Electronic shifting, power meters, aero tubes, hydraulic brakes... bicycles have come a long way, and there's no shortage of incredible features and advancements in today's modern super-bikes. Without a doubt, all of that technology and engineering makes for a thrill of ride, but it's not without its drawbacks. Sometimes you just want to reach for a bike you know is always going to work. No batteries to charge, no awkward cable routing to deal with, no firmware to update—a bike where all you ever need to do is lube the chain, pump up the tires and go.
Enter our project Mosaic RT-2, a straight forward titanium road bike without all the fluff. Around the shop we've jokingly dubbed this build "The Luddite Bike," but don't let the name fool you. It's every bit a contemporary wonder machine that emphasizes on the simple, blissful joys a bicycle is meant to bring.
American Made Titanium
The RT-2 is undoubtably a stellar platform. While it might not have the same custom butted main tubes as the RT-1, it's still built to order from premium quality titanium, with the same top notch craftsmanship of every other Mosaic. While the 2 series bikes are typically finished in raw, we sprung for the paint upgrade and had the bike sprayed in this fantastic custom aqua blue.
Accents of Red
With a color this stunning, we couldn't just press in any headset. We outfitted it with a red headset from White Industries, pure class piece made in California. Oh and we threw on some matching bottle cage bolts for good measure.
An Italian Blend Cockpit
The cockpit is a mix of Italian wares. Up front is a Fizik R1 handlebar, mounted to a paint matched 3T stem, and wrapped in classic Fizik tape. At the rear, a Fizik R1 Vs Evo saddle is supported on a 00 carbon post. Though it's been out for some time now, it remains one of the most beautiful seat posts available.
Setting the Record
The drive line is none other than Campagnolo Record. Mechanically actuated, externally routed, rim braked perfection in all of it's glory. When it comes to mechanical drivetrains, there's nothing we love more than Campagnolo.
One Bike, Two Stances
Despite it's classic looks, this RT-2 is without doubt, a modern high performance machine. So with that in mind, we originally we built the bike up with a set of Campagnolo Bora WTO 60s. The stance? It was mean. The ride? Fast. And there's no denying the joy of a completely Campagnolo machine. But something about those classic looks just called for something else.
A pair of the latest Mavic Open Pro carbon rims and tires made their way into the shop, and we knew they were just what this build needed. We immediately ordered a set of red White Industries T11 hubs, and the result is what you see here.
A true modern classic, we absolutely love how this RT-2 turned out. Handmade titanium and a mechanical Campagnolo go hand in hand like nothing else, and this bike is a stunning example. If you've got an urge to build a "luddite bike" for yourself, feel free to drop us a line!
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