Berlin is a city of bikers. A sure way to mark yourself as an expat is to walk on bike paths, the grey and red-coloured strips nearest the road. That bell dinging behind you is an impatient Berliner trying to ride past. The majority of cycling is outdoors, but you’ll find stationary bikes in most gyms, or indoor cycling (spinning) in most health clubs.

Two must-haves are a proper lock (bike theft is common) and a light (it is illegal to ride at night without one). Most do not wear helmets, and it is not illegal to ride without one, but if you insist on forgoing this precaution, at least dismount your bike at dangerous intersections – only a madman rides their bike straight through Alexanderplatz. Unlike cities such as Amsterdam, which have special traffic rules for bikers, cyclists in Berlin must respect red lights intended for cars. If you are planning on cycling through the city for transportation or recreation, check out http://bbbike.radzeit.de, a website that will plot the safest and most efficient route. The largest clubs are listed below, but for an ongoing resource, check out the culture section of www.fahrradstation.com. It is technically a rental bike company, but one that keeps an eye on the scene.