雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, you might think the bicycle is a relatively modern invention, but its origins actually go back to the early 19th century. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the 'Draisine' or 'hobby horse', was invented by Karl Drais in 1817. It had no pedals; riders pushed themselves along with their feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede'. However, this design was often called the 'boneshaker' because it was very uncomfortable on rough roads. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling much safer and easier. So, as you can see, the bicycle has evolved significantly over time.