The Stone King Rally Begins
The Stone King Rally is a six-day mountain bike adventure through the French and Italian Alps, known for massive climbs, long hike-a-bikes, and huge alpine descents. It’s been on our radar for a long time — and this video marks the very beginning of that journey.
This episode is all about getting to the start line. From packing and storing our van in the US, to traveling to Europe, acclimating in Nice, and finally getting our first taste of riding at Stone King, this is the setup that makes the rest of the series possible.
If you’re curious what it actually takes to ride an event like this, this is where it all starts.
Packing, Prep, and Getting the Bikes Ready
Before we even thought about boarding a plane, there was a lot to do.
Both bikes needed a full once-over before Stone King:
- Pivot service and fresh grease
- Cassette and drivetrain work
- New tires
- RideWrap repairs
- Brake bleeds
- Pedal rebuilds
This is the kind of trip where small mechanical issues can snowball fast, so we tried to eliminate as many variables as possible before leaving.
On top of that, we weren’t just packing for Stone King — we were packing for three months in Europe, plus bikes, tools, spare parts, and enough nutrition to survive six massive riding days. Everything went into bike bags and duffels, and the house-on-wheels had to be buttoned up and stored while we were gone.
Once the bags were zipped and the bikes were packed, it finally started to feel real.
Click here to see our Stone King Packing List
Travel Day: Seattle to Nice
Travel days with bikes are always a gamble, but this one went surprisingly smoothly.
We flew from Seattle to Nice with a stopover in London, and if you’re traveling with bikes, British Airways deserves a shout-out — it was one of the smoother experiences we’ve had flying internationally with bike bags.
By the time we landed in Nice, we were tired, dehydrated, and very ready for food. First stop: groceries. Nothing fancy — just enough to get us through the night and into the morning.
Jet lag is real on trips like this, so we stuck to our usual system:
- Move your body
- Eat
- Hydrate
- Sleep
Simple, but effective.
Acclimating in Nice (and Carb Loading)
We arrived in Nice about a week before Stone King, which gave us time to settle in, recover from travel, and start adjusting to life in Europe.
That also meant carb loading — and France does that part very well.
Pastries quickly became part of the routine:
- Pear and almond tarts
- Citron tarts
- Fancy fruit tarts
- And eventually, a realization that while pastries are good… pizza might still be undefeated
It wasn’t just about the food though. Taking a few days to slow down, walk around, eat well, and ease back into movement made a big difference heading into a demanding week of riding.
Meeting the Group and Heading North
The Stone King Rally meeting location was conveniently set at the Nice Airport, which made logistics simple — at least in theory.
After navigating some unexpected construction and barriers, we met up with the group, built our bikes, and loaded everything into the vans. From there, we had a five-hour drive north into the mountains to reach our first base.
This is also where the scale of Stone King really started to sink in.
Each day of the rally is expected to include:
- Around 3,000 feet of climbing
- Over 10,000 feet of descending
- And six days in a row of that effort
That’s a big ask, even for experienced riders.
Night One: Briefing and Big Expectations
After a long travel day, we checked into our hotel, grabbed dinner, and sat down for the first Stone King briefing.
We went over:
- Daily schedules
- Navigation and routing
- How the week would flow
- And what to expect from the terrain
It was clear right away that this wasn’t just a riding trip — it was an endurance challenge that would test fitness, skill, and consistency over multiple days.
With alarms set and gear laid out, it was time to rest up.
Day 1: Our First Ride at Stone King
Day one started with climbing — a theme that would repeat itself all week.
The first ride gave us a small preview of what Stone King is known for:
- Steep climbs
- Challenging hike-a-bikes
- And a long, rewarding descent to kick things off
Coming off a week without riding, it took some time to warm up. The trails were steep, technical, and exposed in places — the kind of terrain where mistakes add up quickly.
By the end of the ride, the jitters were gone, and the excitement had fully set in.
Ride 1 Stats
- Distance: ~7 miles
- Climbing: ~775 feet
- Descending: ~3,600 feet
- Difficulty: 5/10
- Fun Factor: 8/10
Not a bad way to start the week.
What’s Next
This was just the beginning.
In the next episode, we tackle the rest of Stone King Day 1, including:
- Real hike-a-bikes
- Three more incredible descents
- And a deeper look at what makes this event so demanding — and so special
If you’re curious whether Stone King truly deserves its legendary reputation, this series will give you an honest look — one day and one ride at a time.
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