Stone King Rally Day 2 was the definition of “type 2 fun.” We woke up tired, a little beat up, and fully aware we still had five more days of riding ahead… and then proceeded to ride, push, carry, slide around on off-camber grass, and descend some of the most intense trails of the entire Stone King Rally.
Today had everything: a sketchy hike-a-bike through a cow pasture, exposure, hero-turn practice, “why is my tire flat AGAIN?”, a GoPro battery death at the worst time, and one of those days where you’re completely smashed… but still can’t stop saying “this is amazing.”
📺 Watch Stone King Day 2 here:
Stone King Rally Day 2 Total Ride Stats
Total: 33 miles
Climbing: 4,075 ft
Descending: 13,850 ft
If you’re wondering how that feels: imagine a full day of riding… then add thousands of feet of hike-a-bike… and then finish with “just one more” gnarly descent when you’re already cooked.
Stone King Rally Day 2 Stage Breakdown
Warm-Up Stage (Stage 1)
A quick little “get the legs online” rip down the valley.
- Distance: 4.7 miles
- Climbing: 75 ft
- Descending: 1,500 ft
- Difficulty: 2/10
- Fun: 2/10 (lol… but it did the job)
Stage 2: Cow Pasture Hike-a-Bike + All-Time Descent
This is where things got real. We climbed, then did a legit bike-on-the-back hike-a-bike up a cow pasture to reach a descent that felt like a hidden trail someone found on old maps… because that’s basically what happened.
Highlights:
- Electric cow fence shuffle (trying not to get zapped)
- Off-camber grass traverses where you can’t see what’s underneath
- Steep corners that look rideable on camera… but absolutely weren’t (especially tired)
- Distance: 7.3 miles
- Climbing: 1,600 ft
- Descending: 2,900 ft
- Difficulty: 9/10
- Fun: 10/10
Stage 3: Pedally Start + First Mechanical (AKA: “Is My Tire Flat?”)
More pedaling (because of course), more adventure-route vibes, and the first of many flat tire problems that would haunt the trip.
- Distance: 8.1 miles
- Climbing: 1,000 ft
- Descending: 3,200 ft
- Difficulty: 5/10
- Fun: 7/10
Lunch was a fast turnaround situation: food, coffee, tire triage, then back in the van for the last shuttle.
Final Stage: The One That Broke Us (and Was Still 10/10 Fun)
This last section was ridiculous: a long climb, a mini hike-a-bike that turned into flow, then the woods trail everyone raves about… and then the worst hike-a-bike we’ve ever done, followed by a gnarly descent back to the van.
Oh — and Emily’s GoPro battery died right when things got spicy, so we lost her POV on part of the descent (pain).
- Distance: 12.8 miles
- Climbing: 1,400 ft
- Descending: 6,300 ft
- Difficulty: 10/10
- Fun: 10/10
The Two Big Themes of Day 2
1) Off-Camber Grass Is a Horror Movie
It’s slippery, you can’t see what’s under it, and the exposure is real. You’re just praying your front tire doesn’t find a hidden rock and try to toss you off the mountain.
2) Flat Tires Don’t Care About Your Plans
We kept thinking the sealant would handle it… and then the tire would slowly lose air again. No obvious puncture, no clean leak point — just endless “is it flat?” stress while you’re trying to enjoy the best descents of the trip.
Little Moments We Loved
- Rolling into tiny Italian towns mid-route
- Random ruins and old buildings just… sitting next to the trail
- “Backcountry flow at its best” woods riding
- That perfect dirt moisture where you feel like you’re surfing
- The moment you realize you’re destroyed… and still smiling
Lessons Learned (So Far)
- Fuel early, not late. When the hiking ramps up, you’re already behind if you wait.
- Being tired makes everything harder. Even stuff that might be rideable fresh can become a hard “nope” at hour 8+.
- If you’re the only woman on the trip: you’re probably more capable than you think — and it’s not as big of a deal as your brain tells you.
Gear + Stuff Mentioned (Day 2)
(You can drop affiliate links on these items if you used them.)
- Sealant / tubeless repair stuff
- Mini pump
- GoPro batteries / charging strategy
- Carb mix (“Supercarb” bottles)
- Brake pads (because… descending forever)
What’s Next
Day 2 was a gut check. We finished completely smashed, ate a big dinner, prepped nutrition for the next day, and hoped sleep would do its magic… because Day 3 was coming fast.
If you’re watching the series, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode — the suffering is just getting started.
📺 Watch Day 1: https://youtu.be/JOsLipP4ZFA
📺 Watch Day 2: https://youtu.be/LCPKc8lntSE
📺 Watch Day 3: Coming soon!
More Stone King Rally Content
If you’re following the full Stone King adventure, make sure to check out:
- 👉 Stone King Rally – Packing List
- 👉 Stone King Rally – Travel Day & Arrival
- 👉 Stone King Rally Day 1: The Reality Check
- 👉 Stone King Rally Day 3: (Coming Soon)
This six-day mountain bike journey through the French and Italian Alps is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.
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Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we use or truly believe in.
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