雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to look at the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a simple two-wheeled machine appeared in France in the 1790s. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. The first pedal-powered bicycle, called the velocipede, was developed in the 1860s by Pierre Michaux in Paris. Interestingly, Michaux's design used wooden wheels, which made riding very bumpy. It wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires were introduced, making bicycles much more comfortable and efficient.