TIME TO OPEN.UP

So, having fully given in to the fact that I am obsessed with gravel bikes the next step is trying to figure out the maze that is frame material, geometry, gearing and size. The problem is being drawn to bike that does not suit your needs but one that you love the look of. I was in love with the 3T Exploro. But after reading a few reviews I think it is too stiff for what I need. So back to the drawing board. First was to understand the differences between a gravel bike and cyclocross bike and which one was for me

I need to educate my self on the fairly fundamental differences between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike. Beginning to understand these differences helped as I started to see a clear line between what is a fast bike and what is a comfortable bike. I don’t want 27.5 wheels - I have those. I have a comfortable bike which is pretty good at everything, its a mountain bike more specifically its a yeti. What I want is a fast bike which can be ridden on the rough roads of north west England, a bike that can stop safely - Right now my curly bar bike is is a Giant Defy on 23c tyres and 105 rim brakes which currently stays on rollers as I just don’t feel safe going fast on it any more. So I am sure a 42c tire with hydraulic disc will make a huge difference to my current experience on curly bars. So I had a clearer idea, look for ‘fast’ gravel bikes avoid 27.5 wheels frame material I am easy on I like carbon and titanium. Internal cable routing is. must and I also would like dropped chain stays as they seem to make a lot of sense. After a little bit of time (okay probably 3 straight days) something spectacular jumped out at me. A turquoise gravel bike, wow that looks like a Yeti, did Yeti ever make a road bike, nah not recently. It s bloody good looking bike lets have a look. And that was the beginning of me learning about OPEN Cycles. The Yeti of the curly bars?

A bold statement for such a young brand but when Yeti owner Chris Conroy is rocking one and they have already collaborated with Yeti and ENVE I think it holds up. Yes OPEN are a ‘young’ brand but when you look further into the genesis of the company - which they make spectacular easy to do - they have a page on there website which is incredibly franc on who they are where they have been and why they OPEN Cycle is what it is. Andy has worked for Cannondale and Scott while being the Boss at BMC and sales director at Cervelo, which is where he met bike designer Geraad who a life long rider had played a strong part in getting to Cervelo to where it is now designing some of its most famous bikes. So between them quite the cycle heritage, so when I say OPEN in is young it is only partly true.

So I have definitely found the brand for me. Cutting edge, independent and sense of community between the owners of the company and the owners of the bikes. The model I think that will suit me best is the UP its a bike that you can find built up by some as a super fast road bike speed as a focus with big gears or more my aim a single ring on SRAM wide range gravel groupset. OPEN did make a limited edition YETI UP which is kind of the dream but I will take what I can get with demand outstripping supply in the whole of the cycling industry at the moment. Hopefully I will have a build started soon.