雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Although many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its earliest form actually appeared in the late 18th century in France. That early machine, called a 'celerifere,' had no pedals and no steering. Riders pushed it along with their feet. Later, in 1817, a German inventor added a steering mechanism, making it easier to control. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were attached to the front wheel in France, creating the first true bicycle. Interestingly, the first bicycles were made entirely of wood, which made them heavy and fragile. So, the key improvement in the 1880s was the use of metal frames and rubber tires, which made bicycles much more practical and comfortable for everyday use.