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 the draisine, appeared in 1817 in Germany. It was made of wood and 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, creating the velocipede. 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 to remember is that the modern bicycle design we recognize today didn't emerge until the late 19th century.