Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a two-wheeled vehicle appeared as early as 1817, designed by a German baron named Karl von Drais. This early model, called the 'draisine', had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward. It wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were added to the front wheel in France. However, these early bicycles were difficult to ride because of their solid rubber tires. It was only in 1888 that John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tire, which made cycling much more comfortable and popular.