雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but its origins actually go back further. In 1817, a German inventor named Karl Drais created a two-wheeled device called the 'running machine' or 'draisine'. 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, creating the 'velocipede'. However, it was not until the 1880s that the chain drive and pneumatic tyres were introduced, making bicycles much safer and more comfortable. These improvements led to the bicycle boom in the 1890s.