Today's lecture is about the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals and was pushed along by the rider's feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel. However, this design was unstable and difficult to ride. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' was introduced, featuring two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive to the rear wheel. This design made cycling much safer and more popular. Interestingly, the pneumatic tire, invented in 1888, was originally developed for bicycles, not cars as many people assume.