I have 18" calves so I searched and searched and searched and searched for a pair of boots that would be comfortable in when riding my bike.  I finally settled on these because they were lace-up and I thought they might do the trick.  I love these boots, but unfortunately, I cannot lace them all the way up around my tree-trunk calves.  They are super-comfortable around the feet.  That part is perfect.  I can get them laced up to the 4th eyelet down.  Since I'm wearing them with jeans, I'm keeping them.  There is a break-in period while the shaft softens.  I just wore tall socks and folded them down to protect the back of my ankle. That worked just fine.  As to the color (black noir), I get lots of complements on them.  The way they are wearing the white wax off makes them look kind of silvery and cool looking in an understated way.  If I had normal size legs, or if they had fit around my calves they would have been given 5 stars.