雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people believe the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a draisine, appeared in 1817 in Germany. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires were introduced, making bicycles much more comfortable and efficient. This design quickly became popular worldwide.