After 20 years, our author cycled again to Lake Garda on his mountain bike. Has it become easier to pedal across the mountains? Or does the tour turn out to be a crazy idea, born out of the arrogance of wanting to prove it to yourself again?
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Dominik Prantl
The tour begins on normal bathroom scales; it is the moment of truth. Logically, the body has put on a little bit since our first mountain bike crossing of the Alps exactly 20 years ago, we knew anyway, even without the scales. But you really shouldn’t complain about the total weight: At 5.6 kilograms, the backpack is well below the recommended maximum weight of seven kilograms, which gives hope. Has it become generally easier to pedal across the Alps? Or will the backpack get heavier with every meter and this anniversary tour will turn out to be a crazy idea, born out of the arrogance of wanting to prove it to yourself again?