YOMP Rally

[cgolvin]

I'll just post this here for you bikepacker types. Very challenging event, I know from experience that the fellow who designed the route, Dylan, knows this area extremely well and can create a very tough challenge.

As I commented to the initial post on IG, however, some of the roads on the route were badly damaged during the year end storms and I'm skeptical that they'll be ready by May.

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/yomp-rally-2023

[AngryScientist]

Looks pretty epic!

I particularly like this bit of guidance

- We recommend disc brakes because you will need stopping power when loaded on gravel descents, although you’re more than welcome to prove us wrong.

[cgolvin]

I was discussing this with @jkbrwn and, on reflection, I think this is rather irresponsible of Rapha. Currently, access to the Los Padres National Forest (in which a lot of the route resides) is closed for 60 days, and that's just to allow the Forest Service the opportunity to assess the damage from the recent storms. Once complete I suspect that clearing trails and repairing roads will take many months, certainly well past May.

This provides more detail and some pretty graphic images.