Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, most people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but its earliest form appeared in 1817, when a German inventor created a wooden, two-wheeled machine without pedals. This was called a 'running machine' or 'draisine'. Interestingly, the first pedal-powered bicycle was not developed until the 1860s in France. However, it wasn't until the 1880s, when the chain drive was introduced, that bicycles became truly practical for everyday use. This major improvement allowed riders to travel faster and more comfortably, leading to a boom in popularity.