CYCLING IS HAPPINESS

In your book, you portray amateur cyclists, world cyclists, tandem riders, and mountain bikers, among others. What kind of cyclist are you?

‘A wanderer. I don't need to achieve anything on my racing bikes. All riders can pass me by. The fact that I can fully enjoy everything I see around me is satisfying enough. Multi-day explorations in my own country are my favorite. The Netherlands is beautiful, and our landscapes are best admired while pedaling through them at about 25 km/h. The reward at the end of the ride is worthwhile too. Always a beer and a delightful Van der Valk bed at the finish. And of course, a well-deserved dinner.’

Happiness hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine are also active in other sports. What do such neurotransmitters do more or differently for cyclists?

‘I don't know if this is scientifically defensible, but in my opinion, cycling makes you just a little happier than practicing any other sport. Take the Tour de France, for example.  No matter how tough a stage has been, right after it ends, you see all those pros shining and, so to speak, sitting happily together. Besides fatigue, satisfaction is visible on their faces. You don't find this in sports like weightlifting, kickboxing, or even football. In this sense, the likeness between a Mathieu van der Poel and ordinary touring cyclists might hold true. At the end of your ride, you've all experienced something wonderful.’

Besides cycling in the Netherlands, you also rode in Copenhagen, Paris, Antwerp, Berlin, and New York for your book. In which city will they see you back on the pedals first? 

‘Not in New York, I think. You have to be a real city cowboy to get through there safely on a bike. I would have to choose between the ultra-relaxed and elegant Copenhagen, and Paris, which has only recently been discovered as a cyclist-friendly metropolis.’