Bicycling magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. For half a century, the magazine has been the world's leading authority on bicycling, bringing its readers the latest advice and some of the most sharp and illuminating sports stories ever told. To celebrate Bicycling's rich tradition of top-notch narratives, Editor-in-Chief Peter Flax has selected a collection of its best pieces.

The 19 stories anthologized here are simply the best stories the magazine has ever published, and they feature some of the best writers working today, including Christopher McDougall, Mary Roach, and Bill Strickland. There are more than a few unforgettable profiles of legendary cyclists, and there are pieces that brilliantly demonstrate the transformative powers of riding a bike. There is comedy, suffering, beauty, and existential angst, as well as writing that will make you smile and maybe break your heart, too.