Reader’s Rig: Daniel’s Custom Search and State × Black Oak Velo Mosaic GT-1

Words and photos by Daniel Golden, Search and State (@SearchAndState)

This custom Mosaic GT-1 is the end result of a collaboration among Search and State, Mosaic Cycles, and Black Oak Velo in Old Greenwhich, CT. The bike was slated to be shown at the National Handmade Bike Show in Dallas this year. Search and State focused on the paint scheme and the design aesthetics of the bike, while Mosaic built the frame and custom parts, and Black Oak Velo handled the components and bike-build. We did the SAS bike in a custom desert camo painted by Spectrum Paint and Powder in Boulder, Colorado. It was super easy for us to all get on the same page as we had a common vision from the start: To contribute equal parts and build a unique bike that represented what all three of us do best. We have been focused solely on Made in New York City apparel and soft-goods for as long as we have existed, so when asked to design a bike we jumped at the chance. We have a long standing relationship with camo prints in our garments so it only felt right to design one that worked for the bike as well. We went all out and left nothing on the table. The bike is fully-loaded and decked out to the gills. Find the specs below…

• Frame Mosaic GT-1
• Fork ENVE All Road Fork
• Headsset Ceramicspeed Coated Bearing Headset
• Pump Silca Impero Frame Pump
• Handlebar ENVE Road Bar
• Seatpost/Stem Mosaic Ti Seatpost and Stem
• Saddle Repente Kuma
• Drivetrain Shimano Dura Ace R9170 Disc Group
• Rings and Cogs 50/34 Chainrings, 11-34 Cassette
• Derailleur Pulleys Ceramicspeed 3D Printed Hollow 12T Pulleys w/ Coated Bearings
• Bottom Bracket Ceramicspeed Coated Bearing
• Pedals Shimano XTR M9100 Pedals
• Wheelset ENVE G27 w/ Industry Nine Torch Hubs and Ceramicspeed Coated Bearings
• Tires Rene Herse Baby Shoe Pass Extralight
• Brake Rotors MT900 Rotors 160F 140R
• Tubes Tubolito S-Tubo Tubes

My Bikepacking Setup

This is my rig for a week long trip or longer, depending on climate, terrain, etc. But this set-up gets me pretty far pretty comfortably. I tend to pack on the lighter side of things, but nothing crazy by modern standards of what some people can get away with. This fits trips like our Search Brigade that cover between 80-120 miles a day for weeks in a row. For that reason I tend to prefer more aggressive bikes and set-ups that are meant to move a little faster than maybe a traditional touring bike. With a relatively light load you can really cover a lot of ground at a swift pace. This bike is pretty close to a race bike to be honest. It is super-comfortable, but I am definitely in a forward position and can really get moving. This bike is the best of both worlds for me. I can bikepack for weeks with it, or take all the bags off and it’s my road/race bike without making any set-up changes.

For cargo I go with a very simple and traditional set-up. I put my tent, sleeping bag, and pad all in the front roll inside a pretty heavy dry bag so I know that stuff never gets wet no matter what. I have used the same Bedrock Bag set-up for years. There is a pocket that goes over the roll that holds quite a bit of stuff. It holds my headlamp, and things I might need quickly. That pock is key.

On the back I regularly use a Revelate Terrapin. My extra clothes, toiletries, some food, and emergency shit all gets packed in there. The only odd packing thing I like to do (that gets a few looks) is strap my tent poles under the top-tube. I’m not sure why I started doing that a long time ago, but that’s my favorite set-up if I don’t need a frame bag for really rugged trips that don’t have easy resupply stops. That’s a different deal. But, I’ve always preferred a clean cockpit area. On longer trips I use a Revelate feed-bag on the bars and I’m pretty much good for weeks. That’s about it.

To learn more about Search and State, be sure to read Joe Cruz’s story about the SAS business model and helping them create the PJ-1, an ultralight expedition rain jacket.

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