Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people think of it as a modern invention, the first two-wheeled vehicle appeared in the early 19th century. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with equal-sized wheels and a chain drive became popular. This design made riding much safer and more efficient, leading to a boom in cycling. Interestingly, the pneumatic tire, invented by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888, was originally developed to make his son's tricycle more comfortable, but it was soon adopted for bicycles, greatly improving ride quality.