雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people believe that the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but its origins actually go back further. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a draisine, appeared in 1817 in Germany. 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 in France, creating what we now call the velocipede. However, this design was quite uncomfortable because of its rigid frame and iron wheels. It wasn't until the 1880s that the modern safety bicycle, with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels, became popular. This design made cycling much safer and more efficient.