Summer time! OPEN and OPENxASSOS apparel
ASSOS : yes we did it again and are so happy about it.
Almost 10 years ago we started our first colab with ASSOS for the Cape Epic. I remember that race very well. It was ASSOS' first step from road to off-road and we had three strong teams at the startline. For us it was the proof of concept for the OPEN 1.0, our hardtail mountain-bike frame. Back then it was the lightest hardtail frame and if I remember right the first one with integrated cables and many more cool features like for example BBright for MTB.... think about that, the frame design was made 13 years ago!
The 1.0 did well, ending up on the podium in the mens category and winning the mixed category.
Even more important than the product and memories we made with Assos at that race, I met many great people over the years at and around ASSOS and many of them became more than just a business partners.
There are just too many people to list here but let me mention a couple of them:
Kevin and Jakes: Kevin, the founder of Cape Epic and now founder of Gravel Burn (the ultimate, multi stage gravel race down in South Africa). Jakes, the guy who puts a huge knife in his jersey pocket when you go for a ride in Cape Town around Table Mountain. When I asked him why, he said there is a bike-jacking section along the trail. When the naive swiss guy asked him what do we do if they want to take your bike? His answer was: we fight! Not sure that is a great idea.
Then the people at ASSOS: The first one I have to mention is the founder Toni Meier, one of the most innovative and inspiring person I have met in this industry. Many firsts: First Shimano importer in Europe, first carbon time trial frame, first lycra shorts. Still full of ideas and just a great personality. Along with Toni, there is of course also his daughter and son Desirée and Roche. Great people.
Next is Phil, one of the major shareholders and ex-CEO of ASSOS: I never forget our first ride. It was a cold and rainy November day and I was told Phil was a Morgan Stanley banker, investor in many businesses and I thought "great, we do not have to ride in these lousy conditions".
I was so wrong, we went out and Phil enjoyed the Basel trail system. We meet at least once a year for a ride now and I know, I always have to go unless I just came out of surgery. Note to Phil if you're reading this: I just discovered today at my doctor that I did our last ride with 3 broken ribs.
But many more to list: Karl&Karl, Erwin, Giuseppe, Daniele, Luca, Peter and and and.
The new OPENxASSOS and OPEN Lifestyle collection
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