The U.P. frame, which was launched in 2015, and its successor, the U.P.P.E.R., which weighs around 160 grams less than its counterpart, have both caused a sensation in the gravel sector and ensured numerous successful test results. The frames are known to perform well on gravel terrain and can also be ridden on the road almost like a thoroughbred racing bike. Those who wanted to gear the gravel bikes from Andy Kessler and Gerard Vroomen primarily towards unpaved paths could do so with 650b tires with a maximum width of 2.1 inches.

Close to a hardtail, but with a drop bar

Now Gerard Vroomen has developed the next evolutionary stage: The Open WI.DE, whose special feature is its tire clearance. The gravel bike can take 650b tires up to 2.4 inches wide and should definitely be able to show off when the trails get really rough. If you set up the bike with 700C wheels, you can build on tires up to 47C, which also corresponds to quasi gigantic dimensions.

At the same time, almost the entire range of single road cranks from Shimano and Sram can be ridden on the bike with the BB standard "BB386 Evo pressfit 86x46mm". This is astonishing for this tire width and testifies to Open's frame construction know-how. At the heart of the fact that the massive tire width can be combined with road cranks is the design of the chainstays.
While the drive-side chainstay on the U.P. and U.P.P.E.R. was pulled down low (incidentally, many competitor products were directly inspired by this design), this design is also used on the brake-side chainstay on the WI.DE. The chainstays, which are pulled down twice, create a surface behind or under the bottom bracket shell, called a monostay, which is threaded. Open creates space on this monostay for a tool box or similar. It should also be possible to mount mudguards on the new WI.DE; a corresponding set should be available at the end of 2019.

https://opencycle.com