Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. By the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, but this design was unstable. In 1885, the 'safety bicycle' was introduced with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels, making it much safer. Interestingly, the popularity of bicycles led to better road surfaces and even influenced the early automobile industry. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that bicycles became affordable for the general public due to mass production.