The seeds for this research were planted during a hiatus from study when I worked in Paris as a bicycle courier. My journeys through the city led me to reflect on the many connections between this specific form of mobility and the act of weaving texts. Like reading or writing, cycling is a solitary activity, yet one that generates its own geographies, sensory experiences and forms of interaction with others. My first, tentative explorations into the universe of early cycling literature revealed an unexpected treasure trove of sources, which I have been privileged to delve into over the course of this research. Alongside this literary dimension, being a cyclist in Paris made me aware of the political significance of the bicycle. When I arrived alone in this unknown city, I quickly discovered its cyclists and activists, who warmly welcomed me into their vibrant community. I discovered that cycling engenders solidarity, where motorised modes of transport more often foster conflict, individualism and anonymity. I forged deep links with fellow cyclists, and with my bicycle, which I maintained, cleaned, pulled apart and put back together again. The world of DIY bicycle workshops in which I became involved provides a microcosm of the network of cooperation among cyclists, who continue to create their own utopian communities in a world of increasing inequality.

My research is part of an emerging body of criticism seeking to address the overlooked literary and cultural significance of the bicycle. Despite long years of neglect, the current upsurge in interest in bicycles as literary and cultural objects has been exemplified by the recent publication of Jeremy Withers and Daniel P. Shea's edited collection Culture on Two Wheels. The editors seek to inscribe this study in the wider ‘mobility turn’ which John Urry has theorised in the social sciences, while aiming to fill the gap in research on the bicycle. I join with a small but growing group of scholars in writing the bicycle back into literary and cultural history. Cycling has too long been a blind spot in studies that focus on the interface between literature and modes of transport.