Three-hundred-and-eighty-eight miles (624km) across coastal desert, the rugged Sierra Madre range, high pine forests and mountain chaparral. The inaugural Rapha Yomp Rally was a stunning adventure that forever changed my perspective on biking.
A rally, not a race, Rapha’s head of marketing, Brandon Camarda —himself a Silk Road Mountain Race finisher— modeled the test event after the bike-packing events that are gaining traction throughout Europe. The format is simple: complete the given route within five days, be prepared to take care of your needs, offer a helping hand to your fellow riders when needed, and be respectful to the surroundings and its inhabitants.
