雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to talk about the history of the bicycle. Now, most people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, the first two-wheeled device appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron named Karl von Drais. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. This early model was called a 'hobby horse.' It wasn't until 1865 that pedals were added to the front wheel by a French blacksmith, Pierre Michaux. Interestingly, the first long-distance bicycle trip was made in 1869, from Paris to Rouen, a distance of about 123 kilometers.