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, but its earliest form actually appeared in the late 18th century in France. This early model, called a 'celerifere', had no pedals and no steering. Riders pushed it along with their feet. It wasn't until 1817 that a German inventor added a steering mechanism. However, the real breakthrough came in the 1860s when pedals were attached to the front wheel. Interestingly, the first practical bicycle with a chain drive was not produced until the 1880s, which allowed for a much smoother and faster ride.