Open Cycle Open UP GRX800

Specifications are subject to change. Please inquire for current details.

FAST, FUN, FREEDOM

The first U.P. combined road bike speed plus go-anywhere capabilities to start a whole new category. Now original U.P. features such as dual wheel size compatibility and a dropped chainstay are the standard for performance gravel bikes.

The third generation U.P. & U.P.P.E.R. frames are lighter, nimbler and more fun than ever. They also still pass our ultimate test: We only offer frames we want to ride ourselves.

WHAT IS THE
U.P.(P.E.R.)?

With road tires, it is a very fast road bike
With big road/cross/gravel tires (32-40mm), it’s a go-anywhere bike perfect for mixed surface rides and most gravel routes
With 650b mountain bike tires, it's unstoppable on very tough terrain yet much faster on pavement than you'd expect thanks to the road position

So the position lets you get out of town and reach the gravel/dirt/trails quickly (unlike a mountain bike). Space for big tires lets you tackle any route (unlike a road bike). And you can do that with one type of tire for everything or fine tune your ride with multiple wheelsets or tires.

TIRE CLEARANCE

The U.P. fits mountain bike and gravel tires up to 2.1” (54mm) in 650b. It also fits 700c gravel, cross and road tires from 28-40mm wide (exact tire sizes depend on manufacturing tolerances and rim width, so always check and make sure you have 6mm clearance between tire and frame).

More importantly, and more difficult to achieve, the U.P. handles well in all these configurations, as customers, media and award judges confirm time and again. So whether you ride it with road or mountain bike tires, on pavement or off-road, you always have nimble, responsive and confidence-inspiring handling.

DROPPED CHAINSTAY

Probably the most copied feature of the original U.P., but still few fully understand why and how to optimize this.

Chainring(s), frame and tire all fight for space just behind the bottom bracket. Mountain (and some gravel) bikes solve this with a wider crank, but that hurts your pedal stance (Q-factor) and thus your pedaling efficiency.

Instead we drop the right chainstay to move it out of this crowded area, allowing it to be wider and therefore stiffer (twice the width will give you eight times the stiffness!)

TRCinTRS™ TECHNOLOGY

Forget “100% hi-modulus aero-space carbon”. It’s not about high- or low-modulus, it’s about the right carbon in the right spot (or TRCinTRS™ as we mockingly call it).

Fact: stiffer carbon is more brittle. So it's great for stiffness (on the sides of the downtube) but bad for impact loads (for example around the headtube).

Hence the best lay-up is a blend. We strategically place the ultra-high modulus (very stiff) carbon where we can, and tougher grades of carbon where we must. That’s how our frames are both light and durable.