If you want to attach panniers to a full-suspension mountain bike, it can cause a lot of frowning or even an orgy of tinkering. If you are looking for a solid solution, you should take a look at the "Old Man Mountain" products: Clever pannier racks with thru-axle adapters and retrofittable threaded clamps ensure that the load is securely attached to the front and rear of the bike.

Cédric Tassan rode a superlative singletrail tour in his home country, the southern French Alps. He also proved that bike packing and challenging descents are not mutually exclusive - provided you keep your luggage as modest as the Frenchman does.

Crossing the Alps to the Mediterranean on a touring bike - many have done it before. But not like freeskiers Jochen Mesle and Max Kroneck: they had their ski touring equipment with them and climbed several mountains along the way. The athletic highlight was the crossing of the Furka Pass - on skis, with the bikes on their backs. But the remaining kilometers to Nice were not without their challenges either.