Trans Iowa V14 is less than a week away. After a resounding defeat in 2015, thanks to Mother Nature’s torrential rain and brutal winds, I’m excited for another go at this legendary race. I’ll be aboard a 2017 Specialized Diverge, with its low bb and FutureShock, for this time round. Here are the specs:

-Shimano Ultegra 8000 series Di2 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes

-ENVE SES 4.5 AR rear wheel with a Donnelly Strava USH 32mm tire (measures closer to 34mm on this rim)

-custom Zipp 202 tubeless front wheel with a Schmidt SON dynamo hub (Thanks to Nic James at Zipp for the killer build!) A Donnelly MSO 36mm front tire

-PRO stem, drop bar, and bottle cages

-Zipp Vuka Clip aerobars with accessory Di2 shifters

-iSSi Flash III pedals with 58.5mm spindles

Sinewave Beacon headlight/USB charger (supplemented by a Coast headlamp on Bontrager Circuit helmet)

Navigation is cue sheet only at Trans Iowa, thus the homemade clipboard and wireless Cateye computer. The Wahoo is there to record and manage the effort. A cache battery will keep it running for over a day.

Revelate’s new Mag Tank holds 2,000 calories with ease and the clasp is a cinch, even one-handed on rough roads

Two 950ml Elite bottles and a Camelbak Chase (1.5L) carry enough fluids for 100-mile sections without resupply.

Two inner tubes, a tire lever, a chain tool, multi tool, and patches are carried in a Bontrager cargo bottle mounted to the underside of the down tube. I’ll carry chain lube, a drivetrain brush, and a Dynaplug inflator in my Camelbak

Ortlieb’s smaller, medium-sized Seat Pack will keep spare clothing and an emergency bivy away from the elements. My perch is a Selle SMP Blaster mounted to a Thomson Elite seatpost.

Fast-rolling and tough, Donnelly’s Strava USH tubeless 32mm provides extra mud clearance. It also pairs nicely with the wide ENVE rim, providing an element of aerodynamics.

For a bit of extra comfort and control I stuck with Donnelly’s 36mm MSO up front.

Not pictured is my clothing. I’m packing my bags for Iowa with two clothing scenarios in mind, one wet/cold, the other dryer/warmer. Fingers crossed, we can all go lighter. On my feet with be a pair of Shimano XC9 shoes. I’ll wear wool socks regardless of weather. My kit will be a pair of Rapha Brevet Cargo bib shorts, a wool baselayer, and a Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey. I’ll bring arm and leg warmers, full-finger and short finger gloves, a rain jacket, a wind vest, rain pants, rain shorts, rain overgloves, rain oversocks, lightweight shoe covers, a cycling cap, an assortment of Buffs, and a warm hat. I’ll also wear a pair of Julbo Aerospeed glasses with photochromic lenses.

We get underway at 4am on Saturday morning. 340 or so miles need to be completed by 2pm on Sunday, or 34 hours later. Here's wishing best of luck to all my fellow adventurers! Big thanks to Guitar Ted for organizing yet another edition of Trans Iowa.