雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, was called a 'velocipede' and had no pedals. Riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'boneshaker' due to its rough ride. By the 1880s, the 'safety bicycle' appeared with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, making it much safer and more popular. Interestingly, the bicycle's popularity also led to improvements in road surfaces and even influenced women's fashion, as women began wearing more practical clothing to ride.