Why does cycling make us happy - despite rain, headwinds, and steep mountains? What does Critical Mass mean, and when does cycling become political? Why are there super bike paths and a green wave for bicycles in Copenhagen? Why does everything go wrong when you venture out on a long bike tour for the first time? Why do the most bizarre events of the Tour de France always happen at Alpe d'Huez? And should the fastest bike in the world remain banned? Cycling changes our perspective on the world. Sometimes, brilliant ideas even emerge in the saddle: Albert Einstein conceived the theory of relativity while cycling, and Ernest Hemingway believed there was no better way to sustainably explore a country than on two wheels. Some people find moments of leisure on the bike, others enjoy the focus on the essentials, and still others simply use the bicycle as a means of transportation.