Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, most people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a primitive version appeared in the late 18th century in France. It had no pedals; you pushed it along with your feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, which made riding faster but also more dangerous. The modern safety bicycle, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, was developed in the 1880s. This design became hugely popular because it was much safer and easier to ride than earlier models.