January 09, 2025
A Lotus-Inspired Mosaic GT-1 45
This customer came to us to build his forever bike, a challenge we often get presented with at Above Category and one we always relish. After reviewing our portfolio of builders, we recommended Mosaic Cycles to our client, initially looking at the brand's 2-series line (stock sizing, raw finish, straight gauge...
Julius Berith
December 12, 2024
The Sarto Raso Gravel and the Evolution of Drop-Bar Off-Road Bikes
When "Gravel" bikes became an official thing eight or nine years ago, I had a bit of a chuckle. Who would want to ride that? Anything one of these new balloon tire road bikes could do, a hardtail mountain bike could do better.Despite my misgivings, we were still among the...
Chad Nordwall
November 28, 2024
Winter Is Upon Us
Bay Area winter is upon us. The winter months in our neck of the woods are very different from the wet PNW winter I grew up with or the dark and bitter cold Midwest winter. It seems that Bay Area winters are getting a tad closer to what we had in...
Chad Nordwall
November 28, 2024
BOTW: An Abstract Sarto Raso TC
The only problem when looking at a bike like this, painted this way, is, where to look first. The bike: a Sarto Raso in Tri-Composite flavor. The paint: a Velocolour Tour de Force. “It was my 70th birthday present from my incredibly thoughtful, lovely wife,” said Mark, our client. “I like...
Julius Berith
November 21, 2024
BOTW: A Factor OSTRO VAM TDF Edition
This customer came in a few weeks before our AC Invitational where we met to talk about a potential replacement for his road bike. After going over all of the options he settled on the new Factor OSTRO VAM in the limited TDF edition colorway. We took his existing fit,...
Julius Berith
November 21, 2024
10,000 Miles Update
The first post I did on this was on October 31st, and I was at 7205.9 miles, which was 690.1 miles behind the pace needed to hit 10,000 miles for the year. So, how much ground have I gained? How was the motivation? How was the consistency? As of this...
Chad Nordwall
November 14, 2024
A Mosaic GT-1 i45 in Porsche Ice Green
This recent build is one of my favorites. I've got a soft spot for Mosaic and Porsche, and this GT-1 i45 ticks both of those boxes. This returning customer had previously built a Mosaic road bike with us, and when it came time to add to his collection, he knew...
Julius Berith
November 14, 2024
Danny Boy
It’s the morning of the Gravel National Championships and Big Brennan Wertz and I are making our way downtown to the start line when my phone starts buzzing. It’s videographer extraordinaire Danny Awang. I’ve negotiated my way into his signature Chevy Astro van for today’s race and I couldn’t be more...
November 08, 2024
The Unlikely Friendship: A Year of Adventures with Jim
I've been at this whole 'Pro Gravel Racing' thing for a while now. I've been to the biggest races, ridden in many of the top gravel riding destinations around the world, and met some fascinating characters along the way. The trips always provide a new experience, friendship, memory, or takeaway....
Brennan Wertz
October 31, 2024
BOTW: A Magic Number 3 Pegoretti Responsorium, Disc
This week's featured build is a cool bike for a great client and his third Pegoretti in nearly sixteen years. His first was a Love #3, his second, a Responsorium with rim brakes, and the latest and the subject of this featured build, a 62cm disc-equipped Responsorium with full Ciavete...
Chad Nordwall
October 31, 2024
10,000 Miles
10,000 miles. This is what has finally pushed the needle to get me to write about my personal experiences with cycling. It's a big number, but not an entirely special number. Plenty of folks hit this milestone, year after year after year. I hemmed and hawed mainly due to insecurity. Why write about something...
Chad Nordwall
