Open UP €3,200 (frameset only) | 8.61kg

A gravel frameset that prioritises versatility and agility

SPECS

Frame Open UP

Fork Open U-Turn fork

Groupset Campagnolo Ekar

Handlebar Deda Gravel 100

Wheelset Campagnolo Levante

Tyres Vittoria Terrano Dry Graphene 2.0

Saddle Fizik Terra Argo X1

Seatpost Deda Superleggero

Weight 8.61kg

The motto at Open is “working hard to stay small”. This Swiss brand was founded 10 years ago by Andy Kessler (ex-CEO of BMC) and Gerard Vroomen (co-founder of Cervélo) – who can both safely say that they’ve done “the big company thing”.

The UP is now in its third generation. Its focus is around the middle of the gravel spectrum – it’s not an expedition-ready bulldozer nor an endurance bike with wider tyres. Instead, it’s designed to be light, nimble, and capable; able to go fast both off-road and on – and, perhaps most importantly, to be fun to ride on both too.

This review is of the frameset only, but the bike was built up with a Campagnolo Ekar groupset, Campagnolo Levante wheels, and dressed in Deda finishing kit. It’s a similar-ish spec to the €7,300 build that Open sells with Ekar, Enve AG25 wheels, and all-carbon Enve finishing kit.

Frame and fork

The Open UP is limited to 40mm tyres on a 700c wheel but can go all the way up to 2.1in (54mm) on a set of 650b hoops.