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New Open Cycles One Gets Lighter, Upends Traditional Hardtail Mountain Bike Design

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open-cycles-one-29er-hardtail-mountain-bike

When Gerard Vroomen and Andy Kessler launched Open Cycles back in 2012, they wanted to push the limits of lightweight and stiffness on mountain bikes. And their original Open 1.0 did a pretty good job of kicking things off. Then they released a special edition AXX1 model and others that brought the complete bike weights lower thanks to a very, very expensive builds.

Now, they’ve gone back to the frame to eek out a bit more performance and shed a few more grams. The new Open One will be made in Germany using a new layup process and unusual frame details. The result is a frame that comes in as light as 796g for a Large…

open-cycles-one-29er-hardtail-mountain-bike

One of the biggest visual changes is the dropped drive side chainstay. This layout let them improve clearance for the chainrings and tire without having to use an overly tall tube shape. They say it provides all the stiffness they want with minimal material. From there, the chainstays flatten slightly to work with the bowed seatstays to improve vertical compliance.

open-cycles-one-29er-hardtail-mountain-bike

The seat tube was slimmed down a little, then vertical ribs were added to the sides to prevent lateral flex and reduce the likelihood of buckling. The slimmer size better fits the slightly narrower PFBB30 bottom bracket. Before, they used BBright since it provided an ultra wide and very stiff platform. Thanks to an extended BB shell that creates a thick bridge going back to the chainstays, they maintained stiffness while making a frame that’ll work with many more cranksets.

Out back, they switched to a very slick thru axle. The threaded end doubles as the mount for the rear derailleur hanger, keeping the overall weight the same as with QR but much stiffer.

open-cycles-one-29er-hardtail-mountain-bike

Part of the reason for moving production to Germany was access to premium pre-preg fibers. They wrapped hi-mod UD fibers from the top and down tubes around the head tube. The woven fibers are a lower mod (but not lower quality) with what they say are very high end resins. These provide the necessary strength while the high mod stuff improves stiffness.

open-cycles-one-29er-hardtail-mountain-bike

All in all it’s a very good looking frame. Production weights are simply claimed as “under 850 grams”, which pushes the boundaries of light weight for mountain bikes. Some of what you’re seeing here can also be considered a teaser for a (near) future full suspension bike. Droooooool.

OpenCycle.com

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33 Comments
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Ripnshread
Ripnshread
10 years ago

That rear housing routing looks hideous and janky. Other than that…drooool…

Colin
Colin
10 years ago

I could not agree with you more, sir

Ti
Ti
10 years ago

Thanks BR for making me drool on my keyboard an making my wallet implode.

CXisfun
CXisfun
10 years ago

So, in order to save 50g they had to absolutely ruin the rear cable routing to the point that it has an outrageous kink in the housing? No doubt we’re talking about triathletes here….

Seraph
10 years ago

I’m not sure how the frame design “upends” modern hardtails. Looks like a standard modern hardtail to me.

Andre
10 years ago

Up for this challenge? Now make us a Full Suspension XC 29er under 1400g…..’with’ shock!

WG
WG
10 years ago

The kink is awful… It won’t matter though as soon as XTR Di2 hits the market. Coming soon!

Michael
Michael
10 years ago

Let’s be honest, we’d all be happy enough to ride one…but I’m not buying the “upend traditional hard-tail design” idea 🙂 Giant XTC hardtails have just as much going on with their own factory-made carbon and it is good enough for a lifetime frame warranty. (Yes, I’m clearly a proud owner).

Show me your warranty terms, Open, then we’ll talk.

i
i
10 years ago

Looking at the first open bike it was pretty clear it was a mtb designed by people that think a flat fire road is mountain biking. This one is even worse… That kink that will make the most expensive drivetrain money can buy shift worse than alivo is bad enough, but it’s one of their glamor shots, meaning they don’t even know enough about bike mechanics to know that it’s wrong.

I’d consider $6-700 a fair price for this frame, but I bet it’s the most expensive hardtail frame you can buy at over $3000.

Ilikeicedtea
Ilikeicedtea
10 years ago

My vagina has sand in it!!!!

NattyP
10 years ago

As an owner of the first Open I can assure you that these frames are made for use on all rough and rocky mtb trails. I have absolutely punished mine in Australia for the past 12 months with lots of large drop offs, jumps and rock gardens with no issues what so ever. In answer to Michael’s question regarding warranty, Open offer 10 years on the frame.
My Open is by far the lightest bike I have ever owned and the most responsive, looking forward to checking this one out and the Dual Sus when it is launched.

TmonT
TmonT
10 years ago

did they put enuf clearance for anything bigger than a 1.9 in there yet ?? modernize the geometry from 2002 this time around ?? mtn bike from a tri-guy. ahem.

Mike
Mike
10 years ago

Fat road bike. I want one.

Ocracer
Ocracer
10 years ago

Leave it to Cervélo (founder) to again puch the boundries of bike tech, this time in mtb! For those that don’t understand carbon frame tech or know the history of carbon road bikes need to open the history books.

Vince Pearl
Vince Pearl
10 years ago

Who cares about that kink you weirdos, that is not a show stopper. This is an awesome feat to make a got d*mn 800g mountain bike frame. i love the look with the AX parts too.

Marc
Marc
10 years ago

Actually while building this bike, I was thinking the same. The cable bend is pretty extreme, but I can report that shifting was not compromised at all.Nevertheless this frame begs for Di2. For anyone that has put a leg over an Open Cycle, knows,these bikes are for the most discerning of riders. The feeling of riding an Open,let alone the One,is unlike any hardtail composite 29er I have ridden. Pure point and shoot acceleration all while never asking for more compliance.Once again Gerard has perpetrated his spirit into production of another discipline.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

It would totally rip on bike paths around here.

Tim
Tim
10 years ago

The kink is a showstopper. It makes a multi-K drivetrain work worse than Alivio (which I would argue, works OK). Give us external routing, please.

notapro
notapro
10 years ago

Kindling

Der_kruscher
Der_kruscher
10 years ago

Guys, please stop completely misusing the word “showstopper” – it’s definition is pretty much the opposite of what you mean. I believe “deal-breaker” is the phrase you’re looking for.

Mark
10 years ago

Mark here with Pro Bike Supply. We put this bike together and although there are a few details that need some tweaking, overall this is a very impressive frame especially considering that this is the very first frame off the production line. I agree that the rear cable routing does need a little work and Open is considering alternative options.

What really blows me away about every frame that Open Cycle produces is the stiffness, compliance and exceptionally low weight. There is no other frame on the market that comes close the lateral stiffness of an Open while at the same time being comfortable to ride even after 6 hours in the saddle. Factor in that they also make some of the lightest hardtail frames on the market and you then get a real understanding as to why this frame is a showstopper.

Hardtails are not for everyone but if you are considering buying one then this frame should be at the top of your drool list.

Pete
Pete
10 years ago

I’d like to see a comparison of stiffness (lateral/vertical) to other more popular brands (S-Works SJ, C’dale Flash 29, Trek Superfly, etc). Looking at those chainstays and I’m thinking this rear end feels like a wet noodle.

Rp
Rp
10 years ago

Pretty sure Specialized tried this routing when they redesigned the Roubaix a few years ago. Our shop got three of them in and we couldn’t get the shifting to work properly.

MaLóL
MaLóL
10 years ago

This frame is the part. It would win any test compared to spesh, trek, cannondale and all that (deleted). Specially if you consider weight stiffness ratio. This is no asian crap, this is made by the German guys who are asked to do parts for quite a few formula one teams for a few years now. Those don’t work with asian (deleted).

That been said, at 4200€ (about 6000$), well…

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
10 years ago

This thing is sick, but one bad crash and that carbon is going to shatter to bits.

gerald t.
gerald t.
10 years ago

Guys, a frame can only get but so stiff before it becomes a moot point. $6000 frame from Cervelo? That’s a joke, and it’s not even funny. Also, when you’re trying to compete in this kind of market, thinks like super janky cable routing do matter. You pretty much lose all credibility if you can’t get something as simple as that right.

Lodz
Lodz
10 years ago

at Sea Otter, they told me $4800 USD.

pmurf
pmurf
10 years ago

I wouldn’t call this cable routing “super janky” – probably not ideal, but as Marc said, it seems like it doesn’t compromise shifting that much. And yet the comments about “this thing MUST shift like crap” keep on flowing…I’m willing to bet half the people criticizing don’t get the weird perspective going on in the photo. The housing loop is tight, but not pinched – it bends out quite a bit. And if you can’t get this to shift smoothly (even WITH alivio) then you clearly don’t know how to treat housing ends properly after cutting them.

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
10 years ago

An old school avid roll-a-ma-jig would be a quick solution for that rear cable problem. I don’t know about putting one on a 4800 frame. It seems for that kind of money cervelo could engineer a better solution.

Mike
Mike
10 years ago

First, It’s not a Cervelo. Secondly, I own an Open O 1.0 and can attest to the stiffness. I greatly preferred the rear braking performance of the Open over the Sworks stumpjumper. In full disclosure I also have a 29″ Epic (2014 carbon expert) and a 26″ epic (2012 sworks) and wanted to like the Spec product, just hated the rear brake chatter (XTR on demo). Additionally, I feel the Open has better stiffness when applying power and better handling. The low speed, climbing handling of the Open is exceptional and my favorite aspect of this bike. I have raced it since December 2013 (short track and one 100K race) and have been very pleased with the bike as well as the quality of customer service. As mentioned previously, I am the anti-bike rumor and own 2 specialized bikes and love them both. If I have an issue with my specialized there is a substantially longer paper trail and time delay in getting it addressed, it is still addressed and addressed well, some of what I like about specialized. With Open, I email Andy and he responds; rapidly. I’m not a UCI pro racer but it’s nice to be treated as one when you spend the money for a product such as this.

Burt
Burt
10 years ago

That kink is literally a showstopper. lol

Gerard Vroomen
10 years ago

Thanks to those with constructive feedback. Regarding the kink in the cable, we definitely wouldn’t sell it like that. This exit position is perfect for something that wasn’t available quite yet at SeaOtter. For the standard set-up including XX1 which this frame in the end was built up with, it will have different routing.

As for those predicting lack of stiffness, shattering carbon in crashes, etc, sounds like the same things the same people were predicting with the O-1.0 and of course none of that ever occurred.

@TmonT Most run 2.1″ or 2.2″, some 2.25″ on their OPENs, so you must have been confused about something.

And to clarify the pricing, it is $4800 plus tax, the $6000 misunderstanding probably came from somebody converting the Euro price but that includes Euro sales tax. Not that $4800 isn’t high, it is.

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
10 years ago

What other frames sell for around this much?

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