雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume that the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and that's partly true. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'draisine', appeared in 1817, but it had no pedals. You pushed it along with your feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede'. However, it was quite uncomfortable due to its rigid frame. The major breakthrough came in 1885 when John Kemp Starley designed the 'Rover', which had a chain drive to the rear wheel and a more stable diamond frame. This design is the basis for most modern bicycles.