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The latest video from Rapha Films documents the inaugural Rapha Yomp Rally, a unique ultra-distance riding event that took place in Southern California last spring. Watch the seven-minute video and find photos from the picturesque five-day ride here…
Held last May, the 2023 Rapha Yomp Rally was an ultra-distance event that challenged riders to complete a nearly 400-mile route following mixed-terrain tracks through the mountains of Southern California within five days. Beginning in Santa Barbara and ending in Los Angeles, participants could complete the course at their own pace and could pedal solo or with friends. The only requirements were that riders treat the land and its inhabitants with respect, take care of themselves and other riders, leave no trace, and avoid camping on private property. Beyond that, attendees chose their own adventure and created their own experience.
The Yomp Rally route followed a reversed version of the path the Spanish Padres took in 1769 to create the California Missions, traversing a rich network of ecosystems. These include desert and coastal sage, high pine forest, and mountain chapparal, and materials from these landscapes can be seen in the construction material of Chumash baskets and Catholic Churches across the central coast. The entire stretch of land traversed in the Yomp Rally once belonged to the Chumash people, and their influence is still felt in supporting many of the projects that steward the region’s roads and trails.
Introducing the event, Rapha’s North America Head of Marketing Brandon Camarda said, “It’s a rally, not a race. A point to point, ultra-distance adventure where the goal was simple — complete the fixed route covering 388 miles between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles within five days. The rest was left to the riders to shape the adventure into the experience they wanted. The Rally is our answer to ultra-distance races, but without the typical red-tape & rules. Without the competition. But with all the camaraderie, challenge and adventure.”
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