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. The first two-wheeled, pedal-less vehicle, called a hobby horse, appeared in Germany in 1817. It was pushed along by the rider's feet. Then, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. However, this design was unstable because the rider sat high above the wheels. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels was developed in England, making cycling much safer and more popular.