雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people believe the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a simple two-wheeled device appeared in France as early as 1790. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. The first pedal-driven bicycle was developed in Scotland in 1839 by a blacksmith named Kirkpatrick MacMillan. His design used pedals connected to the rear wheel via rods. This was a major step forward, but it was still heavy and difficult to steer. It wasn't until the 1880s, with the introduction of the chain drive and pneumatic tires, that bicycles became practical for everyday use.