The development of the bicycle. Wikimedia Commons.
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Early bicycles looked very different from modern ones. Some had no pedals, so riders pushed along the ground with their feet. During the 1800s, inventors added pedals, chains and better wheels. The “safety bicycle” of the late nineteenth century had two wheels of similar size and became the model for modern bicycles. Bicycles gave ordinary people a cheap way to travel farther. They also became important for sport and recreation. Today, bicycles are used around the world for transport, exercise and fun.
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