Stop Now: Cycling Linked to Wide Feet

As if appendicitis wasn't enough, riders of the late 1800s, specifically women riders in this case, also had to worry about developing "wide feet." While the appendicitis did not, apparently, distinguish between genders, "wide feet syndrome" apparently did. Now, unlike the appendicitis story from a couple days ago this one did not reference the medical profession for validation; instead, relying upon the opinion of a lone boot maker is hardly scientific: "Women are losing their narrow feet riding the wheel. I used to be called upon to make the A width, but now I seldom make anything narrower than B."

It may be best to file this one, from July 1897, under Ha Ha, sensationalism, or maybe even fake news.