THEY ARE OPEN

Andy Kessler - 15-Jun-2020
Remember when this whole Corona thing started I wrote a pretty emotional blog with the title "WE ARE OPEN".

Thats 10 weeks ago and today at least for me personally it is another emotional day.  

After I wrote my last blog suddenly all the borders around us got closed. If you have been to Switzerland you know we are a pretty small country. You can cross the country by car in 2.5 hours N-S and 3.5 hours E-W. Our office here in Basel is literally at the boarder to Germany and France. Not only do we ride a lot in those countries but we also have many friends and family over the border. So in fact we were quite impacted by the closure.

And it was really a total closure. Even the smallest border single trail was closed down with a fence, concrete construction or anything else making it clear that you have to stop. Military in the middle of the forrest with machine guns... it felt like war also of course it was not. I am not saying this did not make sense but it felt strange being locked in in our tiny island not being able to see and meet your business partners, families and friends on the other side... I can only start to understand really now how it felt for the East Germans 30 years ago when the wall came down (also of course I would never compare the two situations)



So today June 15th the borders in Europe reopened. Originally I wanted to ride the whole day and cross at least 40 times a border between Switzerland, France and Germany. But as bicycles are the new toilet paper (at least thats what CNN online said) we are super busy here and I just went for a 2 hour lunch ride. I still crossed 10 times a border between Switzerland-France-Germany and it felt really good to do so.

Here comes a small gallery of the ride that was a mix between road and gravel

In my last blog I also mentioned that there are so many questions in this world currently (and actually since a week there are even more) and so few answers. I still think that's the case. On today's ride, actually just on the border between France and Germany, I found at least somebody (the anarchist trans girl) that has found a simple answer for herself - even though personally I would like to approach the current situation a bit differently (at least you see I have my Swiss humour back....)




And actually I found another answer already 10 years ago when I visited Berlin and found that graffiti on a leftover bit of the Berlin Wall. 


I wish you all the best and stay healthy 
 

Comments & Questions

OPEN
Congratulations! ????????
Post #1 of 17. Posted by Sergio on 15-Jun-2020 12:31:00 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22347]
OPEN
(Oops, the emojis were converted to “????”)
Post #2 of 17. Posted by Sergio on 15-Jun-2020 12:31:26 GMT in reply to post #1 [22347<--22348]
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I could not agree more with you Andy - I did exactly the same :-) and it felt great.
Post #3 of 17. Posted by Werner on 15-Jun-2020 12:31:34 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22349]
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Nice report (and nice bike), thank you Andy. By the way, what are those mudguards on that WI.DE.?
Post #4 of 17. Posted by Christian on 15-Jun-2020 13:00:31 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22350]
OPEN
Hi Christian, they are prototypes of our de-fender mudguards that should be available later this year
Post #15 of 17. Posted by Andy Kessler on 16-Jun-2020 03:42:23 GMT in reply to post #4 [22350<--22365]
OPEN
Yes, decompress! Stay well all.
Post #5 of 17. Posted by Tony on 15-Jun-2020 13:10:32 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22351]
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Dear Andy

I have had the same 'Corona' feeling!
I live close to the border with the Netherlands. While cycling we may cross the border several times.
It is like the enclave municipality of Baarle-Nassau / Hertog. Sometimes the border runs through the living room: one side of the table is the Netherlands, the other Belgium.
What I am saying is that when 'normal things' are no longer normal, we realize how special 'normal things' are....
Let's bike !!
Post #6 of 17. Posted by Luc Hulselmans on 15-Jun-2020 13:35:26 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22352]
OPEN
Are those a pair of de-fenders?
Post #7 of 17. Posted by Sebastian on 15-Jun-2020 13:46:11 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22353]
OPEN
Maybe a prototype of the OPEN fenders which are supposed to come ..
Post #8 of 17. Posted by Marco on 15-Jun-2020 14:13:29 GMT in reply to post #7 [22353<--22354]
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Hi Sebastian, yes they are prototypes and we made a couple of changes. We should update you soon on final look and delivery date.
Post #12 of 17. Posted by Andy Kessler on 16-Jun-2020 03:38:43 GMT in reply to post #7 [22353<--22361]
OPEN
What are these fenders?
Post #9 of 17. Posted by Matt on 15-Jun-2020 15:14:48 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22355]
OPEN
Hi Matt, a prototype of our de-fender mudguards
Post #14 of 17. Posted by Andy Kessler on 16-Jun-2020 03:41:11 GMT in reply to post #9 [22355<--22364]
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Well done! It was great today, I’m in Riehen and managed to get across to Weil. Since lockdown, I’ve found cycling again and your bikes. I’d be glad to know which size you think I need in an UP or WIDE. I’ve still got 3 Cervelo’s Soloist 2007 x2 and a 2011 P3. All size 51. Given you built the Geometry of those bikes :), I wondered if I would be best for a small or medium! I’m 173cm tall, inside leg about 77cm inside leg. Thanks so much and I’m looking forward to speccing my OPEN soon
Post #10 of 17. Posted by R87 on 15-Jun-2020 16:54:39 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22356]
OPEN
Thanks if you live in Riehen best would be you come by the office and go for a demo ride. Before I want to ask you a couple of questions just send me a mail (contact on the left side of that screen)
Post #13 of 17. Posted by Andy Kessler on 16-Jun-2020 03:40:35 GMT in reply to post #10 [22356<--22363]
OPEN
But who REALLY CARES about CNN Toilet paper ?
Post #11 of 17. Posted by Steve dakhlian on 15-Jun-2020 18:01:43 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22357]
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looking for a gravel bike. Anything in the works for a future with AXS dropper post?
Post #16 of 17. Posted by andrew on 16-Jun-2020 12:46:21 GMT in reply to blog [0<--22366]
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As soon as the 27.2mm AXS dropper comes out, it will be compatible with all our gravel frames. As to when it comes out, we don't know (we rode the prototype last year for a while, so it can't be too long now I would think. But that's based on nothing other than the ticking of the clock.
Post #17 of 17. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 18-Jun-2020 09:50:01 GMT in reply to post #16 [22366<--22373]
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