Rigs of the 2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational

The Iditarod Trail Invitational might not be on everyone’s radar, but it’s by far one of the most demanding ultra-endurance races in the world. Each year, hundreds of riders gather in Knik, just outside of Anchorage, Alaska, to brave some of the harshest conditions found anywhere. The routes follow the historic Iditarod Trail and can be raced on foot, on a fat bike, or on skis.

This year, there are three route options to choose from. New for 2026, the ITI 150 provides competitors with an introduction to the demands of Alaska’s remote backcountry and is a qualifier for the ITI 350. The ITI 350 has six checkpoints and finishes in McGrath, Alaska. The ITI 1000 is “the pinnacle of all winter ultra-marathons,” requiring self-sufficiency and considerable resilience to endure up to 30 days and nights in freezing conditions. It’s not uncommon for fewer than 50% of riders to finish the ITI 1000.

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With help from the organizers and participants, we’re excited to present the Rigs of the 2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational as our second “Rigs of” roundup of the year. We gathered rider and rig details for over 20 brave souls who will be out riding one of the routes, and we’ve included key details such as which bike, bags, and GPS device each rider is using, as well as which route they are registered for. The 2026 grand depart starts this Sunday at 2 p.m., and you’ll be able to follow their progress live on the event page.

Zach Anderson

Age 39 / Apple Valley, Minnesota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I am riding my Otso Arctodus for my rookie ITI run. It is mainly a stock SLX build, and I am running the 26×4.80 Al Mighty tires with hopefully just enough studs to keep the rubber side down.
BAGS: My cockpit bags are from Revelate Designs, where I will be utilizing the Egress bag, Feed bags, and the Mag Tank. I found my Salsa Timberjack Frame Bag fit perfectly, and finished the kit with custom Sturdy Design panniers, which aren’t the lightest, but they are built to withstand anything.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be using my Outdoor Research Helium Bivy along with my -20 North Face bag and Sea to Summit Lightweight pad to keep me cozy at night. Favorite piece of kit right now is my Mont-Bell Down Parka for staying comfortable at camp.
GPS DEVICE: Navigation will be provided by my Garmin Etrex 30x and OsmAnd Maps on my iphone as a backup.

Suman Baddam

Age 45 / New Haven, Connecticut (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding on a Surly Icecream truck. The bike features a new pair of Nextie 105 rims with 45 N Wrathchild 4.6″ studded tires, a 1×11 drivetrain with a 20T chainring, and 11-46T cassette.
BAGS: Ride Forward Designs by Jay Petervary rack bag, Ortlieb panniers, REI small frame bag, and Rockbros handlebar bag. Revelate Designs expedition pogies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Eddie Bauer Karakoram -30 sleeping bag, Exped sleeping pad.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex 22x.

Mike Braniff

Age 50 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: 2019 Fatback Corvus, 105mm Nextie wheels, 26″ studded Dillinger 5’s, 26% chainring that turns a SRAM 10-50T cassette, single-sided Shimano XT pedals.
BAGS: Revelate Mag Tank and a pair of Feedbags, Fatback frame bag, one Oveja Negra fork bag, one 11L Nano Pannier and one 22L REI pannier (to fit my 2.5L pot), and a fast and easy 60L bag for my -40 sleeping bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Blackburn Mammoth pump, Black Diamond Icon as my primary light, old school Revelate pogies that stand upright, and you can stuff things in without having them fall out. Two Hydro Flask thermoses because I just can’t wear a hydration pack happily. Tons of Uncrustables, caramel M&M’s, and Cheddar Cheese Goldfish. Wiggy’s waders, just like everyone else. Tools I hope I won’t need. Pills for every ailment I could contemplate.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex and my iPhone.

Casey Bredeson

Age 45 / Thousand Oaks Farm, Cavalier County, North Dakota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Meriwether Cycles custom titanium longtail fat bike with graphics from Bicycle Pubes, laid out and anodized by Agave Finishworks. Whit at Meriwether modified the custom rack to add a pannier rail. 27.5” Nextie Xiphia 89mm internal width singlewall rims with the nipples epoxied (no tape) from Mike C at Big Wheel Building. Boone Ti Radius crankset. 24T Race Face chainring. Eagle 12-speed with gripshift. SRAM level Ultimate for the carbon levers. Bar Yak goodies on Corvus Sweet Rise bars. Tectonic Altar V1 Pedals and a Reform saddle.
BAGS: Custom, insulated bottle bags on the bars and seatstays from Dispersed Bikepacking. They also made the frame bags and a 65L rack bag with a drybag. The framebag is extra wide with a vertical baffle. 16L Tailfin panniers include custom 3D-printed mounting hardware.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m carrying four .83L Zojirushi mugs to keep my water liquid. Cane Creek ViscoSet with a heavy tune. Custom geometry with a stack height of 666mm and reach of 420mm. HTA is 68 degrees. 640mm chainstays. Modified Ergon GP2 grips with backwards-facing CaneCreek bar ends + silicone tape inside the Revelate Expedition pogies.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be navigating with a Garmin eTrex 32x and Goat Maps on an iPhone.

Jay Cable

Age 52 / Fairbanks, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 1,000
BIKE: I will be riding a Meriwether Cycles-built, Corvus Cycles-designed steel bike. Twelve speeds, with low gearing, Nextie 100mm carbon wheels with DT Swiss hubs. What can I say, it is a bike, and I like riding it!
BAGS: I will be using a frame bag from Tyson Flaharty Designs, mini panniers from Bedrock Bags, a front harness (from 2010, and still going strong!), plus a few other bits from Revelate Designs, a giant bag made by my daughter Molly, and finally several Oveja Negra Bootlegger bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Too much stuff!
GPS DEVICE: Phone and possibly a Garmin eTrex 30.

Joaquin Candel

Age 55 / Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Salsa Beargrease. Nextie 100mm rims. Dillinger 5 tires. Son Dynamo hub and kLite adventure lamp over Bar Yak Expedition extension bars.
BAGS: Frame bag custom-made by HWY19, Talon front bag from Bar Yak, Revelate Designs, Ride Forward sleeping system bag, and Poco panniers from MLD.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Fenix headlamp and backup, recharged by hub. Feather friends sleeping bag, and MLD bivy sack ready for -40 nights.
GPS DEVICE: Primarily Goat Maps on my phone, and Garmin inReach as a backup.

Tristan Carlson

Age 32 / Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’m riding my Waltworks Magic School Bus, my monstrously long steel fat bike. It’s incredibly stable at low speed and tractors its way up any hill, especially with a 24T chainring. I built up a pair of Whisky 26″ fat wheels with a SON28 dynamo hub for ITI, so battery management for lights will be much less of a concern for me; my Sinewave Beacon 2 will light the way.
BAGS: A mishmash of bags that have served me well at Arrowhead and Tuscobia. Ortlieb panniers, a giant Sea to Summit dry bag for my sleep system, a Swift Zeitgeist crammed full of snacks, Cedaero Devils Kettle XL bar bags, and a custom frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My homemade reindeer fur ruff snapped onto an oversized balaclava that I wear over my helmet will keep my head toasty warm, it’s tried and true to -30°F!
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Etrex 30x on the bars and a Garmin Enduro 3 on my wrist.

Michael O. Cook

Age 33 / Eidsvoll (Norway)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Giant Yukon size large with 26’’ wheels and 45NRTH Dillinger5 tires. SRAM XO1 and RaceFace Next 165 cranks with 28T chainring. Aeroe rack up front for the sleeping system. OMM rack in the back. Cobrafist pogies hide a carbon handlebar and carbon SRAM brake levers.
BAGS: Custom frame bag by Jeremy Stewart, AGU feedbags, Exped bag in the back, and Tailfin long toptube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Due to the large frame (for maximum storage) and short legs, the Reverb AXS dropper will help me back on the bike.
GPS DEVICE: Sextant and hope will guide me to Macgrath.

Petra Davis

Age 33 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’m excited to be riding the Corvus Akio 2.0. This has been my favorite fat bike yet! It is set up with SRAM XO drivetrain/components, trusty mechanical brakes, Corvus Big Su rims, Dilllinger 5 tires, and Revelate Expedition Pogies. Floral decals for fun and fashion by ROR Makes.
BAGS: Custom Loam Equipment frame bag, Revelate Designs Nano Panniers, Sea to Summit 36L compression sack for all puffy storage, multiple Revelate snack bags, handlebar pouch, unknown make, generously borrowed from Janice Tower.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Have been loving the internal storage capacity of the Akio 2.0 for gear that I need but don’t need to access often, will be using a custom bivvy made by a personal friend, designed to be functional and ultralight. Ruff made by Alaska Fur Exchange of beaver and wolf has kept me warm and happy in frigid conditions. Much of the gear I am using has been generously donated/gifted by folks in my community. I might be starting solo, but this is not a solo effort, and I will be thinking of everyone who has contributed to me and my gear getting to McGrath!
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Frances DeBlare

Age 41 / Palmer, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Borealis Crestone with SRAM GX on a Garbaruk cassette, driving a set of Dillinger 5 tires. Old Man Mountain Fat Divide Rear rack and a BarYak Expedition 35 to keep the handlebar bags solidly.
BAGS: Rogue Panda double-decker custom frame bag with Denali Topo, Alamo Gordo Tank bag with Denali profile, and 2 Happy Jack Snack Sacks. Mountain Laurel Poco Panniers (first gen) and double-end handlebar bag. Ride Forward Chillin for all the things sleep, Revelate Designs Egress Pocket for the snacks, and an Oveja Negra Bootlegger for my fuel bottle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Cinnabar -40 bag, REI Helix inflatable Sleep pad for a cozy night’s sleep. MSR XGK stove, Toaks 1100 pot, and Hyperlite Repack to stay hydrated and fueled. Fenix Headlamp and Bike lights with a Nitecore Summit power bank, to keep things illuminated.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 840 bike computer for tracking and data, but navigation preference to GAIA on the iPhone.

Ryan Haug

Age 54 / Fargo, North Dakota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Fatback Corvus FLT. SRAM GX drivetrain with a 28T up front and a 10-50T in back. SRAM G2 RSC brakes. Nextie Xiphias 105mm rims with Onyx hubs. 45NRTH Dillinger 5 studded tires.
BAGS: Revelate Designs handlebar harness, feed bags, frame bag and panniers. Sea to Summit bags on the handlebar and fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system is an Eddie Bauer -30F Kara Koram sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest Z lite SOL sleeping pad and an OR Helium bivy. A Black Diamond Icon headlamp with a Nite Rider Mako 250 on the handlebars for lighting. An MSR Whisperlite stove for melting snow and cooking a hot meal if needed.
GPS DEVICE: Navigation is a Garmin eTrex 32X along with Gaia on my phone.

Curtis Henry

Age 35 / Fairbanks, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Trek Farley 9.6 with Old Man Mountain rear rack, Nextie Rims with DT Swiss Hubs, studded 45NRTH Husker Du Tires, Nicecore HC70 light, SRAM Eagle Drive terrain. 50T cassette with 30T chainring because I like walking up hills.
BAGS: Revelate Designs panniers and feed bags, Apocalypse Design frame bag, and pogies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Toe Warmers, Nemo sleeping bag, various jackets, batteries, lots of food, and gels.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura and Garmin Forerunner 945 Watch.

Kenneth Joergensen

Age 52 / Copenhagen (Denmark)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Fatback.
BAGS: A mix of bags. Revelate Designs panniers and feedbags, Sea to Summit 35L dry bag, Fatback framebag, Wizard Works top tube bag, Salsa Anything bags, Miss Grape rack for the bivy out front, Revelate Designs pogies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Absolutely love this bike. Bought it second-hand from another Dane, who took it to Nome. So I know it will do me good.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex 32x.

Kris Kleine

Age 46 / Athens, Georgia (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’ll be lining up on a 2018 Salsa Mukluk. It’s built around a SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain with 10–50 gearing and a 26T oval chainring up front for spinning through whatever Alaska throws at me. Rolling on 45NRTH Dillinger 4.8” tires. The bike was built, maintained, and serviced thanks to the crew at Hub Bicycles in Athens, Georgia — the kind of shop that keeps things quiet, smooth, and ready for long miles.
BAGS: I’m using an assortment of racks and cages, including an Old Man Mountain Divide XL, Wolf Tooth Components Morse Cage, and Problem Solver bowties on the front fork. These are paired with a mix of REI, Revelate Designs, Sea to Summit, and Oveja Negra bags, plus a homemade front handlebar bag repurposed from an old backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love camping and cycling gear, so it’s hard to pick a highlight or favorite. I’ll be carrying a heavy but extremely comfortable Wiggy’s sleeping bag; it’s not the lightest option, but safe and comfortable, and enables me to spend as much time as possible under the northern lights.
GPS DEVICE: Gaia GPS on my phone.

Mayella Krause

Age 36 / Sao Bento do Sul (Brazil)

ROUTE: 1,000
BIKE: I’ll be riding The Bodega, my 2016 Salsa Mukluk Ti, which features a Lauf fork. The setup is unchanged from the last two times I tried to prove something to myself in Alaska. Component-wise, it continues to function as a bicycle: the cranks turn, the pedals clip, the wheels spin, the brakes squeak (a feature, not a flaw), and the gears shift. If you need a spreadsheet of part numbers, please consult the archives from 1-2 years ago. The bike has not evolved, and neither have I.
BAGS: In this economy, I’m not offering free advertising for brands, except where credit is objectively due. ITI’s repeat offender Jay Petervary designed the original and still undefeated ultimate winter ultra rack bag: the Ride Forward Chillin’, a gold standard for hauling your life into a white void for weeks. Since this year I’m going to Nome, basement storage was added with a dedicated stove kit bag. Up front, the cab got extended with two fork-mounted cages for thermoses, and a handlebar-rolled sleeping pad borrowed last-minute from my good pal Tony Allen in Anchorage (because nothing says “well-prepared for 1,000 miles of wilderness” like realizing part of your gear has gone on a solo tour through TSA and never returned).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My Doom 2025 gremlin bell, a small jangly reminder that I am capable of voluntarily making poor but character-building decisions. A photo of my dog/coach Colin Robinson and my parents, because emotional support weighs nothing and does everything. A lifetime supply of Titan Straps in every size and color, courtesy of another ITI repeat offender, Cam Lawson. If I can’t fix it with a strap, it probably wasn’t meant to be fixed.

Justinas Leveika

Age 36 / Tolga (Lithuania)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Trek Farley 9.6 the snow melting red that will hopefully keep me warm during the coldest nights out there. Bontrager stem, handlebar, seatpost combo. SRAM mechanical gears. 4.5″ Billy Flamingo’s tyres with race stud pattern and exposure lights.
BAGS: custom “snow” collection from Tailfin. Special notice to the huge arch and oversized cargo pack and the big roll in front. In the center of the bike, business as usual, “normal” size frame bag and top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Albion kit to help me to stay outside for longer, as the weather forecast looks cold.
GPS DEVICE: sun, moon and stars.

Patrick McDermott

Age 52 / Owatonna, Minnesota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’ll be riding a Salsa Mukluk with Shimano XT 1×12 drivetrain and Paul Components Klamper mechanical brakes. Other features include Nextie Xiphia 95mm carbon rims with Onyx hubs and Dillinger 5 26 x 4.6″ tires. The bike also includes a Baryak Ultra 35 with a carbon crossbar, Enve 7 carbon handlebar, and Whisky carbon seatpost, along with a Ceramic Speed bottom bracket.
BAGS: I run a variety of bags, including an Old Man Mountain Divide XL Rack, Ortlieb Panniers, and a handlebar pack. I use a Ride Forward Designs Chillin’ sleep system bag, a Cedaero frame bag, Salsa Anything Cage bags, Revelate Designs Expedition Pogies, Mountain Feedbags, a Joey Downtube Bag, and a MagTank.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I use a Marmot -40F Sleeping Bag with Mountain Laurel bivy, and Sea to Summit Ether Light inflatable sleeping pad. My lighting consists of Fenix BC26R Bike lights and a Black Diamond Icon 700 Headlamp. Water storage is in Yeti Ramblers on front forks, and my stove is an SR XGK EX Stove.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Etrex 32x mounted on bike. iPhone 16 with Gaia GPS. Printed and laminated USGS maps if all else fails.

Eli Miner

Age 33 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’ll be riding my trusty 2021 Corvus Rhino to McGrath. Mostly stock build kit with Corvus wheels, SRAM shifting and brakes. Tubeless Terrene Yippee Ki Yay studded tires and an extra small chainring up front.
BAGS: Lots of Revelate designs gear: Rohn rack bag, nano panniers, frame bag, Jerrycan, handlebar bag, and two feed bags. Salsa Anything Cages and Bag, plus a Hyperlite Bottle Insulator. Nathan’s hydration vest is worn under my jacket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Huge fan of the new Revelate Expedition Pogies. They’re super warm and include a zippered vent for heat management and easy bike adjustments. The Rohn rack bag is new for this year too; it’s huge and easily fits my whole sleep system plus an extra warm puffy coat. The interface and connection with the rack is a little more refined than the dry bag + voile straps I had been using up until now. My sleep system is an OR Bivvy, Nemo foam pad, Marmot Col -20F down bag, and a Sea to Summit fleece liner.
GPS DEVICE: Primary is a Garmin Edge 540 with a AA powered Garmin eTrex 32x for backup.

Kendall Park

Age 36 / St. Louis, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: 1,000
BIKE: Otso Arctodus Ti built from the ground up for the Iditarod. DT Swiss 350 hubs with Nextie 26″ Xiphias 105mm carbon rims for maximum float. D5’s, I think? Debating on a Husker Du in the back. Shimano Deore XT 12-speed, 10-51T cassette, and a flipped 26T Garbaruk oval chainring. Race Face Cranks. Cane Creek Visco headset to help smooth out the powder jitters. Protostudia titanium rack in the back (lightest fat rack I’ve found so far). I rode flats for the first time last year, and I’m never looking back (OneUp Composites).
BAGS: Dispersed custom framebag with a cutout for lifting the bike. Custom South City Stitch works feeder bags designed around my thermoses. Down Under Down Tube Bag by Broadfork. MLD Ultra Poco panniers with Dispersed liner bags. Cedaero top tube bag. Pogies by yours truly. Tribulus Endover UHMWPE handlebar bag (insanely light).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I decided to move to a rear rack bag this year and needed something longer and narrower than last year’s Dispersed bag. Zach at South City Stitchworks created an insanely awesome compression sack for my -60F bag. Lots of thoughtful touches, including stretch mesh pockets and a place for me to stash my sleeping pads. Loved working with someone from my hometown! I have a bottomless tent and some extra items to help in deep snow. But there is no snow in Missouri, so it’s all theory, no practice. We’ll see! Leah let me borrow her jacket. (At least a piece of this kit has already made it to Nome!)
GPS DEVICE: my heart. Jk, Garmin eTrex and Gaia (phone).

Jay Petervary

Age 53 / Victor, Idaho (USA)

ROUTE: 1,000
BIKE: Esker Hayduke LVS FAT frame, Blacksheep fork, Shimano drivetrain, Appleman cranks, TRP mechanical rear brake, Nextie 105mm rear rim and a 128mm front, Schalbe Jumbo Jim 4.8″ tires.
BAGS: All custom Sagebrush Stitchworks with plenty of details, plus a Ride Forward Designs rear rack bag, and MLD panniers. Front rack is Blacksheep, and rear is a 2007 standard OMM. This full luggage set up is light and sweet!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am my most valued piece of gear that I will look after, monitor, and take care of most.
GPS DEVICE: My memory, eTrex, and maybe a 1040.

Troy Szczurkowski

Age 53 / Daisy Hill, Brisbane (Australia)

ROUTE: 1,000
BIKE: I’ll be racing to Nome on a Corvus FLT, Dice fork, running HED 100’s, 4.8″ Huskers Dus, Tune front/DT rear with 180 internals, Pillar wing spokes, NEXT SL cranks, 11 spd SRAM, modded Spykes, Syntace P6 HiFlex post, XTR trail pedals – every spinning thing is Area54 skunkworks winterised.
BAGS: Area54 custom fabbed rear rack, panniers, seatbag and downtube bag. Revelate framebag, TT bag, feedbags, old skool 1st gen small Sweetroll and small Pocket with Spocket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Aurora blinky lights for Yukon solo raving, Biolite 6k cache battery, Whisperlite, -30 TNF Inferno bag, Nemo Switchback pad, 1st gen Wolfgars with OR XGaiters.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 66s.

Derrick Seys

Age 59 / Geneseo, Illinois (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Corvus Rhino FLT with 27.5” Corvus 80mm carbon and studded D5’s, SRAM Eagle grip shift GX mix and race face 28t up front. Time pedals, salsa bent bar, SQlab dynamic saddle.
BAGS: Revelate Design’s frame bag, egress bar bag, and Mag tank. San Util narrow roll top panniers mounted to Corvus LCG rack and Marmot -40F bag on top. Salsa fork mounts for stove and an DIY insulated Salsa EXP dry bag for hydro flask bottle. Cedaero bar mount devils kettle XL carries another straw top Hydro Flask. Bar Yak extension to tuck the OR Bivy, accessories, and bed pad.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Smartwool 250 is my base layer system under Gore, REI, or NG shells with zip on a coyote ruff for brisk days, coupled with OuterU face glove/bala. 45NRTH Wolfgars, pogies, trousers, with intuition -C/-F 12mm liners. MSR Whisperlite Int. stove and Ti pot.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 830 and Garmin explore app.

Eric Thomason

Age 52 / Kenai, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Trek Farley 9.9 built for the ITI 350. SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain, Shimano XTR M9200 pedals, and SRAM Level Ultimate 4-piston brakes. Rolling on 45NRTH Dillinger 5 tires for dependable traction across firm trail, drifted sections, and river crossings. The setup prioritizes reliability and forward progress in extreme conditions.
BAGS: Old Man Mountain rear rack with a Ride Forward Designs Chillin’ Bag carrying either my -60°F Snowy Owl sleeping bag or a -20°F bag, depending on final weather conditions. Revelate Nano Panniers mounted to the rack for bulk gear and layers. Rogue Panda dual-compartment frame bag for tools and critical items. Up front: Revelate Mag-Tank and two Mountain Feed Bags for fuel and quick-access essentials.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Flexible sleep system (-60°F or -20°F based on forecast). Dillinger 5s for consistent winter traction. Clean cockpit layout for easy access with heavy gloves.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex 32x.

Tomas Vajdiak

Age 38 / Horovice (Czech Republic)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: I’ll hit the trail Salsa Mukluk. Rolling on 45NRTH Dillinger 5, 26 x 4.6″ tubeless tires.
BAGS: Salsa Expedition frame bag. Revelate Designs Nano panniers, Revelate MAG-TANK 2000 as top tube bag, Revelate Egress pocket connected to BarYak Expedition harness with backbone and magnetic Fidlock clip. Downtube is equipped with a Revelate Joey cargo bag. Sea to Summit Dry bag placed at rear rack to store sleeping system.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Cockpit is advanced by the Baryak Expedition handlebar system with crossbar extension to carry eTrex 32 and Fenix PD36R PRO light. Grip shift with Ergon GP2 hidden under 45NRTH pogies. I will be using the Pajak RADICAL 16H WINTER together with Therm-a-Rest Z Lite pad as a sleeping system. Complete face Protection System from Outeru.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex 32.

Matthew Webb

Age 50 / Minnesota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: Going for #2 Finish in McGrath on a New Otso Arctodus Titanium. Carbon Everything 1×12 speed 11-51T cassette, 32T Oval Ring. Carbon Whisky 100mm Rims and will change tires to Johnny 5 upfront, Dillinger 5 in back, both studded.
BAGS: Revelate Designs mostly everything, including their Expedition Pogies, Cedaero Custom Frame Bag, Broadfork Custom Downtube, awesome Ride Forward rear rack bag by JayP.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: BarYak all over the place, including Expedition Arms with Peregrine Arm Rest Aero position. Keep feet happy with Wolfgars and RBH VaprThrm Vapor Barrier Socks and Berghaus YakAttack waterproof gaiters for the overflow. Wiggy Waders for the win if really deep. Friends and Family for the motivation and support, including my wife Connie!
GPS DEVICE: 1. Garmin eTrex 32x, 2. Garmin inReach Explorer+, 3. Garmin Edge 310, 4. cell phone with Gaia.

Andy Weinzierl

Age 43 / Duluth, Minnesota (USA)

ROUTE: 350
BIKE: My rookie attempt at the ITI will be on my trusty 2016 Framed Wolftrax. Nothing stock is left on the bike except for the frame. It has Terrene Johnny 5 tires setup tubeless on HED rims with DT Swiss hubs. The drivetrain is Shimano 1×12 with a 30T chainring. It also has a Salsa carbon fork and Renthal carbon bars.
BAGS: The frame bag is from Revelate Designs. I’m running an Axiom Fatliner rear rack with Axiom panniers and a Sea to Summit compression bag on top. Up front I have top tube and feed bags from Cedaero, and an REI handlebar bag. On the fork are my homemade reflectix Hydroflask sleeves in Salsa Anything Cages. Also on the fork are a pair of Velocity bottle cages holding my fuel bottle and repair kit. A Wolftooth bag on the down tube holds my spare tube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m probably in the minority in that I am bringing a Durston X-Dome 1+ tent rather than a bivy. I appreciate the extra space, and it doesn’t weigh or take up much more space than a bivy. In the tent, I will be using a four-layer sleeping bag system consisting of a Sea to Summit Reactor liner, a SOL emergency bivy, a 0-degree Enlightened Equipment quilt, and a 30-degree REI quilt. Insulating me from the ground are a Thermarest Z-Rest and Therm-a-Rest XTherm NXT pads. My hands will be cozy in Cedaero pogies.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin eTrex 32x and Ride With GPS on my iPhone 16 Pro as backup.

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