Bike of the Week: A Raw Ti All-Roader

Taking a detour from our recent run of Pinarellos, this week's build goes down a different route. A hand made gravel bike, with all the modern appointments to rise above in this modern age of all-around adventure bikes. Made by hand in America, from titanium to last the test of time. Follow along as we dive into the build of this Mosaic GT-1.

We'll start things off by taking a moment to appreciate the details of the frame. We've said it before and we'll say it again, the GT-1 platform really is the best to showcase the incredible handiwork of the team at Mosaic. There are the  big tubes, leaving plenty of surface area to execute immaculate welds. There's  the heavily relieved head tube, striking the perfect balance of strength and weight shaving. The curved seat stays not only look amazing, but allow for the necessary tire clearance for a modern gravel bike. And those are just the things visible to the naked eye. What you can't really see are the are the butted tubes, further fine tuning the ride quality and maximizing weight savings. What you also can't see, is the highly refined geometry and handling that Mosaic has developed over the years of pushing their bikes to the limit, climbing and descending the roads (both paved and dirt) of the famed Colorado Front Range.There are number of talented titanium frame builders out there, but very few execute as masterfully as our friends at Mosaic. 

The front end of the cockpit is Fizik ensemble. A Cyrano R1 stem grasps onto a 00 carbon bar. It's all wrapped up in Fizik tacky Endurance tape. Out back, we opted to have Mosaic build one of their own custom titanium seat posts. Beautifully crafted and brings together the feel of a complete package with the frame. Atop the post is a Throne saddle from our local friends at 3D BikeFit. 

The drive train is all Sram Red AXS. For a multi-purposed, all-around build, the range and performance of AXS has proven to be fantastic. Having a broad range of gears with nice and tight gaps are a must on this kind of bike. A 33/33 ratio on the low end for the steepest, loosest gravel climbs while the 48/10 is plenty big to keep you from spinning out on long descents. The tight gaps through out ensure you always have the perfect gear hitting the flats and and rollers in any terrain. 

Wheels are a custom set of Zipp 303s to Chris King R45 hubs. For a taller rider, the 303 is a great depth offering plenty of stiffness. For now we've got them set up with Schwalbe G-One speed tires for all-road riding but the bike will gladly allow for something much bigger for more dirt centric rides. 

Keeping things smooth and fast, all the bearings are top notch. The headset and hubs are matching Chris King in matte turquoise. Sold, reliable, and of course they look great. For the BB we went a step smoother, opting for Ceramic Speed. 

With that, we're excited to send this bike out to the world. It's destined for big miles with equal time on the road as the trails. Simple, rugged and incredibly sexy, while compromising absolutely no functionality in the quest for form. We love setting people up on builds like this, so if you've been itching to pull the trigger, give us a shout and we'll help lead you on your path.