Nearly every German has at least one bicycle. Altogether, the nation counts about 72 million bikes. Added to that are untold numbers of rusty old specimens wasting away in basements. From the classical Dutch bike to stylish city cruisers and high-tech mountain bikes, there are many models to choose from. With springtime having arrived, nothing can hold people back.

Germany is criss-crossed by a dense bike path network. DTV, the German Tourist Association, counts about 75,000 kilometers of quality paths with the infrastructure to fit, including hotels, restaurants and e-bike charging stations. On long hauls, riders revel in the beauties of nature - as they do here on the Oderbruchbahn path traversing 142 kilometers of a stretch once traveled by trains.

On the first beautiful Sunday in the park, it's a family outing with daughter Nike. The four-year-old is hitched to her father Helmut's rear wheel. A real convenience: on long stretches, when the child gets tired, she can just be pulled along and doesn't have to pedal. But here, Nike is pushing her father along, as she proudly demonstrates.

Parents of small children increasingly value cargo bikes. Atop the front axle, the box can seat up to four small children. For nanny Eva, it's a godsend. Today, though, she's chauffeuring only her son Max, who shares the box with his toys and a picnic basket. It's a break for the mom, who otherwise has to cart four lively children around.

This one you can even fold up. Lightweight and taking up so little space, it's easy to carry. And it's popular with commuters, who have to go part of the way to work by bus or train. Taking a "normal" bike along on public transit costs extra - but for this one, there's no extra charge. It's smaller than a suitcase.

Bikes with electric motors are available in various classes. Purebred e-bikes move with no pedaling. The motor in the most widespread model, the Pedelec, adds to the energy the rider puts in the pedals. Pedelecs have cast off their reputation as "retired people's elevators." High-performance and mountain bike versions also exist (photo). A quality model costs about 2,500 euros ($2,660) in Germany.

The Internet of Things has also reached the bicycle, of course. Along with a speedometer and a pedaling frequency counter, it's now customary to have holders for smartphones and navigation devices. Locking or unlocking the bike by app is a nice touch, and the UMTS network can come in handy if you're trying to locate your bike. It also provides added security against theft.

A statement on wheels: the bicycle is an expression of lifestyle. It doesn't just have to work, it has to look cool too. Manufacturers are now using materials other than the usual carbon, titanium, steel and aluminum. You can now opt for a wooden bike or, particularly exotic: a bike with a frame wrapped in manta ray leather (photo).

Everybody loves the exotic, still some designer bikes are beautiful, yet impractical in everyday life. Bamboo bikes, though, are stable enough to cross the world. Karina and Tim Poser (photo) rode theirs from Hamburg to the Chinese city of Chengdu. Constructed in social development projects in Ghana and Germany, these bikes made the 12,000-kilometer journey with hardly a glitch.

With form, the only limit is the imagination. Some bikes can even be rid in a reclining position. Others - tall bikes - are very high. Fat bikes have absurdly wide wheels. This photo shows a cruiser. Highly comfortable, it's an eye-catcher, not only because of the soft contours, but also for its generous dimensions, which is why cruisers are often used as advertising space.

Not every biker is satisfied with an isotonic drink in a plastic bottle affixed to a humble steel holder on the bike frame. These two vintage leather straps holding a bottle of red wine on the frame are far more attractive. With this on board, the rider should be extra careful though.

Liberated from the circus, the unicycle has made its way to the school yard. Adventure-hungry, high-achieving sportspersons have discovered it too - and take it to every terrain. Do this at your own risk! No one will judge you if you use a mountain bike with two wheels instead...

BMX riding was born when children and young people from all over the world, too young to ride motorcycles, were looking for an alternative to motocross riding. Bicycles were reworked and equipped with broad cross-country wheels, and the first tournaments were held in quarries and forests. A BMX bike is still a cool thing to have - and for grownups, BMX riding has been an Olympic sport since 2008.

OK, bike helmets aren't very attractive. They're usually much too colorful, have air vents all over and often look like they don't really fit. But there's a better way: in this disguise, the ugly helmet is an eye-catcher. It's not a law - yet - to wear a helmet when riding a bike in Germany, but more than two-thirds of the population thinks it would be a good idea.

Children in Germany become acquainted with bikes at a very young age. Practically before they can walk, toddlers can be seen scooting around on pedal-free wooden bike-like constructions known literally as a "run wheel" in German. A few years down the track, police officers come to schools to guide 8-to-9-year-olds through an official "bicycle license" program, where kids learn traffic rules.

Münster (above) in north-western Germany was named the country's most bike-friendly city in 2015, according to a poll of over 100,000 cyclists by German Cycling Club ADFC. Karlsruhe and Freiburg came in second and third, respectively. Needless to say, big cities don't mesh well with two-wheelers. Berlin came in 30th due to parked cars on bike paths, construction sites and uncleared winter snow.

Germany's is strewn with an extensive network of cycling paths. They lead bikers into woods (like the Bavarian Forest), urban jungles (like the cycling "Autobahn" across the Ruhr region), and through agricultural delights, like the Ahr Valley path pictured here. The region is known for its hillside vineyards and red wine. Legs getting tired? Just stop and enjoy a glass of the local specialty.

With so many designated bike paths in Germany, cyclists are inclined to take them seriously. That means if you aren't rushing to your destination on your two-wheeler, then get off the path! And we mean pronto. If you're on foot or cycling too slowly, you run the risk of bells driving you insane — or getting yelled at or run over. If you're a biker, please be kind to those who forget the rules.

When the first rays of spring sun make their grand appearance, flocks of bike riders take to their local paths. If you look carefully, you might spot a small phenomenon: An abundance of elderly couples with matching cycling shirts and his-and-her bicycles. The sight is enough to make anyone fall in love again.

In spring most of us have to come to grips with the Christmas cookies and Easter chocolate we've been hiding behind our baggy sweaters for the past few months. While Spandex is not very compatible with winter blubber, its sweat-whisking capabilities are practical — and Germany loves everything practical. No matter how seriously they cycle, many bikers in Germany make a point of dressing the part.

The most important bike rule in Germany is: Don't ride drunk. This might seem absurd, since bikes are an ideal alternative to driving drunk. Up to a certain blood-alcohol content, this may be true. But a very inebriated cyclist is at least as dangerous to the nearest car driver as vice versa. That's why you can lose your driving license if you're caught swerving too much. Next time, call a taxi.

Riding a bike in Germany doesn't mean you can't afford a car. It's a legitimate means of transportation, not just a piece of sports equipment. That's why it's also perfectly acceptable to get a bit of assistance from a small motor. So-called e-bikes are not an uncommon sight — though they're admittedly most prevalent among certain age groups.

In Germany, you're allowed to take your bike on trams and trains (with a special ticket). But beware: You might get mean looks if you try to cram your huge, greasy two-wheeler onto a packed tram on a hot day. Can't you just ride to your destination? That's where foldable bikes come in handy. They take up less space — and keep your fellow tram passengers happy, too.