Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals. Riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward. By the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, but this design was unstable. In 1885, the 'safety bicycle' appeared, with a chain drive and two equally sized wheels, making it much safer. Interestingly, the popularity of bicycles led to better road surfaces and even influenced the design of early automobiles.