Tag: enve composites

Behind The Bike // Sheldon’s RCCLA RT-1d // The Cub House

Posted on by Mosaic Admin

Rapha Inspired, Cub House Built

Since we’re unable to visit our friends and customers in person for the foreseeable future, we’re starting a new series of blog posts to stay connected and build upon the relationships we have with our shops, our customers, and their bikes. Behind the Bike will feature Mosaic riders from around the world, a bit about their cycling story, their special bike, and the shop that made it all possible. This week, we’re kicking it off with Sheldon’s Rapha Cycling Club Los Angeles inspired RT-1d, built by The Cub House (@itsnotabikeshop).

A bit from Sheldon.I’m Sheldon and I’m the proud owner of this Mosaic RT-1d. My cycling journey started 13 years ago when I got a road bike to get fit while providing care for my mother who was recovering from surgery to remove a large brain tumor. I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was a kid so learning to ride a road bike was a real struggle. I kept at it and found myself becoming a regular on competitive group rides where I lived. Fast forward a bit, and I found myself exploring the rugged mountains surrounding Los Angeles. It’s a special thing, being able to ride into such beautiful and remote places that most people in LA don’t even know exist, and go flying back down into the second largest metro area in the country.

  

Why do you ride?

I ride because of the friendships I’ve made, the places I get to visit, and the mental & physical health benefits that sustain me. My main goal is to keep riding. I always say that the riders still getting out and putting in the miles at 50+ are my cycling heroes.

What’s your favorite ride?

My favorite ride starts on the sand in Santa Monica and goes up Sullivan Canyon, turning from pavement to dirt before it tops out on the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains. It goes from one of the most famous beaches in the world, high into the mountains where there are almost no signs of civilization. It’s just beautiful.

Tell us a bit about your bike!

I chose the RT-1d because I wanted a light bike that rode beautifully and one that would last. Disc brakes allow me to keep up with current wheel technology and give me confidence on the dirt and steep descents that I encounter. The RT-1d has delivered everything that I could have wanted in a bicycle and more. It’s light, rides beautifully and power transfer is outstanding. I threw everything I had at the bike on the first ride, including long climbs, dirt descents, and even a flat-out pace line. The RT-1d handled it all superbly. In the future I’d like to race this bike at the Belgian Waffle Ride and climb Mt. Baldy and Gibraltar.

What’s the story on the finish work?

I had a blast helping brainstorm the paint scheme, logos, and lettering on my bike with the help of The Cub House and Mosaic. My family has been in LA for 4 generations, which is rare. I didn’t fully appreciate the incredible diversity within LA until I started cycling. The bicycle made me appreciate my city for a whole new reason. Growing up in LA, I saw a lot of people with Old English type tattoos representing their communities, so I knew that I wanted my name to stand out like that on the bike. I’m a founding member of the Rapha Cycling Club Los Angeles chapter, so I included the logo from RCCLA incorporating winged mountains for the City of Angels, as well as the the LA logo to celebrate my heritage. Finally, I put the “40” on the top tube because it’s my 40th birthday present from my wonderful family. I’m a middle aged cyclist and damn proud of it!

The Cub House – San Marino, CA

We’re proud to work with partners like The Cub House, who provide world-class service and a great experience for their customers time and time again. Thanks for keeping it fun. They can be a tricky bunch to describe really, but I think they say it best themselves…

“Cycling is serious enough already, so there is no need to cast ourselves in the same light. It’s ok to talk about watts per kilo, but it’s also good to talk about watts per cheeto (that’s how many watts you can hold while eating flaming hot cheetos). We also understand that performance based goals like Strava are relevant, but so is Pizza Strava #pizzastrava (how many King of the Pepperonis do you have?). We believe above all else that riding bikes is fun & more people should do it. Team Dream is a team for everyone. Now let’s get out there and chase some sunsets…” For more of that mentality, follow them here! (@itsnotabikeshop // @teamdreambicyclingteam)

Gravel vs. Allroad – What’s the difference?!

Posted on by Mosaic Admin

It’s not just the dirt.

So, you’ve probably picked up on a bit of an emerging and flourishing trend in cycling… Gravel. It seems to be all we’re talking about these days. However, I think there’s still a level of uncertainty around gravel for many of us that only years ago would have labeled ourselves as either mountain bikers, OR, road riders. Now, a very attractive and popular bit of middle ground exists (and always has done…). So, what is “gravel”? Where do I find this “gravel”? Why is everyone doing it all of a sudden? Is it fun? Do I need a special bike for it? What kind of tires should I use? What size should they be? Hang on a second, Allroad is something different?! If you find yourself wondering about these kind of things, keep reading, we’ve got your back.

These dirt roads and trails aren’t new, so why all of a sudden are we riding them more? There’s no doubt that new bike technology and the excitement around gravel are synonymous with each other. Sure, you can ride plenty of dirt roads on a 25mm tire and rim brakes – and you’ll probably still have a good time. Having the right tool for the job however, will result in a riding experience that’s a hell of a lot more fun, and one that inspires you to push the realm of possibility just a bit further. High volume tubeless tires, disc brakes, a wider gear range, and updates to frame geometry all contribute to the gravel bike’s huge popularity. Part of what makes gravel so attractive is the versatility and ride quality offered by a modern gravel bike. Unless you live somewhere like Kansas or Oklahoma, there’s a good chance that most of your gravel riding will also include some pavement. For us in Boulder, our favorite dirt roads and trails are connected or accessed via pavement. Having a bike that’s capable, confident, and most importantly fun on mixed surfaces is paramount in creating a great riding experience. Depending on your ratio of dirt to pavement, we’ve got a few options to perfectly meet your needs. Our GT-1 and GT-2 frames are available in two distinct versions, Allroad and Gravel 45.

G-Series Gravel 45

Gravel 45 is our response to the increase in popularity of events like Unbound Gravel, Mid-South Gravel, Lost and Found, and the desire to explore even further off the beaten path. The terrain at these events is extremely demanding and unforgiving on both the rider and their equipment, making the bike, tire, wheel, and component choice absolutely crucial to completing the route. For many gravel riders, myself included, the attention to detail and obsession over choosing the right parts has become one of my favorite parts leading up to any event. For riders and racers taking a Mosaic to the Flint Hills of Kansas for example, we needed to create a frame with more tire clearance, a longer wheelbase, and the kind of geometry that’s comfortable to ride all day long on the roughest, and longest routes imaginable. At that point, the rest is up to you! The gallery below has a selection of recent GT-1 45’s and our latest addition, the GT-2 45 which is available in stock sizing and complete build options.

G-Series Allroad

Allroad bikes are designed for the rider that tends to split their time close to 50/50 on smooth dirt and pavement. A Mosaic G-Series Allroad frame and ENVE Allroad Fork will accept a maximum tire size of 38mm, but we find that most of our Allroad riders opt for a fast rolling, low profile, 32-35mm tire. A G-Series Allroad is the perfect bike for the rider that likes the feel of a fast and efficient road bike, but wants something just a bit more capable for the kind of routes that include a healthy mix of dirt and pavement, without having to make a compromise. Below are a few examples of GT-1 Allroad bikes that we’ve built, one in 700c and the other in 650b, a choice that’s available on any G-Series bike – just ask!

What is gravel?

Well, to us, gravel takes on many different forms. It’s the dirt path through your neighborhood park or city greenway, the seemingly endless network of fire roads through the mountains, farm roads on the plains, little pieces of urban single track connected to make a loop, and frequently, trails that are probably better suited to mountain bikes if we’re honest! As the iconic roads around Boulder get busier, we find ourselves looking toward these creative, less traveled, mixed surface routes all the more frequently. Routes that wouldn’t be as enjoyable on a pure road bike or on a mountain bike.

These dirt roads and trails aren’t new, so why all of a sudden are we riding them more? There’s no doubt that new bike technology and the excitement around gravel are synonymous with each other. Sure, you can ride plenty of dirt roads on a 25mm tire and rim brakes – and you’ll probably still have a good time. Having the right tool for the job however, will result in a riding experience that’s a hell of a lot more fun, and one that inspires you to push the realm of possibility just a bit further. High volume tubeless tires, disc brakes, a wider gear range, and updates to frame geometry all contribute to the gravel bike’s huge popularity. Part of what makes gravel so attractive is the versatility and ride quality offered by a modern gravel bike. Unless you live somewhere like Kansas or Oklahoma, there’s a good chance that most of your gravel riding will also include some pavement. For us in Boulder, our favorite dirt roads and trails are connected or accessed via pavement. Having a bike that’s capable, confident, and most importantly fun on mixed surfaces is paramount in creating a great riding experience. Depending on your ratio of dirt to pavement, we’ve got a few options to perfectly meet your needs. Our GT-1 and GT-2 frames are available in two distinct versions, Allroad and Gravel 45.

G-Series Gravel 45

Gravel 45 is our response to the increase in popularity of events like Dirty Kanza, Mid-South Gravel, Lost and Found, and the desire to explore even further off the beaten path. The terrain at these events is extremely demanding and unforgiving on both the rider and their equipment, making the bike, tire, wheel, and component choice absolutely crucial to completing the route. For many gravel riders, myself included, the attention to detail and obsession over choosing the right parts has become one of my favorite parts leading up to any event. For riders and racers taking a Mosaic to the Flint Hills of Kansas for example, we needed to create a frame with more tire clearance, a longer wheelbase, and the kind of geometry that’s comfortable to ride all day long on the roughest, and longest routes imaginable. At that point, the rest is up to you! The gallery below has a selection of recent GT-1 45’s and our latest addition, the GT-2 45 which is available in stock sizing and complete build options.

G-Series Allroad

Allroad bikes are designed for the rider that tends to split their time close to 50/50 on smooth dirt and pavement. A Mosaic G-Series Allroad frame and ENVE Allroad Fork will accept a maximum tire size of 38mm, but we find that most of our Allroad riders opt for a fast rolling, low profile, 32-35mm tire. A G-Series Allroad is the perfect bike for the rider that likes the feel of a fast and efficient road bike, but wants something just a bit more capable for the kind of routes that include a healthy mix of dirt and pavement, without having to make a compromise. Below are a few examples of GT-1 Allroad bikes that we’ve built, one in 700c and the other in 650b, a choice that’s available on any G-Series bike – just ask!

If you want to discuss your dream gravel build, or you have any questions at all, please get in touch with your local Mosaic dealer, send us an email, or pick up the phone! We’d love to hear from you.