Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first practical bicycle, called the 'velocipede', appeared in the 1860s in France. It had pedals attached to the front wheel, but no brakes, which made it dangerous. In the 1880s, the 'safety bicycle' was invented with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels. This design was much safer, and it quickly became popular. By the early 1900s, bicycles were widely used for transport and leisure. Interestingly, the rise of cars in the 1920s led to a decline in bicycle use, but the oil crisis in the 1970s renewed interest in cycling as a practical and economical mode of transport.