雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning. Today we're going to look at the history of the bicycle, focusing on its early development. The first verifiable bicycle was invented in Germany in 1817 by Karl von Drais. It was made entirely of wood and had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. This machine was called the 'running machine' or 'draisine.' However, it wasn't until the 1860s in France that pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede.' Interestingly, despite its popularity among young men, the velocipede was difficult to ride because of its heavy iron frame and hard rubber tires. It wasn't until the 1880s, with the invention of the chain drive and pneumatic tires, that bicycles became practical for ordinary people.