Bike fit / correct riding position

shoework!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/PSM_V17_D759_Feet_deformed_by_improperly_shaped_shoes.jpg/753px-PSM_V17_D759_Feet_deformed_by_improperly_shaped_shoes.jpg

A rather interesting historical study is from Petrus Camper
See http://petruscamper.com/shoe.htm
PETRUS CAMPER,

VERHANDELING

OVER DEN

BESTEN SCHOEN,

Herdrukt uit het TWEEDEN DEELS N°. IV. van het GENEES- NATUUR- EN HUISHOUD-KUNDIG KABINET van den Heer J. VOEGEN VAN ENGELEN, M.D.

TE LEYDEN, Bij J. VAN TIFFELEN EN B. ONNEKINK.

Koninklijke Bibliotheek 504601.

INTRODUCTION.

"Non multum absuit, quin sutrinum quoque inventum à sapientibus diceret Posidonius." — SENECA.

 It is surprising that while mankind in all ages have bestowed the greates attention upon the feet of horses, mules, oxen, and other animals of burthen of draught, they have entirely neglected those of their own species, abandoning them to the ignorance of workmen, who, in general, can only make a shoe upon routine principles, and according to the absurdities of fashion, or the depraved taste of the day. Thus, from our earliest infancy, shoes, as at present worn, serve but to deform the toes and cover the feet with corns, which not only render walking painful, but, in some cases, absolutely impossible. All this is caused by the ignorance of our shoemakers.
 We bestow reasonable compassion upon the fate of the Chinese women, who dislocate their feet in obedience to the dictates of a barbarous custom, and yet we ourselves have submitted complacently for ages to tortures no less cruel. I say for ages: C. Celsus, who lived before the Christian era, Paulus Ægineta, and Ætius, have described, with great precision, the diseases of the feet caused by ill-made shoes and sandals. It is evident that all the world did not imitate Socrates, who went barefoot.
 The shoes and boots of our time are no better than those of the ancients. I know by experience the difficulty of obtaining easy one...