Tag: road bike

RT-1 ITR: A Road Bike for Everything

Posted on by Mosaic Admin

Our back yard here in Boulder, Colorado is a paradise for road rides. 

France has smooth ribbons of tarmac winding through the Alps into the stratosphere. Kansas offers endless gravel roads stretching to the horizon. In Boulder, you get it all—seamlessly connected. Paved climbs turn to dirt descents, forgotten backroads lead to new adventures, and the best rides blend surfaces without boundaries. This is where the Mosaic RT-1 Integrated Thick Road (ITR) was born.

The Origin of ITR

A few years ago, as disc brakes became standard on road bikes, we noticed a shift. It was more than just more stopping power and modulation—riders were pushing the limits of their road bikes, squeezing in wider tires for extra grip and comfort. But these setups had compromises—tire clearance was tight, handling could feel off, and frames weren’t optimized for the demands of mixed-surface road riding. 

Our own rides in Boulder made it clear: We needed a road bike that could handle everything from pristine pavement to the well-worn dirt climbs that define our favorite routes—without sacrificing speed, precision, or ride quality of a proper road bike. Enter the RT-1 ITR.

What Makes the ITR Special?

With the RT-1 ITR, we designed a bike that retains the sharp, responsive handling of the RT-1 D while adding the versatility of 35mm tire clearance. The geometry remains pure road—fast, confident, and built to excel on climbs and descents alike.

Crafted from a double-butted titanium tubeset, the RT-1 ITR is tailored to each rider’s fit and performance needs. It delivers the same lively ride feel as the RT-1 D, now with the added capability to take on varied road surfaces with ease. Thanks to ENVE’s integrated fork and redesigned size-specific chainstays, we’ve ensured that this bike is just as at home hammering up your hardest local Strava climb as it is cruising the lesser-traveled dirt roads beyond town.

Here’s how the RT-1 ITR compares in our lineup:

  • RT-1 D: 25-30mm tire clearance
  • RT-1 ITR: 30-35mm tire clearance
  • GT-1 AR: 32-40mm tire clearance
  • GT-1 45: 38-48mm tire clearance

At 415-418mm, the ITR’s chainstays are only slightly longer than the RT-1 D’s, preserving the crisp, high-performance road feel while allowing for a slightly fatter tire, and the greater adaptability on mixed surfaces that comes with it. 

Integrated for Performance

Part of what makes the ITR possible is the ENVE In-Route System, which allows us to increase front and rear tire clearance while maintaining the precise geometry we wanted for this model. This is the most well-thought-out integrated front end, and the sleek, modern functionality aligns with the Mosaic ethos of blending handcrafted titanium craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance technology. Plus, cable routing is clean, intuitive, and hassle-free—set it up once, and you’re done.

Most riders will opt for the two-piece cockpit, pairing an ENVE In-Route stem with the ENVE bar of their choice. For those seeking the ultimate integration, we have limited availability of the one-piece ENVE cockpit.

Designed for the Way We Ride

The RT-1 ITR is our go-to for the kind of riding we love—where fast pavement meets forgotten dirt roads, and every ride feels like an adventure. If your ideal route is a blend of speed, endurance, and exploration, this is the bike for you.

Looking for more rugged capability? The GT-1 AR or GT-1 45 might be the better fit. But if your rides demand pure road bike performance with just a little more room to roam, the RT-1 ITR is ready.

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)