雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the Draisienne, was invented in 1817 by Karl von Drais. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Then in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the velocipede. However, it was extremely uncomfortable due to its rigid frame and iron wheels. The real breakthrough came in 1885 with John Kemp Starley's Rover Safety Bicycle, which featured a chain drive to the rear wheel and equal-sized wheels. This design made cycling much safer and more efficient, and it became the template for modern bicycles.