anyone you know, thinks it's OK to skimp on riding gear, let this be the reminder you need to hear: it isn't, and WHEN you crash, not if, you will regret not wearing proper gear.
Stay safe on the roads, Lemmy riders.
I actually do have boots like that, but they make it hard to shift (no ankle flexibility whatsoever) so I didn't wear them that day.