Tucked towards the back of a row of nondescript industrial garages just north of downtown Boulder sits the Mosaic World Headquarters. Don't let the lack of a fancy facade fool you; hidden behind the understated entrance sits a world of wonder and magic.
Upon wandering past the business office, your eyes are inundated with sensory overload. There are rows upon rows of dream bikes, some fully realized, some in various states of production, and some still just a pile of lust-worthy tubes awaiting an opportunity to be made whole.
Mosaic is a place where the functionality of a handcrafted bicycle and the active minds of a group of artisans collide. The Mosaic team each have their part to play, and they have struck a balance where no team member's job is any less or any more important than another's. It truly takes a village to raise a Mosaic.
I love having A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE WORK WE ARE DOING. From the people, to the process to the product. I take that sense of pride. - Aaron Barcheck
But who are the people behind the welding masks, paint, processes and a thousand other things that make a Mosaic? We went Colorado-side to find out.
Jamie Appleton
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I'm a frame builder, carpenter, and occasional mixologist at Mosaic. I start my day by riding up one of the local canyons before coming to work to fabricate custom bikes. On Fridays, I like to make cocktails for everyone in the workshop. My current favorites are the Last Word, Paper Plane, or a Mezcal Negroni.
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
I genuinely love my job at Mosaic. We all take great pride in everything we do, and we have a mutual understanding that if we need to go for a ride, we don't need to ask permission. So it's the job in general, for me!
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
It is bittersweet seeing so many beautiful bikes leave the workshop. I know they'll be loved, though.
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
You'll find me riding somewhere in the mountains along the Colorado Trail.
AC: If three of your friends were locked in a room and you were not there, what would they say about you?
They might say that I am a bit of a storyteller. I like to entertain and connect with others through the stories I share.
AC: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
Absolutely not. But it sure is fun designing one.
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Summertime in the alpine. Why do you think I chose to live in Colorado?
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers know about you?
If I weren't building bikes, I would want to be an anthropologist.
Ross Leopold
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I have been at Mosaic since December of 2022. My primary role is as a frame builder, and a few other tasks in the machine shop and finish shop. My portion of frame building consists of preparing the tubes for customers, pre-production component prepping, bridging, and quality control. A typical day consists of bouncing between these tasks as the process for a batch of frames progresses.
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
I adore the progression of seeing the untouched tubes and then watching the whole process. Then, to see the finished product built and being ridden by an amazing person. It's pretty cool to know and be a part of the story of the frame.
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
Having to occasionally ride these beautiful bikes and missing out on riding the ones others receive.
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
Likely out ripping some road, gravel, or trail. Possibly running around in the mountains trying to get on top of things in some way, shape or form.
AC: If three of your friends were locked in a room and you were not there what would they say about you?
They'd call me the "bike guy" or someone who is always up to something.
AC: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
Is there one bike to do a few disciplines well, then yes. Does one do them all extraordinarily well? No, that's why I own four bikes, and why that number continues to grow.
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to ride in Africa, far out, amongst the critters and scenery.
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers know about you?
I sometimes water down a freshly brewed cup of coffee so I can drink it faster.
Krysten Koehn
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I've been at Mosaic as a frame painter since June 2022. There aren't many "normal" days in the shop, but we can count on constant movement (media blasting frames, running back and forth from the mixing room to the paint booth, spraying, sanding...).
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
Without a doubt, it's the overall opportunity to make these joy machines beautiful, which makes people happy.
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
Probably the inherent lack of flexibility in needing to adhere to a specific space to complete my work.
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
I would be out in the Rocky Mountains on my GT-45.
AC: If three of your friends were locked in a room and you were not there, what would they say about you?
I want to think they would say I am an artist and adventurer who is strong, creative and desires to give something valuable to the world. They would probably also say I can be a bit spicy and eat a lot.
AC: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
If you live in Boulder, definitely not!
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
At the top of my list are bikepacking in Japan and the Dolomites.
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers know about you?
There aren't many secrets in such a small company, so I'll keep the ones I have left close to my chest!
Justin Triplett
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I have been with Mosaic for almost three years as the lead painter. A typical day for me looks like a lot of clear dust and sanding.
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
There is a lot to love about being a painter, but the thing I enjoy the most is the freedom to be creative and the gratification of delivering dream bikes to people who will love them for years to come.
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
Sanding, Sanding, Sanding
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
Wait, you mean I can have a life outside of work? (Hopefully, I'd be with my daughter).
AC: If three of your friends were locked in a room and you were not there, what would they say about you?
I don't know, but it better be nice, or we are fighting.
Q: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
I hope not. Buy more bikes!!!! Keep me employed.
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I still haven't had the chance to go on a bike ride with my daughter since she learned how to ride a bike. So I'd like to go on a bike ride with her.
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers know about you?
That is a secret for a reason and will remain so.
Mark Currie
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I've been at Mosaic for three and a half years. I came on board in March of 2020, which was an interesting time to start such a thing, to say the least. It's been a tremendous couple of years of learning, growth, and all the challenges that come with it, and I'm incredibly proud of the work we've put in during that time. I'm the Brand Marketing & Sales Manager - which effectively translates to anything and everything, including product design, account management, photography, marketing, etc. Essentially, it's my job to give the rest of our team something to build.
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
It's special to work in a place surrounded by people who are experts in their craft and always looking for ways to improve upon it as well. Walking around in our machine shop or paint shop and watching our team do what they do best is something I'm immensely grateful for. We don't take ourselves too seriously either, so coming to work is usually a damn good time.
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
Our espresso machine is having a fit, and man, could I use one this morning.
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
You'll find me on two wheels, whether that's by pedal power or internal combustion. Bicycles and motorcycles are where I go to spend time alone, explore new spots, and have a load of fun along the way.
AC: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
Not quite, but it's close. While it negates the road-side of the spectrum, I've been spending a ton of time on my MT-2 hardtail this summer, and for me, it is the bike I'd keep if I could only have one. The ability to ride from home in any direction with the confidence that you can tackle almost any terrain you'll come across is something I enjoy. Maybe you'll end up high on a mountain peak or ramble around town on the paths. It'll be a good time either way.
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I'm chomping at the bit to get to the Dolomites. I turn 30 next September, so the infamous YOLOMITES 5000 is on the radar as a bit of birthday present to myself.
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers know about you?
My co-workers know, but the greater public might not. I'm Irish. I was born in Ireland and lived there until I was 10 - so of our little crew here at Mosaic there are a few of us who hold multiple passports.
Aaron Barcheck
AC: Can you tell me how long you have been at Mosaic, what your role is and what a "normal" day in the office might look like?
I founded Mosaic Cycles in 2009, and I have many roles in the company's day-to-day operation, from managing the organization in my CEO role to being instrumental in fabricating and finishing the frames we make. These days, it requires a lot of welding.
AC: If there is one thing you love about your job, what would that be?
I enjoy all of it - every single bit of it. I would do it all myself if I could, but I only have so much energy and time.
But to answer your question, I really enjoy seeing how far our product has come and how each piece of energy we put in creates this holistic piece of craftsmanship. I love having that sense of pride.
AC: What is your least favorite thing about your job?
I should plead the 5th on this question. Running a small business can be a tricky thing. I tend to be a glass-full type of person. A negative attitude is not productive. So when problems arise, I see them as issues to solve.
AC: If someone is trying to find you and you're not at work or home…where would you be?
On my bike. I have one in every category: RT-1D, RT-1 ITR, GT-1 AR, GT-1 45, RS-1 then I have a GT-1 X and an MT-2 (probably my favorite bike right now) CT-1 (super sick) and then I have a Giant Trance (you have to have full squish and we don't make full squish). When I build a bike for myself, I push the limits of what's possible. I try new tube sets and things and look at it as product testing.
AC: If three of your friends were locked in a room and you were not there, what would they say about you what would probably say?
They would probably say he is probably at work. And driven. When I see something, I don't want to just do it. I want to really do it and then move on to the next thing.
AC: Is there such a thing as a one-bike-quiver?
When we created the all-road bike, it was the first bike we called a gravel bike. I came up with the idea that I was going to ride just one bike for a whole year, which did not come to fruition. All you need these days is a Thick Road and a hardtail. Everything else is taking a back seat for the moment.
AC: If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I don't think I can answer that. There are so many great places to ride, and bicycles have taken me all over the world.
AC: And finally, what is one secret none of your co-workers don't know about you?
I go out and ride a big-brand bike 99% of the time. I have an entire fleet of big-brand bikes hidden in the garage.
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