雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, you might think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and you'd be right. But the first version, called the 'draisine' or 'hobby horse', 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. Interestingly, the first long-distance bicycle trip was made in 1869, from Paris to Bordeaux, covering about 120 kilometers per day. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires were introduced, making bicycles much more comfortable and efficient.