Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and indeed the first pedal-powered model appeared in the 1860s in France. However, an earlier two-wheeled device, called the draisine, was created by a German baron in 1817. That early machine had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. It wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires were introduced, making cycling much more comfortable and efficient. So, while the basic concept is older, the modern bicycle as we know it really emerged in the late Victorian era.