Just when we thought everything was solved

Gerard Vroomen - 30-May-2019
There was one more twist to the story I shared yesterday.

When everything was fixed, we got a shipment of the first five OPN-11 frames. We always get a few frames early so we can shoot photos, video, share the bikes with some media in advance, etc.
And so for two days, Andy and I are riding around Basel (fantastic area for gravel bikes by the way, so do visit us when you have a chance). We're having a great time until at the end of the second day, when we are doing the final spec checks, my Large frame doesn't fit the smallest chainring we specify.

Well, it fits, but the chain is super close to the chainstay. This was the problem we had before, but that's fixed now. How can it have returned? We look on Andy's bike, a Medium. No problem at all. We look at mine again, his again, mine again. We switch some parts, same problem. We measure the BB drop on both bikes, there's a difference, but then again the tires are different. We measure the tires to adjust, and now the two frames are still different, but in the other direction.

The two sizes also have slightly different BB drops, but accounting for that, times pi, minus the square root of nonsense, plus fatigue from two days of riding equals me going insane. Half an hour of agony later, I find a different way to measure the exact shape of the chainstay. This is identical for every size, but it's different for the Medium and the Large frame we have here. Hey! Slowly it dawns on me; the only reason I can think of is that this one large frame is in fact NOT the new design, but somehow they shipped an old frame as part of the five. 

Somewhat at ease, but still nervous, I fire off an email to the factory very late at night. Could this be the case? Casually, the next morning we get the reply. "Oh, one Large frame wasn't done on time so we sent one of the old ones." Maybe you could have mentioned that before we almost found ourselves in the ER for a triple bypass?!?

Anyway, then it was full steam ahead, into production. Here's the first video from those two days, enjoy:

Comments & Questions

OPEN
You videos keep prompting me to visit https://opencyc...wide, but that page keeps telling me "a little more patience please . . ." The anticipation is killing me.
Post #1 of 31. Posted by Alexandre on 30-May-2019 09:06:53 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18447]
OPEN
Same for me ?? Expecting the launch soon! Andy, hear me ??
Post #2 of 31. Posted by Felix W. on 30-May-2019 09:13:08 GMT in reply to post #1 [18447<--18448]
OPEN
Soon, all too soon
Post #10 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:52:36 GMT in reply to post #2 [18448<--18467]
OPEN
Very cool. Curious to know more! I still want the fully ;-) Wondering what multiple meanings WI.DE will have! Love your writing btw!
Post #3 of 31. Posted by Matt on 30-May-2019 09:51:07 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18449]
OPEN
Yes.... how cool would it be to have an entire OPEN quiver... bring on the Fully, please.
Post #9 of 31. Posted by Doug Honeyford on 30-May-2019 13:27:06 GMT in reply to post #3 [18449<--18455]
OPEN
Sorry, nothing in the works for a fully at this moment.
Post #12 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:53:55 GMT in reply to post #9 [18455<--18469]
OPEN
Well, it will be hard to beat the U.P. when it comes to pun-potential. You just can't make that stuff U.P.
Post #11 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:53:32 GMT in reply to post #3 [18449<--18468]
OPEN
So what's different from the regular U.P. ??? And what does it mean in the ride efficiency?
Post #4 of 31. Posted by Norbert on 30-May-2019 10:19:43 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18450]
OPEN
See next blog!
Post #13 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:54:06 GMT in reply to post #4 [18450<--18470]
OPEN
Be interesting to see the geo and full frameset spec.
Post #5 of 31. Posted by SpeedyChix on 30-May-2019 10:38:01 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18451]
OPEN
Coming soon.
Post #14 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:54:54 GMT in reply to post #5 [18451<--18471]
OPEN
Interesting...
Spotted a 12sp cassette.
Will it fit also the "classic" UP?
Post #6 of 31. Posted by Bengt Novik on 30-May-2019 10:57:02 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18452]
OPEN
Yes, that's a Force AXS group combined with Eagle AXS rear derailleur and regular Eagle chain and cassette. Fits on the U.P. too.
Post #15 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:55:39 GMT in reply to post #6 [18452<--18472]
OPEN
Does the Wide and new Up fit the new Shimano GRX 12 speed group?
Post #29 of 31. Posted by Bob G on 14-Aug-2019 21:36:51 GMT in reply to post #15 [18472<--19687]
OPEN
Which 12-sp GRX groupset? GRX is 10- and 11-speed and yes it is, as new information for drivetrains is usually released to us a few years in advance so we can take that into account.
Post #30 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 15-Aug-2019 06:51:10 GMT in reply to post #29 [19687<--19689]
OPEN
My mistake. I read an article that was talking about Shimano XT 12 speed and confused it with GRX. I apologize.
Post #31 of 31. Posted by Bob G on 15-Aug-2019 13:48:00 GMT in reply to post #30 [19689<--19692]
OPEN
Seems Like its a 29er monster version of the UP, so it can ride 29 wheels up to 2.4 ? both rear chainstays are dropped to accommodate wider and taller tires then UP
Post #7 of 31. Posted by donald on 30-May-2019 11:00:56 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18453]
OPEN
Oh please no. No gravel bikes with 29er tires. That just makes the frame so tall and so long, that it becomes a disaster to ride on fast surfaces (paved or unpaved). Then you just have a bad mountain bike.
Post #16 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:56:32 GMT in reply to post #7 [18453<--18473]
OPEN
Hm. You should give a Fire Road Rage a try. You would be surprised.
Post #18 of 31. Posted by Crimargia on 30-May-2019 17:38:58 GMT in reply to post #16 [18473<--18475]
OPEN
Well, the Road Rage doesn't have clearance for 2.4" tires, it only fits a 29x2". And it does so with quite a lot of toe overlap on the smallest couple of sizes, and a long chainstay of course. I'm not saying it's a bad bike, but it's not a bike that feels like a native road bike on road and then tears it up offroad. It's just different.
Post #19 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 17:46:06 GMT in reply to post #18 [18475<--18477]
OPEN
Toe overlap: I do ride a medium and it is not really a problem. 29x2.0 is a good compromize. I would be very happy with an Open Upper with 29x2.0. A curved seat tube and the seat stays could be shorter as by the Fire Road
Post #21 of 31. Posted by Crimargia on 30-May-2019 18:13:50 GMT in reply to post #19 [18477<--18481]
OPEN
sweet, could you talk to your buddies @ Sram and ask them when they are going to release the axs Dropper for our 27.2 post, because that will rock with the monster U.P.
Why is Andy always out front...haha
You guys might just be the most entertaining dudes in the bike industry, and that's hard to pull off, congratulations!
Post #8 of 31. Posted by doug honeyford on 30-May-2019 11:25:43 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18454]
OPEN
Well, there are 3 AXS dropper posts in 27.2mm in the world right now, and we have one! More on that later as Andy is riding it right now. As for who's in front, I'm a gentleman!
Post #17 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 30-May-2019 16:57:47 GMT in reply to post #8 [18454<--18474]
OPEN
Wild Garlic!! I have all 3 OPEN bikes and now wonder......do we have a new colour palette on it's way? Salsa and surly bikes x
Post #20 of 31. Posted by jason thake on 30-May-2019 17:53:24 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18480]
OPEN
Not really, as always it's the 4 OPEN colors and black, white and grey. Those are our colors, aside from the limited editions obviously.
Post #26 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 02-Jun-2019 03:41:28 GMT in reply to post #20 [18480<--18519]
OPEN
I have ended up sticking with 650b x 2.1 on my U.P. and love it. But I really like the concept of the new model, especially the more relaxed front end. I would appreciate that on my longer rides!
Btw, can we purchase the jerseys in the video? They look great!
Post #22 of 31. Posted by Jody on 30-May-2019 23:15:47 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18487]
OPEN
Coming soon!
Post #27 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 02-Jun-2019 03:41:46 GMT in reply to post #22 [18487<--18520]
OPEN
Looks like a cool and fun bike, although, I still don't understand the need for this bike. Just ride a ONE+ (or any 29er) with drop bars if you have to.
But I guess if that's what the market wants, give it to them! Silly buggers ;)
Post #23 of 31. Posted by Sam on 31-May-2019 02:14:17 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18489]
OPEN
Geometry, handling, speed, crank Q-factor would be four reasons to choose this over a ONE+ with drop bars
Post #28 of 31. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 04-Jun-2019 04:00:21 GMT in reply to post #23 [18489<--18535]
OPEN
Colorway options when released?
Post #24 of 31. Posted by Tony Vu on 31-May-2019 03:21:40 GMT in reply to blog [0<--18492]
OPEN
Ah. I see. Gray and RTP options only.
Post #25 of 31. Posted by Tony on 31-May-2019 03:27:27 GMT in reply to post #24 [18492<--18493]
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