雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, class. Today we're discussing the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in 1817 by Karl von Drais, was called the 'draisine' and had no pedals. Riders pushed themselves along with their feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede', also known as the 'boneshaker' due to its rough ride. Interestingly, the high-wheel bicycle, popular in the 1870s, allowed greater speed but was dangerous because riders sat high above the ground. Finally, the safety bicycle, introduced in 1885, featured a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels, making it much more stable and practical for everyday use.