Today's lecture is about the history of the bicycle. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the draisine, was invented in 1817 by a German baron. It had no pedals, so riders pushed their feet along the ground. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the velocipede. However, this design was uncomfortable due to its rigid frame and wooden wheels. The major breakthrough came in 1885 with the safety bicycle, which featured a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels. This design made riding much safer and more efficient, leading to the bicycle's popularity as a practical means of transport.