A few years ago, someone jokingly created the action word "pedalieren" from the verb "pedalen", which according to the Duden dictionary is mainly used in Switzerland. This joke has since conquered the German mountain bike language practically everywhere.

Anyone who occasionally has dealings with people who speak High German knows that they smile as lovingly at our "grillieren" and "parkieren" as parents do at their toddlers' word creations. So why should pedaling or pedaling be called pedaling? Is it because it sounds so technical and competent? Or do all the writers need this expression as a joke? Then it would be time to find a new running gag, the millionth new edition of this fun word must be long gone.

Of course, I don't let anyone spoil the joy of pedaling, even if I'm accompanied by someone talking about pedaling. In the Duden dictionary, pedalieren is now also entered with the description "jokingly". It is already correct and I fear that in a few years it will replace pedaling as the more common verb. I'll keep my mouth shut by then at the latest.