雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume that the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'draisine', appeared in 1817. It was invented by a German baron, Karl von Drais, and it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tires were introduced, making bicycles much safer and more comfortable. So, the key point is that while early designs were unstable, modern bicycles as we know them only emerged in the late 19th century.