Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, early prototypes appeared in the late 18th century. The first known two-wheeled vehicle, called the 'celerifere', was created in France in 1790. However, it had no pedals or steering, and riders pushed it with their feet. It wasn't until 1817 that a German inventor added a steering mechanism. The real breakthrough came in 1839 when a Scottish blacksmith introduced pedals connected to the rear wheel, which made riding much more efficient. So, the key point to remember is that the bicycle evolved gradually over several decades.