Keywords: 27.5,bike of the month,gravel ride,open,open,u.p.

BOTM: Zio's U.P. - part 1

Andy Kessler - 13-Jan-2017
In December's BOTM we showed you the custom painted ONE+ of our friend and photographer Marc Gasch. 

This month we go even a little crazier with Zio's U.P.


We have started to bring in some small amounts of so-called ready-to-paint U.P. frames. Those frames you can not see in any price list or on our website. The frames are painted locally with painters selected by our retailers. Right now availability is limited and not all our dealers are offering those frames, but we plan to expand availability this year. If you are interested just contact me and I can make the connection to dealers that have worked with those frames in the past.

Zio Ziegler is a longtime friend of Above Category, local Marin County shredder on both dirt and pavement and an artist who combines regularly his passion for cycling and for art in amazing projects. According to Above Category, Zio is a ripper on the dirt, and he was really keen on getting an Open U.P. built. Zio started with a raw, unpainted frame that he went to town on with the same gouache technique he used previously on the Baum Corretto he made for his grilfriend. The end result is simply beautiful and combines his passion for cycling art and good style.

Full gallery and specs coming soon! 

And for those of you that pay attention to the smallest details there is something wrong on that build.... the answer you can find in one of our installation videos

Prev

New website

Next

Live stream Q&A

BOTM: Zio's U.P. - Part 3

BOTM: Zio's U.P. - Part 2

BOTM: Defender TWOxONE - Part 2

BOTM: My U.P.-GRADE - Part 2

Online store

Relentless Simplicity

Comments & Questions

OPEN
Incredible! Please list the specs! Pretty close to what I have in my mind...
Post #1 of 18. Posted by Felix on 16-Jan-2017 10:12:04 GMT in reply to blog [0<--1350]
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OPEN
Hi Felix, detail specifications will follow in our 3rd Blog later this month. Thanks for the patience
Post #5 of 18. Posted by Andy Kessler on 17-Jan-2017 06:25:16 GMT in reply to post #1 [1350<--1358]
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OPEN
I'd be more than interested in a ready to paint frame. I'm in Venice, CA. The closest retail shop that carries your frames would be CBS Cycling (But if you'd like to sell it to Bike Effect in Santa Monica, it would be most helpful!!!). Please let me know if I would be able to secure a medium (I ride a 55/56cm frame). Trying to get something built up and ready for the Belgian Waffle Ride in May. Thanks!
Post #2 of 18. Posted by Bruce Horwitz on 16-Jan-2017 11:05:08 GMT in reply to blog [0<--1351]
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OPEN
Hi Bruce, send me a quick mail thats best. Mail details in the contact bar on the left side. Thanks Andy
Post #6 of 18. Posted by Andy Kessler on 17-Jan-2017 06:26:23 GMT in reply to post #2 [1351<--1359]
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OPEN
Hi. I'd be interested to see the evidence behind the scientific approach which dictates the seatpost collar should face forwards - it goes against my engineering intuition but I always like data. I've had issues with my seatpost clamping (which you dealt with by supplying a new seatpost and my using a Thomson collar) because I don't think the stock clamp design is very good (as the axiality of bolt in relation to hole is variable as it is tightened, which will affect the clamp load for a given torque) and you never explained the rationale behind why the collar should face forward; all this did for me was result in a "pinch" of excess carbon at the front of the seat tube in line with the clamp split. I'm not saying I'm right or that I have data, but I'd like to see the evidence you have. Cheers, Matt
Post #3 of 18. Posted by Matt on 16-Jan-2017 12:08:44 GMT in reply to blog [0<--1353]
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OPEN
Hi Matt, we have done slip tests for the seatpost in various configurations. As long as the seatpost is the correct diameter, the reverse position of the clamp leads to a lower clamping force needed for a specific slip force. If the fit is not good, the other way round sometimes works better initially, but at the expense of damage to the seat tube in the long run.
Post #7 of 18. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Jan-2017 14:51:36 GMT in reply to post #3 [1353<--1360]
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OPEN
Hi Gerard, thanks for getting back to me and explaining the outcome of your testing which I have no reason to question. In my case I used a 27.2 Easton EC90 post initially. This is what slipped and only when the forward facing Open clamp was tightened excessively (causing indentation to the post, before, finally the bolt sheared) as well as the seat-tube pinch, was slip prevented. I then changed to the Thomson clamp which held more securely at only 2.7Nm but still resulted in the seat tube pinch. I then used the 3T Carbon post Andy kindly supplied but it's fit seemed just as "loose" in the seat-tube. I subsequently used a Syntace P6 hi-flex because I have great faith in Syntace quality but the fit is still looser than I would expect. I've got the Thomson clamp facing rearward to eliminate the pinch but as its an offset clamp design, I wonder if the "slip test" result would be somewhere between forward facing and rearward facing conventional clamp? I'm also interested to understand the potential long term damage a rearward facing clamp could contribute to. Not to mention the long term effects of the pinched seat-tube. Anyway, I'm grateful that you have the integrity to reply and Andy did commit that if I did experience any failure in this area that we would adhere to a Gentlemans arrangement of decency regarding rectification so I'm not worried; just curious. When is the short travel rear Suspect XC bike coming out? Thanks, Matt
Post #8 of 18. Posted by Matt Heywood on 17-Jan-2017 15:55:56 GMT in reply to post #7 [1360<--1363]
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OPEN
We'll have more info on the full suspension before the end of the month.
Post #9 of 18. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Jan-2017 17:23:26 GMT in reply to post #8 [1363<--1364]
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OPEN
Hey Matt, I wanted to reach out to you about your pinched seat tube situation. Did the "pinch-crack" continue advancing? Did you feel the need to repair it? Or did you just let it be without any issue? The reason I ask is because my frame developed the same issue. Thanks in advance
Post #11 of 18. Posted by Adrián on 03-Feb-2020 03:20:38 GMT in reply to post #8 [1363<--20068]
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OPEN
Hey Matt, I wanted to reach out to you about your pinched seat tube situation. Did the "pinch-crack" continue advancing? Did you feel the need to repair it? Or did you just let it be without any issue? The reason I ask is because my frame developed the same issue. Thanks in advance.
Post #12 of 18. Posted by Adrián on 03-Feb-2020 03:21:39 GMT in reply to post #7 [1360<--20069]
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OPEN
Hi Adrian, let me know if I can help you with anything
Post #13 of 18. Posted by Andy Kessler on 03-Feb-2020 07:39:18 GMT in reply to post #12 [20069<--20071]
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OPEN
Hey Andy, I just wanted to see how you would recommend dealing with the seat tube pinch on an OPEN UP frame.
Post #14 of 18. Posted by Adrian Perez on 03-Feb-2020 10:44:07 GMT in reply to post #13 [20071<--20072]
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OPEN
Same problem for me. Using the the seatpost clamp in the designated orientiation (180 degree with respect to slot) leads to a smal "lump"/ "pinch" of carbon in the front of the seat tube (no crack however). This seems to be the downside of this mounting method. Anything to worry about here? It seems to be a common "problem" judging from the above posts, probably experienced by many riders.
Post #15 of 18. Posted by Immanuel Bloch on 29-Jun-2020 03:07:55 GMT in reply to post #14 [20072<--22404]
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OPEN
Hi Adrian, this is not a common problem at all. It is normally the result of either a under measure seatpost or to much torque. Can you please send me some pictures by mail and also measurements of the seatpost and seat tube at 4 different locations in the clamping area. Thanks Andy
Post #16 of 18. Posted by Andy Kessler on 29-Jun-2020 07:56:22 GMT in reply to post #14 [20072<--22405]
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OPEN
Ich habe genau das gleiche Problem und bisher keine Lösung erhalten. Ich möchte den Rahmen nicht beschädigen und kann daher nicht weiter fahren mit dem Rad. Ich bitte dringend um Hilfe!
Post #17 of 18. Posted by Rolf on 19-Sep-2022 13:35:37 GMT in reply to post #16 [22405<--24679]
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OPEN
Hallo Rolf, ich kontaktiere Dich per mail. LG Andy
Post #18 of 18. Posted by Andy Kessler on 20-Sep-2022 03:32:12 GMT in reply to post #17 [24679<--24680]
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OPEN
very cool! What if the rims, post, stem, bar, cranks, etc. also went gouache??? ;-)
Post #4 of 18. Posted by Matt on 16-Jan-2017 12:55:35 GMT in reply to blog [0<--1355]
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OPEN
Interesting frame
Post #10 of 18. Posted by Andrej Plut on 18-Jan-2017 07:31:13 GMT in reply to blog [0<--1366]
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