This is the exact gear we brought with us for the Stone King Rally Club Ride (full details) — a six‑day mountain bike adventure through the French and Italian Alps. Nothing here is theoretical or recommended just because it sounds good. Every item on this list was packed, carried, used, or relied on during the trip.
Stone King is demanding in a very specific way: long days, big climbs, hike‑a‑bike sections, massive descents, and very little margin for error. Packing right doesn’t make it easy — but packing wrong can absolutely ruin the experience.
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Bikes
We both chose enduro bikes for Stone King. This wasn’t about riding the biggest bike possible — it was about finding the balance between downhill capability, durability, and something we could still push and carry for hours when needed.
Joe’s Bike
- Rocky Mountain Altitude C70 Coil (2023)
The Altitude proved to be a solid choice for Stone King. It handled the long, steep descents with confidence while still being manageable during the unavoidable hike‑a‑bike sections. Reliability mattered more than outright speed on this trip, and the Altitude delivered. I rode the Altitude in the slackest and longest geo setting.
Emily’s Bike
- Evil Wreckoning LS
Emily rode her Evil Wreckoning, which was equally well‑suited to the demands of the terrain. The bike stayed composed on rough descents and remained predictable on long, technical days where fatigue becomes a factor.
Why enduro bikes? Stone King isn’t a shuttle trip, and it isn’t a bike park. The descents are long and demanding, but they come at the cost of serious climbing and pushing. Enduro bikes hit the sweet spot — enough travel and stability for confidence on the downs, without becoming completely miserable when you’re pushing your bike uphill.
Packs & Protection
Stone King days are long and exposed, so what you carry — and how you carry it — matters. We needed enough room for water, food, layers, and protection without the pack becoming miserable during long climbs and hike-a-bike sections.
Riding Packs
This was the primary riding pack used during Stone King. It struck a good balance between capacity and comfort, with enough room for water, food, layers, and protection without feeling overly bulky on long days.
We intentionally kept this section focused on carry systems, not the individual tools or parts inside them. Those are broken out in the next section.
Body Protection
- Leatt body armor: Body Protector 3DF AirFit Lite Evo – Joe
- Leatt body armor: Body Protector ReaFlex – Women – Emily
For big alpine descents and unfamiliar terrain, extra protection was worth the small weight penalty. The armor could be stowed in the pack during climbs and worn for the descents, keeping things flexible throughout the day.
Tools & Spares
Stone King is not the place to be underprepared mechanically. Long descents, remote terrain, and repeated days on the bike mean small issues can quickly become trip‑ending problems if you don’t have the right spares.
We focused on carrying only what we realistically might need on a ride, while keeping heavier or redundant items in our duffels and support vehicles.
On‑Bike / In‑Pack Tools & Spares
These were carried during rides, either in the pack or on the bike:
- Leatherman multi‑tool
- Tire plug kit (with multiple bacon strip sizes)
- Spare tube x 2
- Valve cores
- Quick link (Shimano/SRAM)
- Dumonde Tech chain lube (small bottle)
- TRP semi-metallic brake pads (4 spare sets)
- Fanttik X9 electric air pump
These covered the most common issues we encountered: punctures, brake wear, drivetrain noise, and minor adjustments.
Bike Spares Packed for the Trip
In addition to ride‑day tools, we brought extra spares that lived in our bags for the duration of the trip:
- Spare tires:
- 2× Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial – Gravity – Ultra Soft (front)
- 2× Schwalbe Albert Radial – Gravity – Soft (rear)
- Spokes and chains:
- Miscellaneous small parts (bolts, fittings, wear items)
Brake pads in particular were something we expected to go through quickly given the amount of descending, and that turned out to be a very good call.
Nutrition & Fuel
Stone King is as much an eating challenge as it is a riding challenge. With long days, big elevation, and six consecutive ride days, fueling consistently was critical. Our goal was simple: stay ahead of fatigue, not chase it.
We planned our nutrition around high carbohydrate intake during rides, with protein and recovery support layered in to make it through the full week.
On‑Bike Fuel
This is what we carried and used during rides:
- Skratch Labs Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix
- Skratch Labs Energy Chews (caffeinated & non‑caffeinated)
- Honey Stinger Waffles
- Real fruit bars
Carbs were the priority. Long climbs, hike‑a‑bike sections, and extended descents meant we were burning energy continuously, not just in short efforts.
On‑Bike Fueling Targets
To make this sustainable for six straight days, we went in with clear fueling goals:
- Joe: ~100g of carbohydrates + 2 servings of Unbroken per hour during the ride
- Emily: ~80g of carbohydrates + 2 servings of Unbroken during the ride
Having specific targets made it much easier to stay consistent, avoid under‑fueling, and recover well enough to line up again the next morning.
Recovery & Supplements
Recovery mattered just as much as ride‑day fueling, especially with no rest days built into the schedule.
- Unbroken – Real Time Recovery (on and off bike) *10% off with code ALLAROUNDJOE
- Perfect Amino powder – Strawberry
- Perfect Amino capsules
- Beam – Brownie Batter (sleep support)
- MoonBrew (sleep support)
The goal wasn’t just to feel okay the next morning — it was to be able to repeat hard efforts day after day without completely breaking down.
Food Off the Bike
In addition to on‑bike nutrition, we leaned heavily on real food and high‑calorie bars whenever possible:
- Simple grocery staples (fruit, bread, cheese, cured meats)
- Pastries and baked goods for easy calories
- Sans Bars (coconut flavor) — ~400 calories per bar, chosen because they’re clean and high calorie, making them easy to eat on and off the bike
- Full meals provided during the Stone King trip
Balancing sports nutrition with real food helped keep energy levels up and appetite intact over the course of the week.
Travel, Bags & Logistics
Getting ourselves — and two full enduro bikes — from the US to the French Alps was a project in itself. Stone King requires more than just riding gear; it requires thinking through transport, storage, and living logistics so you’re not stressed before the riding even starts.
Bike Travel & Luggage
- EVOC Bike Bag Pro (for both bikes)
- Cotopaxi Allpa 35 duffel bags
- 2 additional checked bags for tools, spares, and nutrition
We packed for Stone King plus three months in Europe, which meant being very intentional about what went where. Bike bags handled the obvious, while duffels and extra checked bags were used to distribute tools, nutrition, and riding gear without overloading any single bag.
Van Storage & Pre‑Trip Logistics
Before leaving the US, we had to fully shut down and store our Sprinter van. That meant:
- Emptying and reorganizing the van
- Weather‑proofing and covering it
- Accepting that everything we’d need had to fit into airline luggage
It’s not glamorous, but getting this part right made it possible to focus entirely on the trip once we landed.
On‑Trip Transportation
Stone King Rally provides fully supported on‑trip transportation, which removes a huge amount of logistical stress from an already demanding week.
For our Stone King Club Ride, the organization handled the daily logistics, including:
- Support vans for riders and bikes
- Experienced local drivers who know the Alpine roads, trail access points, and timing constraints
- Daily route coordination, ensuring riders were dropped at the correct start locations and collected after each stage
Each day typically involved being transported by van to a starting point, riding a combination of long climbs, hike‑a‑bike sections, and extended descents, and then being picked up or shuttled onward as the route progressed.
This support meant we didn’t have to worry about navigating unfamiliar mountain roads, coordinating car shuttles, or figuring out bike transport at the end of long, exhausting ride days.
Stone King’s logistics are designed to maximize time on trail while minimizing unnecessary road mileage, which made a huge difference when stacking six big riding days back‑to‑back. It allowed us to focus on riding, recovery, and documenting the experience instead of managing transportation stress.
Connectivity & Documents
- Starlink Mini (for reliable internet while working remotely after Stone King)
- Small Goal Zero power bank (for charging phones and cameras)
- International driver’s license
- Travel documents and backups
Being able to work, upload footage, and stay connected while on the in Europe was essential for us. Starlink gives us flexibility when local internet isn’t reliable.
Lessons Learned & Final Thoughts
Stone King Rally is not just a big ride — it’s a systems test. Your fitness, fueling, gear choices, and logistics all get stress‑tested day after day, and small mistakes compound quickly.
A few things stood out after going through it:
- Fueling is everything. Having clear carb and recovery targets wasn’t optional. It was the difference between finishing days strong versus barely hanging on.
- Durability beats novelty. Reliable bikes, proven components, and spare parts mattered far more than the newest or lightest gear.
- Pack smart, not light. Carrying a little extra weight in tools and protection was worth it for peace of mind when things inevitably went wrong.
- Logistics matter more than you think. Having transportation, drivers, and daily coordination handled by Stone King allowed us to focus on riding and recovery instead of problem-solving when we were exhausted.
Stone King is not a bike park vacation, and it’s not a casual enduro trip. It rewards preparation, consistency, and a willingness to suffer a little — or a lot — in some of the most beautiful mountains we’ve ever ridden.
Off‑Bike Training That Made the Difference
One thing that made a huge difference for us going into Stone King was having a structured off‑bike training program. For months leading up to the trip, our primary training outside of riding was through The Get Better Project.
The strength work, consistency, and focus on durability translated directly to the demands of Stone King — especially during long hike‑a‑bike sections, repeated descents, and day‑after‑day fatigue. Being strong, resilient, and accustomed to showing up consistently mattered far more than chasing peak fitness.
We didn’t feel bulletproof, but we felt prepared. And over six straight days of big alpine riding, that preparation paid off.
If you’re considering Stone King, hopefully this packing list gives you a realistic picture of what it takes to show up prepared and actually enjoy the experience.
This post is part of our Stone King Rally Club Ride series, where we break down each day of riding, the climbs, the descents, and what it’s really like to take on one of the most demanding mountain bike trips in the world.
Watch the Stone King Rally Series
If you want to see how all of this actually played out on the trail — from travel days and logistics to long climbs, hike-a-bike sections, and massive alpine descents — we documented the entire experience on YouTube.
👉 Watch the full Stone King Rally Club Ride series on YouTube
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