That intro alone is probably one of the best summaries into how bikes and our interaction with them are the key to enjoying cycling. Great narrator, as always Ben!
You put together the best reviews in the business, Ben. At the end of the day most of us aren't going for the podium and it's really the experience that counts.
Best review yet…Ben’s really coming into his own voice, style, POV and authentic persona. Happy that he is building such an important niche as the industry swirls around again.
I have owned every frame material except for Titanium in my 50+ years of cycling. A little over 2 years ago I bought a Sage Titanium Barlow. This frame material is a joy to ride. I wish I had done it earlier. I like the Thomson bits. The stem is probably the strongest available due to its lack of welds. I have the titanium seat post which a nice piece of bling.
I have a 2018 Why R+ from a company (now joined to Revel Bikes) in Carbondale Colorado, with a full GRX 810 2X setup (mechanical 2x11) and its been a dream, light comfortable , no batteries to charge. Its just amazing. Would highly recommend, there is nothing like a plush Ti bike.
I found that my R+ was too short on the TT It works well as a drop bar mountain bike w 27.5 wheels and a Rudy shock (it’s shaped similar to their hard tail mtb) but I was looking for something more gravel so I ended up selling it and getting the Otso Warakin Ti Which has more traditional measurements. My friend bought an R+ XL and had to return it for an XXL and he’s only 6’2” albeit with a long inseam.
Enjoyed your commentary and excellent riding footage! Listening to you is like listening to myself as I ride alone off into oblivion with my thoughts. My rides keep getting longer so I must like what I am hearing!
Tupperware vs Ti….. the great debate. But if you look at manufacturing and the process, your friends at Mosaic are doing a far better job in keeping that Colorado environment intact in the years to come… all this step BS, I mean for 99.8 of riders it means totally jack if you gain 15 seconds but have to stop for your buddy because he dropped his bottle. We are getting fixated on things that don’t matter when you got fresh air and a great route to conquer!
I have nine bikes, it’s hard to choose because I love them all. Currently I am riding my Crust Romanceür the most. It’s set up with SRAM Red, an Eagle rear derailleur with a White Industries Hub, an Eagle 10/52 cassette with White Industry cranks 44T, 26x2.3 hoops and tires. Lugged Reynolds 853 🤘🥖🤘
Ben, great video, the “behind the scenes” element and honest narrative is great. Ignore the idiots in the comments, my head hurts wondering why people say such stupid sh*t.
I have a Lightspeed Watia. Not as lively or light as my Pinarello Grevil but it is so much fun to ride. There is something about Ti that is hard to describe that always makes me pull it off the rack first when i'm going out for a ride.
I have a Watia as well and love the ride feel. Plus, there's just something aesthetically pleasing about a brushed ti frame that makes me stop and stare every time I see it.
Agree the gearing setup of 42 x11speed. In process of figuring a way to get 2x on the bike where it is missing the near headtube housing stop but has the under bb cable guide to get the gear range with 11 speed in the back. TI frames have come long way with building process. Gravel is making these brands, products, and materials that were overkill for road/velodrome but not strong-durable enough for MTB use come to it being successful, than just small time fringe parts/frames when it was just CX uses ten years ago.
question: why is it that Argon18 bikes never seem to draw any attention? I have 2, the 2021 Krypton CS w/ mechanical Rival group and a 2022 Dark Matter w/ Force AXS. I'm interested in knowing the opinion of someone as yourself on Argon bikes. Just an idea! Appreciate your great content!
I know! One thing I am still struggling with in transitioning from writing to video is how to cleanly edit out duplicates or just fluff that are sandwiched in the middle of stuff I want to keep. Hopefully I didn’t hurt Toyota’s feelings too badly. 😁
Ordered a set of unlimited bibs from Castelli based on your recommendation. They are awesome! Look a little funny on my 50+ year old body, but that's not the bibs fault😂. Very comfortable, great pockets, best chamois ever!
I agree bikes are better with a story. That's why I have such old bikes. My newest build was a friend's bike back in high school. It was the 1st bike I ever rode that felt like amazing when I got on it. It changed my view if what bikes could be in contrast to the department store brands I had been on. My friend gave it to me as he no longer rode it, it never really fit him. After 50 years the Bob Jackson still is great ride and weighs in 20.5 lbs like the bike reviewed. Story is everything!
Happened to spot your blue jersey twice over like the past week here in Boulder (up Linden the other Saturday and Four mile canyon) - good job putting in those miles!!
There are so many beautiful bikes being made these days. I’m building up my 2018 Cannondale CaadX frame with all new parts and although it’s an older bike with QR it’s gonna be sweet when finished. I also have a Caad12 but crashed it and broke my collarbone. In the process of replacing parts on it. It’s my all time favourite bike. Finally, I have a Revolt Advanced with SRAM AXS 1x and I just feel meh it’s nothing special imho.
Would you ever consider doing a review about the new Vitus Venon? I have been seeing a ton of stuff saying that it is the perfect do-it-all bike. Essentially an endurance road bike with 45mm clearance for gravel wheels. I have always liked the idea of a road bike that doubles as a gravel bike rather than using a gravel bike as a road bike. Seems amazing but IDK if it is too good to be true? I like your opinion!
Let’s make it exclusive and jack up the price. I think most people would rather have a bike that is affordable, attractive to look at, and heavy on performance. Cannondale Caad 9 best ever such bike! Reviewers like Ben rule. Bike radar is biased non racers giving stellar reviews on crappy China bikes that cost 10K$ +
First!!!!! Love this bike. Have looked at it on pros closet. Looks like a good solid bike. As far as my favorite bike i own would have to be my FELT AR advance ultagra. Its an absolute bullet of a bike. Build quality is on another level than your run of the mill mid range race bike. I dont know if thats common with felt or if i just got lucky? Any experience with felt?
👀Still have that Stigmata, eh? Wondering if you've had a chance to try the rigid fork or mess with the chainring size? The website says max size is 42 but one of your videos showed Keegan Swenson with at least a 50 on there, I believe, so not sure what the limit is haha
Great review as always! Ben is one of the most non-bias ride-fluencers out there. I wasn't aware of TPC collab but had seen a bunch of them on their site so make sense. Biggest takeaway is you're not digging the toyota paint job🙂
The structure you used here wasn't as rambling as you suggest... in literature it's not used often, but it's called picaresque and can work well in the right hands... with the pieces having a cumulative effective that adds up to a compelling narrative. It was in the right hands. Good on ya for trying new approaches...
I have a Rodeo Labs Flannimal 5.0 that you can review (I live locally). It's not my favorite bike, but they have quite the story. For better or worse...
Very nice video Ben! I like the story behind the bike content. That is what draws me towards the process of putting together a bike of my own ideas. Yet....I like how you contrast your custom bike to a stock bike. And even how you gave the builders in Taiwan credit for their labor. I suppose at the end of the day what matters most is that you are having fun on your bike!
Nice bit! Bikes are toys but WHERE and HOW you play with them is what makes it fun. Having a toy made by a guy whose hand you can shake makes it even better. Finally - paint the gawdamn walls behind you! Everything behind you (including the bike you're reviewing) is just an ugly blur with that particle-board look. It's not rustic, it's UGLY!
You must have something personal against Randall over at Thesis bikes and Logos Wheels since you'll take review requests from just about anybody. But when some lowly insignificant viewer of yours constantly requests you do a gravel review of a domestic small business, like Mosaic, like Ritte, you ignore it. So what's your excuse this time? At this point please don't do the review, as if you ever were, because if you did it would be crap since your refusal shows your blindingly clear bias. What ever happened to James Huang and Caley? Those were review vids worth watching.
He reviewed a Ritte recently? Also, Logo wheels look cool, but Thesis just looks like another open mold bike brand similar to Boltcutter or something. Curious what makes those bikes stand out aside from a solid price point for carbon wheels/electronic shifting, 40mm tire clearance for a gravel bike seems small nowadays.
That intro alone is probably one of the best summaries into how bikes and our interaction with them are the key to enjoying cycling. Great narrator, as always Ben!
You put together the best reviews in the business, Ben. At the end of the day most of us aren't going for the podium and it's really the experience that counts.
Best review yet…Ben’s really coming into his own voice, style, POV and authentic persona. Happy that he is building such an important niche as the industry swirls around again.
I have owned every frame material except for Titanium in my 50+ years of cycling. A little over 2 years ago I bought a Sage Titanium Barlow. This frame material is a joy to ride. I wish I had done it earlier. I like the Thomson bits. The stem is probably the strongest available due to its lack of welds. I have the titanium seat post which a nice piece of bling.
I have a 2018 Why R+ from a company (now joined to Revel Bikes) in Carbondale Colorado, with a full GRX 810 2X setup (mechanical 2x11)
and its been a dream, light comfortable , no batteries to charge. Its just amazing. Would highly recommend, there is nothing like a plush Ti bike.
I found that my R+ was too short on the TT It works well as a drop bar mountain bike w 27.5 wheels and a Rudy shock (it’s shaped similar to their hard tail mtb) but I was looking for something more gravel so I ended up selling it and getting the Otso Warakin Ti
Which has more traditional measurements. My friend bought an R+ XL and had to return it for an XXL and he’s only 6’2” albeit with a long inseam.
Enjoyed your commentary and excellent riding footage! Listening to you is like listening to myself as I ride alone off into oblivion with my thoughts. My rides keep getting longer so I must like what I am hearing!
Tupperware vs Ti….. the great debate. But if you look at manufacturing and the process, your friends at Mosaic are doing a far better job in keeping that Colorado environment intact in the years to come… all this step BS, I mean for 99.8 of riders it means totally jack if you gain 15 seconds but have to stop for your buddy because he dropped his bottle.
We are getting fixated on things that don’t matter when you got fresh air and a great route to conquer!
My favorite bike is the next bike. Good story telling here, Ben. Enjoyed it.
I have nine bikes, it’s hard to choose because I love them all. Currently I am riding my Crust Romanceür the most. It’s set up with SRAM Red, an Eagle rear derailleur with a White Industries Hub, an Eagle 10/52 cassette with White Industry cranks 44T, 26x2.3 hoops and tires. Lugged Reynolds 853 🤘🥖🤘
Ben, great video, the “behind the scenes” element and honest narrative is great. Ignore the idiots in the comments, my head hurts wondering why people say such stupid sh*t.
I have a Lightspeed Watia. Not as lively or light as my Pinarello Grevil but it is so much fun to ride. There is something about Ti that is hard to describe that always makes me pull it off the rack first when i'm going out for a ride.
I have a Watia as well and love the ride feel. Plus, there's just something aesthetically pleasing about a brushed ti frame that makes me stop and stare every time I see it.
Agree the gearing setup of 42 x11speed. In process of figuring a way to get 2x on the bike where it is missing the near headtube housing stop but has the under bb cable guide to get the gear range with 11 speed in the back. TI frames have come long way with building process. Gravel is making these brands, products, and materials that were overkill for road/velodrome but not strong-durable enough for MTB use come to it being successful, than just small time fringe parts/frames when it was just CX uses ten years ago.
question: why is it that Argon18 bikes never seem to draw any attention? I have 2, the 2021 Krypton CS w/ mechanical Rival group and a 2022 Dark Matter w/ Force AXS. I'm interested in knowing the opinion of someone as yourself on Argon bikes. Just an idea! Appreciate your great content!
Great video, like all your videos. Feels like one of my riding buddy's is talking to me.keep them coming. cheers from Amsterdam
I don't think you mentioned whether or not you like the toyota paint scheme? :D :D :D
I know! One thing I am still struggling with in transitioning from writing to video is how to cleanly edit out duplicates or just fluff that are sandwiched in the middle of stuff I want to keep. Hopefully I didn’t hurt Toyota’s feelings too badly. 😁
The only dude I take seriously for bike reviews. Everyone else is just instagram and click focused.
Ordered a set of unlimited bibs from Castelli based on your recommendation. They are awesome! Look a little funny on my 50+ year old body, but that's not the bibs fault😂. Very comfortable, great pockets, best chamois ever!
I agree bikes are better with a story. That's why I have such old bikes. My newest build was a friend's bike back in high school. It was the 1st bike I ever rode that felt like amazing when I got on it. It changed my view if what bikes could be in contrast to the department store brands I had been on. My friend gave it to me as he no longer rode it, it never really fit him. After 50 years the Bob Jackson still is great ride and weighs in 20.5 lbs like the bike reviewed. Story is everything!
I think it’s safe to conclude you absolutely don’t care about the paint job. 😂
💯MOSAIC FAN! 😎💯
Just bought this exact bike a couple days ago. I am a big of the Land Cruiser line and appreciate the paint job.
Got the Nebula Green..happy riding
Happened to spot your blue jersey twice over like the past week here in Boulder (up Linden the other Saturday and Four mile canyon) - good job putting in those miles!!
👋
I got my first MOSAIC today
There are so many beautiful bikes being made these days. I’m building up my 2018 Cannondale CaadX frame with all new parts and although it’s an older bike with QR it’s gonna be sweet when finished. I also have a Caad12 but crashed it and broke my collarbone. In the process of replacing parts on it. It’s my all time favourite bike. Finally, I have a Revolt Advanced with SRAM AXS 1x and I just feel meh it’s nothing special imho.
Would you ever consider doing a review about the new Vitus Venon? I have been seeing a ton of stuff saying that it is the perfect do-it-all bike. Essentially an endurance road bike with 45mm clearance for gravel wheels. I have always liked the idea of a road bike that doubles as a gravel bike rather than using a gravel bike as a road bike. Seems amazing but IDK if it is too good to be true? I like your opinion!
Let’s make it exclusive and jack up the price. I think most people would rather have a bike that is affordable, attractive to look at, and heavy on performance. Cannondale Caad 9 best ever such bike! Reviewers like Ben rule. Bike radar is biased non racers giving stellar reviews on crappy China bikes that cost 10K$ +
First!!!!! Love this bike. Have looked at it on pros closet. Looks like a good solid bike. As far as my favorite bike i own would have to be my FELT AR advance ultagra. Its an absolute bullet of a bike. Build quality is on another level than your run of the mill mid range race bike. I dont know if thats common with felt or if i just got lucky? Any experience with felt?
👀Still have that Stigmata, eh? Wondering if you've had a chance to try the rigid fork or mess with the chainring size? The website says max size is 42 but one of your videos showed Keegan Swenson with at least a 50 on there, I believe, so not sure what the limit is haha
Great review as always! Ben is one of the most non-bias ride-fluencers out there. I wasn't aware of TPC collab but had seen a bunch of them on their site so make sense. Biggest takeaway is you're not digging the toyota paint job🙂
The structure you used here wasn't as rambling as you suggest... in literature it's not used often, but it's called picaresque and can work well in the right hands... with the pieces having a cumulative effective that adds up to a compelling narrative. It was in the right hands. Good on ya for trying new approaches...
wow you have a lot of bikes!
Great review Ben; I really enjoy the narrative-focused approach!
A really enjoyable watch; entertaining and informative as ever … great upload 👍🏼
Je suis déçue que tu n'aimes pas le beau beige/brun Toyota ;)
Excellent video - loved the stories. Merci !
Thanks, Ben, and for sure, a favorite bike is always there for us when we need to ride away from the blues.
do you live in CO?
For me, it's the experience I had in building it up.
Is this bike a 56cm? Thanks Ben!
Yep.
Awesome review. Seven Evergreen is my forever bike ❤
The Sound of Music is Salzburg, Austria, not Switzerland ;) We also have better riding than Switzerland.
Thank you for the correction! Perhaps I was thinking of their escape to Switzerland. Better riding, eh? Lucky you!
I need titanium in my bike diet... if only...
Nice & Thanks :)
One can only dream!
Aspero 5❤
I have a Rodeo Labs Flannimal 5.0 that you can review (I live locally). It's not my favorite bike, but they have quite the story. For better or worse...
dude don't brew your coffee with boiling water. 200 deg max
I know something about that story 😁😁😉
Very nice video Ben! I like the story behind the bike content. That is what draws me towards the process of putting together a bike of my own ideas. Yet....I like how you contrast your custom bike to a stock bike. And even how you gave the builders in Taiwan credit for their labor. I suppose at the end of the day what matters most is that you are having fun on your bike!
Ben, have you thought about what geometry you would choose if you were to build your own custom titanium bike?
Nice bit! Bikes are toys but WHERE and HOW you play with them is what makes it fun. Having a toy made by a guy whose hand you can shake makes it even better. Finally - paint the gawdamn walls behind you! Everything behind you (including the bike you're reviewing) is just an ugly blur with that particle-board look. It's not rustic, it's UGLY!
Thanks. Are you volunteering to come help me build out my garage? :-)
Why the ridiculous comment? Why?
You must have something personal against Randall over at Thesis bikes and Logos Wheels since you'll take review requests from just about anybody. But when some lowly insignificant viewer of yours constantly requests you do a gravel review of a domestic small business, like Mosaic, like Ritte, you ignore it. So what's your excuse this time? At this point please don't do the review, as if you ever were, because if you did it would be crap since your refusal shows your blindingly clear bias. What ever happened to James Huang and Caley? Those were review vids worth watching.
He reviewed a Ritte recently? Also, Logo wheels look cool, but Thesis just looks like another open mold bike brand similar to Boltcutter or something. Curious what makes those bikes stand out aside from a solid price point for carbon wheels/electronic shifting, 40mm tire clearance for a gravel bike seems small nowadays.
James Huang and Caley Fretz are now behind the paywall at Escape Collective.
He can review whoever he wants, it’s his channel