The Greatest Spring Classic of all time is approaching.

Never mind those classics with the carbon wheels, radiosets and assisting cars. The USA is producing some real Spring Classics and the Grand one is coming up soon at the end of the month. Trans Iowa is set to commence on the last Saturday of April and will end on Sunday at 2 pm. This is a race that has kept many of the riders awake at night. The endless training, the equipment preparation, the mental aspect, the weather. It is so hard to put it all in perspective and to engrasp it all. The movie will premiere soon and that will give people an inside view of what goes on. I have started training for this event back in october and have ridden all through the winter. I only hope to finish.
I have prepared 3 bicycles for this event:
I modified my Chili con Crosso and it now sports Thomson stem and noodle bars. Dura ace road levers, 9 speed barends, A shimano 105 external crank with a Chris Kringle Bottom bracket. My chainrings are 34x45 and my rear will most likely be 11x34. Low gears are good for the last 300 miles of hills. I have also gone with the switch from the San Marco Rolls (over 25 years of loyalty) to the All City Gonzo, my absolute favorite.

On my Black Mountain Cycles I got rid of the Ragley Luxy bars for the Salsa Cowbells. I also added a new favorite tape as in Zipp. This bike runs triple up front with 26x36x46 with 11x34 in back. I built a White Industries Tracker rear hub on a Gold velocity Fusion rim and up front and old skool XTR on Fusion. Also running the All City Gonzo saddle. This bike has better clearance and the triple. We will see what I pick last minute. It will depend on some testing I will do on some hills and see how fresh my legs stay.

My intention this year is to go super light and not carry a whole cupboard full of food. I will have enough supplies on me and rely on the gas stations for nourishment. Most of my clothing will be wool, and maybe I Clubride shirt if It arrives. CEP is supposed to send me compression leg sleeves since my veins are starting to get damaged from the 9 hours I spend standing every day at the shop.,

For Tires I am thinking:
#1 Scwalbe Extremes, folding in 35c
#2 Michelin Jets in 700x30 if it is bone dry out there
#3 I toyed with the idea of KEnda Happy Medium but have no resources to buy them.


I am over my attempt at singlespeeding the thing. I lost a lot of training due to a very hectic bike shop schedule thanks to a lack of winter and a very mild period in March. I will ride with more experience and spirit than with fitness.

I know I can finish Trans Iowa because I was able to finish Dirty Kanza last year and that was no ride in the park.

Done with my rambling,,

Watch Ben Shockey's videos, they are great.

Today I rode morning and afternoon and clocked a decent 70 miles

Ari