Today we're going to talk about the history of the bicycle. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a hobby horse, appeared in 1817. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet along the ground. In the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the velocipede, but it was very uncomfortable on rough roads. The 'penny-farthing' followed in the 1870s, with a huge front wheel for speed. However, it was dangerous to ride. Finally, in 1885, the 'safety bicycle' was introduced, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive. This design became the basis for modern bicycles.