opencycle

Ten years, more than 20 painted OPEN frames, and Cento Canesio () still finds new ways to sign his work.

On this UPPER2.0 he swapped the big tag for mini tags. Dots, hundreds of them, scattered across the frame so the carbon stays visible underneath. Tony Spray then sealed it all under an orange gold transparent clear coat.

Photography by

Planning 2027 ( or beyond)?

Our limited-edition OPEN WIDE 2.0, created with Kevin and the Gravel Burn team and inspired by the Karoo, is available for the next three editions.
Packages from $11,900 / €11,500, with standard or "Kevin-approved" builds.

Interested? Contact Andy: [email protected]

OPEN UP 2.0 test at road.cc :
"This is a bike that did everything I asked, and did it well, whether it was an hour’s blast around the local woodland or a big trek along less technical gravel trails. It’s certainly not cheap, but against some of its real competition it actually represents decent value for money – especially when you take its almost faultless performance into account."

Open U.P. 2.0 Frameset | off-road.cc This new Open U.P. 2.0 is described as a light, nimble gravel speed machine – and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. Its low mass, stiffness and slippery aero characteristics make it a hugely responsive frameset that’s fun to ride and hugely rewarding for those who put performance above all els...

THEN & NOW: THE OPEN UP & ALL-NEW UPPER 2.0, by Contender Bicycles
"As we wrote back in 2021 in this retrospective, “The OPEN U.P. didn’t just anticipate the gravel boom—it sparked it.” As the O.G. bike maker in the gravel space, and with 10 years between the release of the original UP and the UPPER 2.0, this release is enough of a biggie that even the The Notorious would be proud.

To help make sense of it all, including where the UP started, the upgrades and innovations available on the UPPER 2.0, and whether an OPEN is for you–either as a first-ever gravel bike or an upgrade from your current rig–we’re thrilled to present this side-by-side, ‘Then & Now’ breakdown. " :

Then & Now: The OPEN UP & All-New UPPER 2.0 The gravel bike that started it all is back. Explore how the new OPEN UPPER 2.0 compares to the original U.P. in our Then vs. Now deep dive.

OPEN UPPER 2.0 gravel bike review, at Cyclist :

"Kessler and Vroomen have done it again – if the first UP set the bar, then the second one has raised it, and will be the benchmark against which I’ll need to measure every fast gravel bike I ride from now on. "

Open Upper 2.0 gravel bike review The long-awaited Open Upper 2.0 gravel bike is out to prove it’s still the best, but without sentimentality for features of the previous bike

Gravel Burn x OPEN Limited Edition WIDE 2.0!
Kevin Vermaak founded the Cape Epic. Two years ago, he contacted Andy about a seven-day race across the Karoo. Andy agreed before Kevin had finished explaining it. The result of those calls was the Nedbank Gravel Burn Limited Edition WIDE 2.0.
There won't be many, so act fast! Contact Andy at [email protected] for more information. You can find all the details about this collaboration on the OPEN Cycle blog and on Kevin's blog, "Brand Building 101", on the Gravel Burn website here below:

Blog#17: Brand Building 101 Building a brand image for a new international sports event is no mean feat, but with the help of our friends at Open Cycles it makes things easier, and more fun. Our collab resulted in the perfect bike to tackle the race and a design (and kit) to match.

UP/PER/ER... built by Thomas C. and
"I have been previously riding an original UPPER Assos edition which I took possession of in 2017 as part of an Assos-sponsored gravel team. I got it about 2 weeks before leaving for Kansas to do the Dirty Kanza 208 (Unbound) race. At first I was a little skeptical about putting all my eggs in the basket of riding a brand new bike in a race like that, but it worked out well (I placed 13th overall). I rode that original UPPER as my main bicycle for road, gravel, and single track riding for almost 9 years, so when the new UPPER 2.0 was released, OPEN had my undivided attention."

Look for more amazing builds on our "Community Showcase", link in Bio or check at opencycle.com

OPEN Cycle - The simplicity of nice bikes, nice rides At OPEN Cycle we design bikes for ourselves, sell them to like-minded people, take care of our customers and that’s it....

OPEN x Gravel Burn Limited Edition WIDE 2.0!

"Over two years ago, Kevin Vermaak told me about his new venture: the Gravel Burn multi-stage gravel race. He didn't have to convince me for even a minute, and we became a ‘Founding Friend’ of the race. It all came together very last-minute, but I knew that if Kevin was building a new event, it would be an amazing adventure — and it was.

This year we wanted to go one step further and put together a race package with a limited- edition bike designed together with Kevin and the team — inspired by Gravel Burn. The handpainted design shows off the elements of the Karoo (the unique region where the race is held) and the fires that are lit each night in the special, remote Burn Camps. For me it was always clear..."

Keep reading our latest blog post for more information on how to get your hands on one of these limited-edition WIDE 2.0s, inspired by the Great Karoo.

OPEN x Gravel Burn