Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The modern bicycle, as we know it, emerged in the late 19th century. However, early prototypes, like the draisine from 1817, had no pedals and were pushed along by the rider's feet. By the 1860s, the pedal-driven velocipede became popular in France, but it was heavy and uncomfortable. The major breakthrough came in 1885 with the Rover safety bicycle, which featured a chain drive and equal-sized wheels, making it much safer and faster than the high-wheeled penny-farthing. This design quickly became the standard.