Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but early prototypes appeared in the 18th century. However, the first practical model, called the 'velocipede', was introduced in France in the 1860s. It had wooden wheels and pedals attached to the front wheel. The invention of the chain drive in the 1880s allowed for rear-wheel propulsion, making the bicycle much safer and faster. Interestingly, the popularity of bicycles in the 1890s led to improvements in road surfaces, as cyclists demanded smoother paths. This inadvertently benefited early automobile drivers as well.