Author: Mosaic Admin

The season is well underway and recently I received my brand new Mosaic GT-1 i45 gravel bike. Since the folks at Above Category built up the bike and friend/photographer Jim Merithew shot NewBikeDay photos, this bike and I have been on some serious adventures. It’s all been a bit of a blur recently, springing from one event to another, with a pace that could only be described as ‘fullgas’.

My first outing with the new bike, directly after receiving it fresh from AC, was the Valley of Tears gravel race in Turkey, TX. This was a new race this year, but it was an opportunity that was hard to pass up. The generous prize purse and spot on the calendar the week before Midsouth made it an attractive race for many, drawing a healthy field of pros. I’d already been racing for a month or two going into the Valley of the Tears, landing some solid results and a win in some of my cherished local Grasshopper Adventure Series races, but the form was still somewhat of a mystery. 

Unfortunately, Keegan Swenson, the red-hot favorite for the race, got away with one other rider early on in a super sandy river wash section and that was the last we’d see of him. Keegan went on to win and I ultimately came 4th after attacking out of the chase group with a handful of others and then coming second in the technical sprint to the line.

After Valley of the Tears, Jim and I loaded up the rental truck and headed northeast to Stillwater, OK for the Mid South Gravel. The Mid South is truly something special, one of my favorite events each year.

Last year, I was forced to sit on the sidelines at Mid South due to a nasty stomach bug. But this year there was no stomach bug standing in my way. It was awesome to spend the whole week leading into the event in Stillwater, catching up with Bobby Wintle, enjoying the atmosphere, and watching the chaos build through the weekend. I had a chance to pre-ride the entire course, checking out key sectors ahead of the race. One thing very quickly became clear, this wasn’t going to be any ole Midsouth. Heavy rain in the weeks prior to the event had resulted in seemingly endless hard packed mud ruts, each one chomping at the bit to swallow a tire and send a rider flying off their bike.

Come race day, I was feeling good and ready for the task at hand. We had great weather for the race, but the still conditions and lack of wind made the race far less selective than normal. The front group remained massive until late in the race due to this lack of wind. I attacked countless times, but the conditions and collective strength of the peloton made it nearly impossible to get away from the main group. I sent one final hail mary attack a few KM from the final decisive singletrack sector that was about 15 KM from the finish. I went all in and almost got away, but was swallowed by the chaotic swarm just as the fight for position into the trail was kicking off. I knew I had to play my card, but it ended up backfiring a bit, leaving me far too deep in the group going into this key section of trail. I came out of the trail in maybe 10th or 15th place, but still felt great and managed to ride myself back through a few groups, crossing the finish line in 8th. While it wasn’t necessarily the result I traveled to Stillwater for, I was happy with the sensations and how I was riding. Lots of positive takeaways.

After Midsouth, I enjoyed two weeks at home back in California, getting back into the training groove and knocking out some key training sessions. Soon enough, though, it was time to get back on the road. 

This year I’m exploring a new-to-me racing series, the UCI Gravel World Series. These events are held all around the world, culminating with the UCI Gravel World Championship in Flanders, Belgium in October. I had the opportunity to race the UCI World Championships last fall and really enjoyed the experience, despite a course that didn’t really play to my strengths much… This year’s course in Flanders looks to suit me much better, hence my excitement to commit more to the UCI races this year. 

The first UCI Gravel World Series event of the season took place in Velden am Wörthersee in Austria. I speak German and have a few European and German language sponsors this year. Through some European sponsor and friend contacts, I was invited to attend the race and graciously hosted by the organizer. The location was absolutely fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there in the Kärnten region. While over in Austria, everything went about as smoothly as it could have, save for the race itself. I felt great on the day of the race and found myself riding comfortably in the front of the bunch for much of the first lap. Unfortunately, just as we were nearing the end of the first lap (of three), two guys closed in on each other in the ~70 person peloton and a rear derailleur went into my front wheel, immediately snapping ten spokes. The wheel instantly became extremely unstable, wobbly, and sketchy as I tried to coast to a stop without crashing.

I managed to come to a stop safely, but immediately knew my race was over. I’ve never DNF’d a gravel race before, something I’m quite proud of, but this was something I knew I couldn’t resolve. I picked up my bike and ran to the next aid station, hoping I could find a neutral wheel to finish the race with, but no such luck. I was unable to continue and was forced to pull out of the race. I was gutted, especially given the long and expensive travel to attend the race. But as I said earlier, everything else during the trip to Austria was so incredible that it was hard to stay upset for long. Julius, the race organizer lent me a front wheel the next day so I could still get a nice big ride in before I flew home. This ended up being one of the most memorable rides I’ve ever been on, crossing over into Slovenia and Italy before returning back to Austria. It was an amazing experience and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience gravel racing in Austria.

After another brief week at home to recover and get the jetlag under control, it was time for Sea Otter, one of the biggest cycling festivals in the world. Originally, my plan was to attend Sea Otter purely for sponsor activations in the expo and some meetings. But the allure of the racing was too strong, especially after the missed opportunity in Austria. I made the decision to register for both the road and gravel races, bringing along my trusty and beautiful RT-1 ITR for its first race day.

The Sea Otter Road Race was a blast and ultimately Nico Roche, a former World Tour pro turned pro gravel racer, and I split the race up and got up the road. We entered the final climb with a ~40 second gap on the shattered field, but as we rounded the final corner into the 3.5 km climb to the finish, a spoke broke on my front wheel and punctured the rim tape. The tire went flat immediately and I could hardly believe it, especially after what had just happened in Austria. Fortunately, the wheel was still turning fine and the climb to the finish was more or less straight. I had opened a small gap to Nico by slamming on the brakes to avoid crashing, but the chasing group was still out of sight. I knew a podium spot was still on the line, so I put my head down and rode as hard as I could on the rim, eventually crossing the finish line to maintain my second place position. I was bummed to not be able to contest the win with Nico, as I was feeling quite good, but was happy with the second place nonetheless. It sure made for an epic story!

Two days later, I lined up again for the Sea Otter Gravel Race. I lined up on the front row and hit the gas hard from the very start of the race. I managed to string out the entire peloton and even cause some splits on the opening punchy climbs. Pretty quickly a lead group of four of us established, soon whittling down to three. We maintained a blazing pace for another 2 hours, before coming into the finishing climb. Matt Wiebe, the third guy in the group, got dropped on the penultimate climb as I put in a big attack, but Rob Britton managed to hang on. He paced up the last climb, leading most of the way to the top. With 200m to go, I opened up my sprint and came around Rob with a few bike lengths to take the win, my first aboard my new GT-1 i45.

After the successful weekend at Sea Otter, it was then time to head to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the final race of this spring racing block. This race, the Highlands Gravel Classic, was the only UCI Gravel World Series event in the U.S. this year. With it being my ‘home’ race in the series, I knew it was one I didn’t want to miss. Knowing my form was good going into the race, I raced aggressively, pushing the pace from early on once again. The race splintered early, as strong crosswinds gusted across the exposed steep climbs. Again I was off the front of the race, with just two others for company. We all took turns turning the screws on each other, each pushing the pace on the terrain that suited us best. Everyone was just strong enough not to get dropped, but just tired enough not to sneak away. As we entered the final road section into the finish, Nico Roche put in a massive attack. As soon as the other rider and I caught back to Nico, I launched my attack over the top and managed to get a gap. With 3 KM to the finish, I put my head down and TT’d to the finish, crossing the line in 1st with a bit more than 10 seconds of a gap.

After the unfortunate and unavoidable mechanical in my first UCI Gravel World Series event, I was thrilled to put it together and secure the win in Arkansas. This result was especially important, as it also qualified me for the UCI Gravel World Championship in Belgium later this year. 

It’s certainly been a whirlwind since I received this beautiful bike back at the beginning of March, but I’ve enjoyed every moment. We’ve already been on some incredible adventures and enjoyed some wonderful successes so far this season and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the year takes us! A big thanks to the entire team at Mosaic and Above Category for putting together this amazing bike!

Stay tuned for a bike check or two coming soon!

Last weekend, the Mosaic crew loaded up the van and pointed it East towards the red dirt roads of Stillwater, Oklahoma. We had ourselves a blast, saw old friends, made new ones, drank some beers, ate too much pizza… You know the drill. It was the Mid South Gravel weekend, and here’s how it went down.

Ross Leopold

The reviews are in, and The Mid South was one of the best bicycle experiences I’ve ever had. From the days beforehand through the day of the race, Mid South delivered such a stellar course and an amazing day out. Finally to cap it off, all the festivities afterwards were too much fun. The Mid south is 5 star.

Mark Currie

I finally gained the courage to throw my hat in the ring for The Mid South Double, and I’m so glad that I did. The process of figuring this one out has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in a long time. After two days, 50K of running, and 100 ripping miles on my new GT-1 i45, I landed myself a successful 5th Place in the Double and some of the most memorable miles to date. The feeling isn’t one of relief though, as honestly, I wish I could just do it all over again… like this weekend. Stillwater, Oklahoma is home to some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, and during this special weekend in Mid-March, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

What do you say, Mr. Wintle – 7 day stage race next time? Throw a MTB day in there? You know who to call 😉

Liz Barcheck

One of my favorite aspects of race weekend at Mid South was the live music. From the racer meeting and expo, to the starting line, the music helped bring a special life and lightness to the atmosphere. I gave the race a go for a bit, but then settled into the day at more of a ride pace. The rollercoaster hills, dry ruts, chunks of rich gravel, and a few surprise sections of deep sand kept me focused all day. I really enjoyed chatting with people along the way, and appreciated the shorts-friendly temperature. Mostly, I was glad to snag my first century of the year on an incredibly comfortable, nimble, and gorgeous new gravel bike that got attention all day long… thanks Mid South and Mosaic for a big ol hug and high five to start the season!

Aaron Barcheck

Kristen Legan

As soon as we rolled into Stillwater on Thursday morning, we could feel the buzz of this warm and welcoming event, and it felt so good to be back on those red dirt roads. As the unofficial kickoff party of the gravel season, Mid South delivered a blazing fast course and seriously perfect conditions on race day. For me, this race was all about testing out some new ideas, tires, tactics, and, of course, my new Mosaic GT-1 i45 gravel bike. The bike turned more than a few heads out on course with its slithery snake-like paint and super clean and integrated design.

Mid South 2024 is in the books, and if it’s any indication of what’s to come this season, I think we’re in for a spicy year of riding and racing.

Brennan Wertz

The weekend at Midsouth was absolutely stellar, across the board. The weather, the good vibes, the beautiful fleet of new GT-1 i45s on display, and the fast and furious racing all made for an unforgettable weekend. While I came into the race with high hopes for a podium or a win, I was still pleased with my 8th place result. Sure, it wasn’t necessarily the result I came for, but there were tons of positive takeaways and many indications that the preparations have been going really well. I didn’t quite play my cards right at the end, but learned a lot in the process and am already chomping at the bit for more opportunities to race and put these learnings into practice.

Next up for me on my race schedule is a trip to Velden am Wörthersee in Austria for the first round of the UCI Gravel World Series. After that it’s off to Bentonville for another UCI gravel race before buckling down to prepare for Unbound. Lots of exciting events on the horizon and with my beautiful new GT-1 i45, motivation is at an all time high to log some big miles in the next few weeks!”

Thanks for the good times, Mid South. We’ll be seeing ya next year.

 

 

If you’ve been paying attention to the mountain bike world, then you likely know that just a few short months ago SRAM not-so-quietly launched their latest drivetrain innovation – Transmission. The Transmission (T-Type) drivetrain is anchored around one absolutely critical feature – Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) compatibility. The T-Type derailleur ditches the conventional derailleur hanger altogether and mounts directly to the frame in question. To accommodate this, the frame itself must be designed with a UDH, and a dropout that accepts the direct mount T-Type Transmission rear derailleur.

Ensuring that Mosaic gravel and mountain bikes are compatible with the latest & most current technology, we’re thrilled to introduce SRAM UDH compatibility as an option on our GT-1 45, GT-1X and made-to-order GT-2 45, GT-2 X and MT-2 framesets. Mosaic Batch Built frames will continue to use a standard derailleur hanger.

Wide-range “Mullet” drivetrains have become the standard on Mosaic gravel and mountain bikes as they’re simple, efficient, and offer the rider a generous range of gears suitable for both the steepest climbs, and fastest descents. The latest generation of SRAM T-Type Transmission drivetrains can be paired with a WIDE chainline crankset and SRAM road shifters for an extremely versatile, durable, and modern setup. No more bent derailleur hangers, no more issues shifting under load, and with the option of a 10-52 cassette, no more running out of gears 🙂

Take a moment and check out the build below, a Typhoon Green GT-1 45 built up with SRAM GX Eagle Transmission. To start planning your very own Mosaic/Transmission build, get in touch with a Mosaic Dealer today.

At the end of 2022,

I had numerous meetings and conversations with Mark and Aaron at Mosaic about the upcoming year. We were all thrilled to be working together, planning out a busy year, and looking forward to formalizing a very unique and special collaboration. After nailing down the nuts and bolts of our partnership to-be, it came time to discuss the bikes I would ride and race throughout the 2023 season. I’ve long been a fan of Mosaic and their bikes, building my first GT-1 back in 2021 for my first ever Unbound Gravel 200. I am very familiar with the Mosaic product line and the intricacies of the various models they offer. I have also been racing gravel for many years now and have a pretty good idea of what I like in a bike. Needless to say, I thought I knew what I wanted, what I NEEDED for a successful season. A gravel bike sure, a road bike of course, and I guess a mountain bike too since I would be racing the Lifetime Grand Prix. But in all of these conversations with Mosaic, I never brought up their allroad bike. They noticed. They asked why. To be honest I didn’t have a great answer. I just figured it was a bike that would slot into a gap that wasn’t really there in my ‘quiver’. I could not have been more wrong.

Mark and Aaron insisted I would be making a mistake to not build up one of their allroad bikes, mentioning they had also been working on a concept for a new integrated front end, made possible in part due to some new product offerings from Enve. They generously offered, well insisted, that they build me one of these allroad bikes, utilizing this new fork/stem/handlebar combo from Enve. It would be a bit of an experiment, very much a prototype, and they were convinced I would love it. It was a proposal I was obviously very excited about, but I remained slightly skeptical. I am privileged to have multiple amazing bikes built by the Mosaic team and I worried this allroad bike wouldn’t get the use and abuse it would deserve.

As I look back now, over a year later, I can say with certainty they were so right. My Mosaic GT-1 iAR has without a doubt been the bike I’ve ridden the most in the last twelve months. It’s also the bike I have enjoyed riding the most. It’s been truly eye opening. I’ve traveled the world with my GT-1 iAR, set it up in a variety of configurations, and ridden it to numerous podiums and wins. With this journal post, I’d like to highlight some of my favorite moments we’ve shared together over the last twelve months.

Early in 2023, the freshly built GT-1 iAR was my go-to training companion, accompanying me on many sets of intervals and long winter endurance rides. We had quite a winter in California and this beautiful bike quickly became accustomed to almost daily rides in the rain. For some reason, I waited until the eleventh or twelfth atmospheric river before committing to setting the bike up with full coverage fenders. And of course, once I got them mounted up, the rain miraculously eased up…

After weeks of cleaning and re-cleaning my bike, I finally managed to clear the last of the Huffmaster mud from the crevices on the GT-1 iAR. After taking such abuse, it cleaned up real well and we logged a few super solid months of hard training on the road together.

After this hard block of training (and unfortunately being forced to sit Unbound out due to an untimely Covid infection), I packed up my GT-1 iAR for our first big international trip together. One of my favorite aspects of this bike (as well as all my other Mosaic bikes) is how easy they are to travel with. I use a Scicon soft sided case and can travel with much less stress knowing that despite the airline’s best efforts, the frame is rock solid and won’t be damaged. With how much I travel with my bike, that’s a huge relief!

This trip was unforgettable and featured some of my favorite rides and races of the entire year. I first flew to Finland for the inaugural FNLD GRVL event. After that I flew to Germany to visit my relatives and then drove south into the Dolomites in Northern Italy for a two week training camp. After that, I drove to Andermatt, Switzerland to compete in Octopus Gravel, one of the races in the Gravel Earth Series. The climbs were epic, stunning, and incredibly steep. The race was made up of multiple timed climbing segments and after a close battle with Petr Vakoc, I managed to win! Between the podium at FNLD GRVL, the win at Octopus Gravel, and the many memorable rides in such beautiful places in between, this trip was definitely the highlight of my summer!

After the big block of racing and travel in Europe, it was time to return to the U.S. to focus on the second half of the season. I got another big block of training in back at home before heading into the mountains of Utah and Colorado for altitude training. I was riding my MT-2 hardtail a lot at this point as Leadville was rapidly approaching, but was still doing a lot of specific intervals on the GT-1 iAR. As I did this next big block of travel as a road trip, I could only bring two bikes with me. After spending so much time on the allroad bike earlier in the year, I was fully sold on the concept and the versatility the platform provided. This versatility enabled me to head off into the mountains with just these two bikes, even though I would be racing a wide range of terrain.

The two main highlights from this part of the season were SBT GRVL and the inaugural U.S. Gravel National Championships. I went in the early move with Keegan Swenson, Payson McElveen, Petr Vakoc, and Adam Roberge and we were all in, but unfortunately were caught after a few hours of driving the pace together. After that, my engine overheated and I suffered for the last two hours to the finish. 

After SBT GRVL and a few more weeks of training it was time to line up at the first ever U.S. Gravel National Championships in Gering, Nebraska. I had no idea what to expect at this event, but really loved the course and felt it suited me really well. I made the final selection over the last climb with Keegan Swenson, Alexey Vermeulen, and Payson McElveen. We took turns attacking each other in the final 10 kilometers and Keegan ultimately got away from the rest of us. In the end I sprinted with the other two and ended up third after a bike throw with Alexey. I was thrilled to land on the podium at Nationals, both for the result and the automatic qualification for the UCI Gravel World Championships.

After qualifying for UCI Worlds, I had to change some plans around to fit that race into the already busy schedule, but that opportunity was definitely not one I was going to miss. And it certainly didn’t disappoint! Racing with the likes of Wout van Aert, Gianni Vermeersch, Matej Mohoric, and many others from the upper echelons of the sport was incredible. On top of that, coming together with many of my fellow American professional gravel racing colleagues as teammates for this unique event was really special. Many of us spent the whole week before the event pre-riding the course and getting to know each other better. For this trip, I brought the GT-1 iAR as well as my GT-1 45 since there was very little public information about the course. I’m glad I brought both bikes, because after arriving in Italy and pre-riding the entire course, it turned out to be far rougher and rowdier than we had anticipated. 

After the experience at UCI Gravel Worlds, I headed back to the Dolomites for a week of gravel riding with my Italian clothing sponsor Q36.5. During this week, I was able to spend more time exploring this beautiful region aboard my trusty GT-1 iAR.

After the busy, eventful, and unforgettable summer of adventures with my wonderful Mosaic GT-1 iAR, it was time to return home for the off-season. By this point it probably won’t come as a surprise that the adventures continued… As I began the build up to the 2024 season, I found some fun and creative ways to get the base miles in. First a local bikepacking trip through the California Wine Country with a few of my Orange Seal Academy teammates. After that, another group of friends and I rode down the California Coast to Los Angeles on our ‘Coast Ride’.

Both of these trips featured at least a few days of rather dreary weather, but this year I was much more prepared. During my brief rest period off the bike this winter, I brought my GT-1 iAR down to Above Category for them to reinstall the full fenders. This configuration has been a dreamy winter training setup and helped me log many more hours on the bike in comfort than any year before. But this setup will have to be the topic of another article. It’s been that good!

Thank you all for following along on this journey and a huge thank you to the entire team at Mosaic for creating this incredible bike that has enabled all of these crazy adventures. Looking forward to another year of adventures with this dream of a bike!

On January 9th this year I stopped in at Vatio bike shop in Mexico City to pick up one of the most exciting deliveries I have ever received. My brand new Mosaic GT-2X with a custom build and paint job was finally here, and it was even more beautiful than I was expecting.

The main reason I was so excited to get hold of this bike is because I knew how many ambitious plans I had for it this year. Plans that would test this bike to its limits and take us to diverse landscapes on three different continents. It would be an opportunity to see how agile, versatile, and well-constructed a machine the GT2-X is, as well as an opportunity to see and test this bike in some of the most extreme environments.

Atlas Mountain Race – Morocco

Our first outing together, barely a month after I first got my hands on it and with relatively few kilometers under its belt, was to fly to Morocco to take part in the 3rd edition of the self-supported, ultra endurance Atlas Mountain Race, a 1340 km race across the rugged mountains and desert plains of North Africa. It felt truly like our maiden voyage, and it was a real experience in getting to know this bike inside and out during the course of the race.

This race has become known for its exceptionally rough terrain in places, and I can’t tell you how many times I was told by another racer on a mountain bike that this race must be impossible on a rigid gravel bike (despite riding side-by-side!). But with 2.25” tyres, a lightweight set-up and good technical skills, this bike covered almost all of the course with relative ease. It was fast and reliable. I’ve been known in the past for not being very gentle with my machines, and being rather skilled in breaking things, and this bike took all my rough treatment and gave me zero mechanical issues for the whole duration of the race, which is a god-send in races like these. This year’s race was defined by unexpectedly freezing sub-zero temperatures and long nights of darkness, but also of mind-blowing views and challenging terrain in an expansive empty landscape.

Backroad trails and Tour de Frankie – Mexico

In late February I arrived back to my current home of Mexico City, and dedicated a few months to using this bike to explore the gravel trails in the mountains and national parks surrounding the city. On one side of the city are three main mountain climbs favored by the city’s enthusiastic roadie scene, Ajusco, Los Dinamos and Desiertos de los Leones. What I have discovered in more recent months with my GT-2X is there are many, many gravel, single-track and hiking trails connecting the three together, round the back as it were, many kilometers lost in the hills and the forests, a thousand meters above the city skyline and away from the chaos. It’s peaceful and safe, it’s also beautiful and a welcome break from the crowds of people in the city below.

I was also able to compete in Mexico’s first and currently only Ultra-endurance bike race in April. Le Tour de Frankie starts in the very center of Mexico City and takes an 800 km mixed terrain route through the remote Sierra Mixteca to the Oaxacan coast. I wrote a full race recap for bikepacking.com you can read here. Quite contrary to the Moroccan experience, it was a race defined by swelteringly high temperatures, up to 42c(108f) at times. But it was also an eye-opening experience of the remoteness of these mountain regions of Oaxaca, the isolation the villages live in. Amazing mangos, super friendly people, a new side of Mexico I had never seen, and yet again, thankfully zero mechanical issues throughout. It was an amazing experience.

The Bright Midnight – Norway

In early June I came back to Europe for the summer and in July took on my third ultra-distance race of the year, so far. A 1040 km race across Norway in its inaugural year. It was a race organized by and for ultra-endurance riders with a sense of adventure and a lust for epic views. In this way, it was a bit of a leap into the unknown, on a course no one had ridden before anything could happen, and this was very much one of the big draws for me.

Norway is as breathtaking as its weather can be unforgiving, and the race proved to be defined by rain, endless hours of daylight and stunning landscapes. It was as tough as it was rewarding. My phone stopped working on the second day of the race, and I spent the last 50 hours of my race in almost complete isolation with my machine. It was an intimate and solitary experience, one I learned a lot about battling through the conditions to achieve my goals. One of the organizers Justinas told us at the racer briefing that when times get tough to remember to look up, look around and enjoy the view. It ended up being fantastic advice. I switched from my fun and chunky 2.25” tyres down to slimmer, slicker and faster 45mm gravel tyres and it was a great decision. I, once again, experienced zero-mechanical issues during the race. Despite having switched only the brake pads since January, it is a true testimony to the bullit-proof build of this bike.

In just the last 6 months my GT-2X and I have already lived a lifetime of unforgettable experiences together. From Morocco to Mexico, from Norway to now the rest of the Nordics, mile for mile I have been so happy with this bike and its abilities. It has met every challenge I have given it with strength, stealth and style and I couldn’t be happier with its performance.

I feel very fortunate to be able to ride a bike that at this level, and look forward to continuing to push its limits further and harder in the months and years to come. Because if this is what we can achieve together in 6 months, the sky’s the limit!

There are a host of reasons why people opt for a full-custom build. The great thing about a Made to Order frame is that it will do exactly what you need it to do. For some, it’s a matter of fit. Others have geometry and ride characteristics they prefer. And of course, if you want to really set it off, our custom paint options are limitless.

There’s something magic about a Made to Order frame, but it’s a big commitment. So let’s explore the three key factors you can optimize when you build a custom Mosaic: Fit, Function, and Finish.

If the idea of a full-custom frame seems overwhelming or intimidating, don’t stress. You probably have a Mosaic dealer in your area. We’ve hand-picked these shops because we know they’re experienced and knowledgeable enough to guide you through the process and make sure everything is perfect. Start there, and they’ll see you through to the first ride.

Fit: Small or Tall, A Mosaic Fits You

The process begins with a bike fit. If you’re not familiar, this is way more than getting the saddle height right. Proper bike fit evaluates your body’s three contact points with the bike: Pedals, handlebars, and saddle. Human physiology has infinite variations, from Shaq to Verne Troyer, may he rest in peace. Bike fit accounts for your personal proportions — leg length, arm length, torso length, flexibility, and much more.

Now, you may be thinking, “I’m pretty average sized, do I need a custom fit?” That’s a good question, and one that only your Mosaic dealer can help you answer. Many of our dealers have their own fit studios, or they have close relationships with expert fitters.

Even riders of average size can benefit from a professional bike fit and a custom frame to match. Speaking for myself, I’m 5’9” and fit pretty comfortably on Mosaic’s stock S/M (52cm) size. However, I have relatively short legs, and relatively long arms. Plus, thanks to years of experience, I’m comfortable on bikes with more saddle-to-bar drop. Ideally, my custom frame would have longer reach and more drop to avoid extreme saddle positions or stem configurations.

A great bike fit on a custom frame ensures comfort for all-day rides and a position that puts your body in a position to produce the most amount of power in the most efficient manner possible.

Function: Perfect For Your Backyard or Bucket List Ride

So, where do you want to take this Made to Order Mosaic? Although our process starts with fit, most riders walk into their Mosaic dealer with a specific type of bike in mind — road, gravel, mountain bike, touring, or something else. It’s easy to narrow down our line to one or two models that will match your riding style. But Made to Order is so much more than just choosing a GT-1 45 versus a GT-1 AR.

While bike fitting gives us parameters for where your contact points must be in relation to each other, from that point on, we can make infinite adjustments to the bike’s geometry so it will handle exactly the way you like it. Good bike fit is not the same as good bike handling — many people have one but not the other. When we design custom geometry, it’s a holistic process that considers everything: Wheelbase, bottom bracket height, rear center, front center, head tube angle, and so much more.

Geometry is essential, but it happens in a two-dimensional world. Things get really fun when we head into the shop and select the perfect tubeset for your Made to Order frame. As you may realize, we can select either straight-gauge titanium tubes for 2-series frames or butted tubes for 1-series. Butted tubes have variable wall thickness, making them lighter and more compliant. That’s just a starting point, though.

For a custom build, we can change tube diameter in any area of the frame. If a rider wants comfort, we can size down the seat stays or top tube, for example. Wattage-monsters who need stiffness will get larger-diameter down tubes.

We sponsor one of the country’s top gravel riders, Brennan Wertz, who’s very tall and very powerful — you might mistake him for an NFL tight end. As you’d expect, his GT-1 45 has very big tubes for stiffness in the races. But his girlfriend, Alyssa, who’s significantly smaller, has a GT-1 45 with a down tube that’s the same diameter as Brennan’s bike’s top tube. Same bike model, completely different tube spec to match the rider.

Finish: Taste the Rainbow

Once your Made to Order frame is dialed in with the right fit and function to match your physiology and preferences, we carry it next door to our finish shop. It’s pretty rare to find a custom frame builder who has a full-service paint shop under the same roof, but we do, and it makes a huge difference in our ability to give you a custom frame that’s exactly what you wanted. Plus, it’s way more efficient.

If you’re the artistic type, your new frame is a blank canvas. If you need a little guidance, don’t worry, we’ve done this a few times.

Over the years, Mosaic has developed a few standard paint layouts that always come out of the booth looking amazing. You can, of course, opt for a raw finish, just to make sure everyone knows you’re rolling on titanium. And if you need a splash of color, we often paint forks, stems, and seatposts to set it off.

As for our paint layouts, we have the two-tone option, which is a more traditional look, and then we have a fade and a tri-fade for a more modern look. If you’re struggling to find paint that will match, we can also suggest a few different color families that we know will look good together, no matter what design you choose.

Now, It’s Time For One of Your Own

Whether it’s our own personal bikes or those ridden by our friends and customers, we’ve seen the difference that a Made to Order frame can offer. Perfect fit, exact specifications, and unique colors — it all results in a bike that you are eager to ride day after day, wherever you live and whatever kind of cycling you love.

Contact a Mosaic Dealer to learn more and to get the ball rolling today on your own Made to Order Mosaic.

When the missions above are aligned in collaboration, along with the expertise and vision of The Radavist, the result is one that places our products in a completely different setting and elevates both brands. Through this project, we hope to be able to deliver the Mosaic experience to more riders via a different channel, and that’s something we’re extremely excited about.

We landed on our versatile GT-2 45 platform for this project. The GT-2 45 delivers the riding experience you expect from a Mosaic, at a price point that rivals the plentiful mass-produced options that are available. Working closely with the team at The Pro’s Closet and The Radavist, each and every one of the limited edition GT-2 45 frames was meticulously handbuilt and finished by our team here at Mosaic HQ. Parts were selected and sourced by the crew at The Pro’s Closet & The Radavist, and the complete bikes were assembled by the master technicians at TPC. The

TPC GT-2 45’s are available in two build options (Di2 & Mechanical), and in two unique colorways that draw design inspiration from the fan-favorite at Mosaic, TPC, and The Radavist : The Toyota Land Cruiser. You can view the builds here, and while stock lasts, The Pro’s Closet has these limited edition builds in stock and ready to ship now! Here’s a piece from TPC with a little more backstory on their side of the process! Enjoy.

What if want a different color? Or custom geometry? Or a different build spec? No problem. We’d love to build you one to order. Our primary sales channel at Mosaic will always be our retail partners, a collection of some of the best-in-class, independent bicycle shops. We’ve established a network of trusted partners across the world that know the Mosaic brand inside and out, and trust them implicitly. During this step, every little detail is discussed, confirmed, and signed off on before your order is finalized with Mosaic. If you’re purchasing a custom bike, Mosaic will provide a frame draft to confirm geometry and an illustration of your finish work, allowing you to visualize your new frame before signing it off into our queue. Our current lead time on built to order frames is 12-14 weeks.

Enjoy the gallery below of two Di2 Spec GT-2 45’s, finished in the Mosaic Overland Layout in Desert Tan and Nebula Green.

 

As the sun melted over the crystalline facets of the rosy Dolomites, we scanned the sweep of grassy dunes surrounding us. The tenor of this moment was tranquil, the landscape majestic. We were near the end of our day, though we had only begun to absorb what we’d just accomplished.

The hard part of our ride—12 hours of climbing preposterously steep roads and descending harrowing gravel tracks—was behind us. One more serpentine plunge to pilot. We wanted to linger in the warmth, not only because this was paradise, but because moving necessitated summoning energy where there was none. The shadows would soon bring a chill to our calorie-starved euphoria.

It was all downhill to Badia, where Forst beer would flow and gobs of real food would be served. It was a battle between relishing this Tyrolean Utopia and submitting to the pull of nourishment. In this instance, sustenance won. The mountains weren’t going anywhere.

Finally we set off into the gloaming, sliding down dew-laden grasses, then onto marbles of white limestone gravel, and eventually onto pavement—the surface was jarringly smooth after so many hours of hardscrabble vibrations.

The steeple in the village of San Leonardo pierced the dusky skyline, and we darted over the cobbled lane, past the ancient cemetery and the weathered butcher shop, to arrive from whence we began at dawn.

The past half a day had been filled with a few moments of wincing, sporadic blurts of curses, and occasional bouts of giddy laughter from the disbelief of what we had chosen to undertake. But mostly it was filled with awe—to ride all day amid untamed beauty is to be alive. And we only live once.

Jered asked Igor: “What’s the shortest route you could create to get to 5,000 meters of climbing?” And Igor got to work creating what would become #YOLOmites5000 (You Only Live Once!), an annual gathering in Val Badia, Südtirol, Italia.

Originally a ride designed for road bikes, with a few sections of “underbiking,” it has dramatically evolved in its eight years of existence. When it first began, most participants used road bikes with 25c tires. To do such a thing, you needed to be a good bike handler, like Igor, who used to race for the Italian national mountain bike and cyclocross teams. Now, if you don’t bring a legitimate gravel bike with wide tires, a bit of tread, and all the gears that can be squeezed from a modern drivetrain, then prepare to pucker on the descents and chew your stem on the ascents.

Regardless of the year, the route is always around 80 miles. It never strays more than about 20 kilometers from where you start, and it never repeats the same road in the same direction. YOLOmites5000 is challenging, physically and mentally. It is a bit absurd, most definitely. And it is stunningly beautiful, undeniably.

Each year Igor puts much time and effort into creating a “better” route. It always includes a section that has people either: 1) scratching their heads; 2) cursing the sadistic bastard who created the course; 3) laughing at the absurdity of what has ceased to be a bike ride; or 4) all of the above.

In several editions there was the infamous “mushroom patch,” so named because it was impossible to ride, thus riders had time to notice the mushrooms growing near the trail as they hiked along beside their bikes. This year the marquee Igor-ism came at mile 53, when the grassy path went from laughable to ill-advised, then from harebrained to hilarious. The only thing missing was a sadistic laugh-track playing on a hidden speaker tucked behind a lupine.

What’s funny—in a sick way—is that we all know there’s something on the route that will leave us exasperated; we just don’t know when it’s going to slap us across the face. It keeps us flinching. Eventually it smacks, we get through it—curse, chuckle, cry, take your pick—and we’re right back to drooling at the astonishing views that easily distract us from the abuse.

One of the hardest parts about Y5K, for me, is fighting the urge to stop every 15 seconds for a photograph. This morning, the urge hit hard. I pulled over to capture the wispy clouds raking across the dawn sky, revealing the statuesque cliff faces of Sas dla Crusc, the Ladin name for the enormous wall of rock that looms above Val Badia.

Without even realizing what was about to happen, my brain made the choice: My body plunged into the ground, knee first, at 25mph. My instinctual self understood it was better to slide beneath the gate, thus avoiding catastrophic impact with fists or chest or face with a horizontal beam of iron.

I popped up. My friends, who had heard the cacophony of metal bike and meaty knee sliding on dirt, turned to see how bad it was. Besides the ancient Dolomiti pebbles that were solidly embedded in the length of my shin and kneecap, and a few scrapes on my shiny Shimano brake levers, I was unscathed. Thanks, brain.

It was time to get going on this arduous day, blood be damned.