The U.P.PER. CONCE.PT Bike
The U.P.PER. CONCE.PT Bike was announced earlier this summer. The first new frame to launch from Open Cycle is a concept bike, highlighting the new direction for OPEN. Only 125 will be made in Medium and in Large. I have a limited edition from Open, it’s my brown bike.
Open has lots to show and explain, so head on over to their blog for the full story. I’m sharing highlights here. I’m encouraged by this development because as compliant as the original UP is, it’s still a stiffish carbon bike.
The goal of he U.P.PER. CONCE.PT Bike is to emphasize the new design elements, focusing on:
The U.P.PER. CONCE.PT BikeAerodynamics vs. Comfort
Gerard has no issue with aerodynamics—his history of designs, starting with the founding of Cervélo, speaks to that. However, in gravel riding, comfort takes precedence over minimizing aero drag. It makes little sense to save a few seconds on drag if you lose minutes because you can’t maintain your riding position for extended periods. At OPEN, we’ve always prioritized compliance, because comfort = speed. With the new frames, our aim was to maintain 100% of that comfort while improving aerodynamics where possible.
The Downtube
The new downtube is similar in dimensions to our existing frames but features subtle modifications to the front surface, forming a more efficient airfoil. The truncated rear retains OPEN’s signature shaping, delivering the same compliance as our current downtube while enhancing aerodynamics.
The Headtube
The headtube is the most critical area for reducing frame drag, as the airflow is cleanest at the front of the frame, making aero shaping most effective. The updated headtube is narrower but deeper. Inside, the carbon layup ensures it remains compliant, even with the new shape.
The Result
The outcome is a more aerodynamic frame that preserves Open’s hallmark comfort. Everything else on the U.P.PER. CONCE.PT has been streamlined to highlight these new shapes. It features straight chainstays, no mounts for a front derailleur, fenders, and so on. While these features are valuable for many of Open’s customers, the U.P.PER. CONCE.PT embraces a “reduce to the max” philosophy—one of Gerard’s fav slogans from when the Smart car first came out. The regular new U.P. will offer those features and more, but the CONCE.PT is all about stripping back to the essentials.