雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. In the early 19th century, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'draisine', was invented by Karl von Drais. It had no pedals, and riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'boneshaker'. However, this design was uncomfortable and difficult to ride. The real breakthrough came in 1885 when John Kemp Starley introduced the 'Rover', which had a chain drive to the rear wheel and equally sized wheels, making it much safer and faster. This design became the basis for modern bicycles.