Open U.P. mashup: Stefano’s new gravel bike day
I won’t lie about it, I like building bikes and I find myself changing bikes way too often, I am a chronic bike geek and I love to ride ‘em when they also look good. But you know what I am talking about don’t you? Aren’t we all vane about our bikes?
Vanity aside, I rarely bring my bike to the mechanic, I don’t have time for that and in general, my bikes go through some abuse: I travel for work and I bring my bikes on planes and I trash them enough when I use them, I don’t care if they get scratched, are tools after all. For these reasons my tendency is to select components that are sexy, with an understated look, (no thanks, too much “bling-bling” it is not my thing) and with that kind of reliability that has to outlast me.
I was recently selecting components for my latest trail sled, as usual, the price tag is oscillating between having a dream build and being completely broke. While the process was almost completed, Calamaro hit me with one of his almost philosophical questions: “I need a gravel bike: can you help me choose and build one?”
His point was clear “I want to build a quiver killer but I don’t want to break the bank!”
All right man challenge accepted!!
Open Up — the Gravel Frame
When it comes to frame selection for this purpose I find it very hard to beat an Open UP: it was probably the first one hitting the market, the geometry has been copied basically by anyone, and I have one of them myself: unpainted!
No, I wouldn’t go for the Upper when I can have almost the same weight for less money and I honestly love the stout look and the complete lack of decals: I am not a “no-logo” kind of guy, but I find some decals just ugly or invasive, I prefer none or very subtle ones (kudos to the guys at Evil Bikes), and I wear all black, all day, every day.
I won’t be a d**k about it: I love that bike, and I did pay the full price for it, I am not sponsored, so really I have no bias.
What I like about it is that it is light, it has been proven to be reliable and REALLY tough (I am a 85kg x 186cm mountain biker, I rode that thing over some XC trails, and I didn’t spare it some of the jumps. I had no issues after 2 years — in the same timespan my former Giant was basically done — ), but there are a couple of perks that I absolutely dislike:
1. Why the hell there is no tube-in-tube for easier routing of the cables?
2. WHY press-fit? I don’t mind to press the bearings in, but when I have to hammer them out I’m really, really, I mean, really frightened!
Dear Andy and Gerard, all I want for Xmas is an Open U.P., with tube-in-tube and a BSA BB, pretty please?
When Calamaro told me that Andy would support him for the podcast season with a discounted Open U.P., choosing a frame was a no-brainer.
But the components, well, the components had us thinking quite a bit:
Groupset — Sram Force 1 + Shimano Frankenstein
Well, choices here were somewhat limited: either the ugly Shimano GRX (with good brakes) or the sleek Force 1 with squeaky brakes. We went for the latter with Shimano rotors, an easy fix for an otherwise brilliant group (please Shimano do hire a decent industrial designer, will you?) you might argue that isn’t the cleaner build but, that very successful medley with 2pac and Biggie wasn’t the nicest either. But it worked!
Crankset Mon Amour
If I would be one of those reviewers/influencers I would probably start arguing about cranks and stiffness, and I know you would like me to tell that carbon is stiffer right? I find this an easy trick if you want to justify the extra money you paid!
But If I have to be honest: I’ve never noticed any flex on any decent crank, can’t tell what’s stiffer, really.
But if I have to talk about my cranky wet dream then only one bit of bike porn comes into my mind: Cane Creek eewings
Those things are absolutely beautiful! Plus they are made out of TI-Fuc*ing-Tanium, the OG of light-yet-strong materials: they won’t be scuffed, they don’t need that ugly tape, and they won’t look scrape material after 2 seasons.
They are basically faultless (unless you bike business guys will come out with YET ANOTHER bb standard).
Again don’t ask me to justify a thousand bucks for a crankset! I am not THIS crazy right? They are absolutely unjustifiable, but Jesus, they are gorgeous.
I won’t deny I proposed it to Calamaro but I also had to give him Ammonia Inhalants after he’s seen the price…
Wheelset — Hunt 4 seasons Gravel
This was hard! A new wheel manufacturer is out every 2 weeks (most of them just put stickers on Chinese brands actually) and the alu vs fiber is another controversial bit. I find deep carbon wheels rather unforgiving (I have them on my MTB, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that they can break. I just think that where carbon breaks alu would be tacoed) and, the deeper they get, the harder to maneuver the become (especially in winter), comfort-wise the vibrations would get even worse when they are narrow. So after a long discussion about what to buy, most of our lads in the bike business agreed with recommending to buy a set of Hunt aluminum wheels (J-bend spokes, good quality hubs, pre-taped and of course tubeless-ready). The choice: Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc, they are just killer – I am a DT Swiss fan but, I have to say I am positively impressed.
Seatpost — Easton
I’ve read a lot about dropper posts on a gravel bike, but honestly? I don’t think it is really necessary. A gravel bike isn’t a Mountainbike and it is not going to replace mine anytime soon.
My top pick would have been an Enve post, it looks beautiful, it is carbon, and it’s easy to set up, but again, it is hard to justify the money. Even against a Thomson masterpiece, I would find difficult to sustain an argument over a
nice and reliable Easton, I mean it is cheap strong and looks good. I guess it has it all.
Stem and bar — 3t and Fizik, we just cleaned out the cellar
Again, if you have deep pockets go for Enve, they have lifetime warranty, after all, I do ride am Enve bar on a Hope stem on my MTB — and it isn’t exactly a cheap combination — but still: the road bar is 3 times the MTB one (why?), and I can’t really wrap my mind around it. For my personal steed, I went for Zipp SL Ergo Carbon, fantastic, but is it that extra bit of comfort really worth that money?Plus since Calamaro is a touch paranoid about carbon bars, we decided to go Fizik, for the bar and the tape, and a 3t stem that was lying around.
Last touches — still basement juice
Bar plugs: please let’s just agree that the expanders, with the lock-in screw are just better than that plastic cheap plugs, shall we?
Bearings: My choice? Chris King — ‘nuff said. This will be the first upgrade after a muddy season or two. For now we stay with what we got in the box: CaneCreek for the headset and some Sram BB.
Bottle cage: I know most of you want carbon everywhere but if you ask me King Cage are simply the best you can possibly have.
Tires: We talked a lot about it: Panaracer Gravel King or better René Herse Steilacoom? Pirelli Cinturato or Maxxis Rambler? In my closet, we found a pair of WTB Nano 40 and we put them on, Stefano won’t complain about it in the mud.
We kept the price tag reasonable and the bike looks gorgeous, It will accompany Calamaro for years and well, it has a very reasonable weight too.
I don’t think I will have him complaining about it after all.
