Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, the first two-wheeled vehicle appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron named Karl von Drais. It was called the 'Draisine' and had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were added to the front wheel in France. Interestingly, the first bicycle race was held in Paris in 1868. So, while the basic design changed over time, the key improvement that made cycling popular was the invention of the chain drive in the 1880s, which allowed the rear wheel to be powered.
❓ Согласно лекции, что сделало велосипед широко популярным?