雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people believe the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but actually, early versions appeared in the 18th century. One of the first was the 'celerifere', invented in France in 1790. It had no pedals, and riders pushed their feet along the ground. Later, in 1817, a German inventor added a steering mechanism, which made turning easier. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were attached to the front wheel, creating the first true bicycle. Interestingly, the invention of the safety bicycle in the 1880s, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, made cycling much safer and more popular, especially among women.