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. However, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'draisine', appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. But these early bicycles had wooden frames and iron wheels, making rides extremely bumpy. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, which is closer to what we ride today.
❓ What was the main drawback of the very first two-wheeled vehicles mentioned in the lecture?
A. They were too heavy to ride.
B. They had no pedals and required pushing with feet.
C. They had wooden frames that broke easily.
D. They were only used by German barons.
✅ 正确答案
They had no pedals and required pushing with feet.