雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today, we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and that's partly true. However, the first two-wheeled, human-powered vehicle, called a 'draisine', appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, French inventors added pedals to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede'. But it wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires made bicycles safer and more comfortable, leading to their widespread popularity. So, the key point is that the modern bicycle evolved gradually over several decades.