OPEN WI.DE. Review - Bike Packers Magazine

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The OPEN responds swiftly to the smallest pedal input and accelerates fast out of any predicament. Although the S-Works Diverge would beat it to the finish line by a hair’s breadth, it was the most efficient bike on flat surfaces and in the peaks. In comparison to bikes like the 3T or the ARC8, the OPEN isn’t dogmatic about wanting to go fast; it’s equally as home riding around.

The WI.DE’s handling is composed no matter what you throw at it, delivering outstanding straight-line stability, which is not particularly noteworthy on its own. However, the way it mixes quickness and stability distinguishes it from the other bikes in the test area.

Furthermore, Open is a bike brand that always appears to be one step ahead of its competitors. Gerard Vroomen, Cervélo’s co-founder, was part of the brains behind the brand and has always had an aptitude for making bikes we didn’t know we needed.

The original Open UP – a bike with a road frame but clearance for 650b wheels and 2.1in mountain bike tyres – was strange at first glance. It was, nevertheless, a great success, breaking new ground in the area between gravel bikes and hardtail mountain bikes.

Although Open called it ‘Gravel Plus,’ with many gravel bikes now having dual wheel size compatibility, this category is no longer genuinely essential. We didn’t need any more uncertainty in the first place.

Special features

The WIDE is designed with Open’s ultra-light U-turn fork, allowing users to connect disc brake calipers straight to the fork without using an adapter. They also used Smart-Mount 160 in the rear, which allows the rear brake calipers to be attached directly to the frame and take 160mm discs without adaptors or spacers.

Add added extra mounts for a toolbox beneath the bottom bracket. The mounts are offset to provide more space on the chain ringside. However, you can remove the toolbox and instead put a bigger water bottle under the down tube.

The WI.DE has two other siblings in the Open family, non-identical twins: The U.P. and the U.P.P.E.R. Both have the same structure, geometry, and tire clearance, yet they differ in carbon layup, weight, and color. The U.P. is available in three colors: green, blue, and RTP (ready to paint). The U.P.P.E.R. weighs 180 grams less than the U.P. and comes in matte black and RTP. The main difference between the WI.DE and U.P. bikes is that U.P.s are designed for road and gravel usage, whereas the WI.DE is designed for both road and off-road use.

Specifications

Seatpost Beast Components Seatpost Straight 0 mm

Tires Ultradynamico CAVA Race 42C

Wheelset HED Emporia GC3 PRO

Brakes Hope RX4 180/180 mm

Drivetrain SRAM Force eTap AXS mit Eagle AXS XX1-Schaltwerk 42 (10–50)

Handlebar Beast Components Gravel Bar 440 mm

Pros

Best Allround-Eigenschaften

Its balanced comfort

It’s balanced, good-natured handling

Its maximum efficiency always fun to ride

Cons

Tires quickly reach their limit in muddy conditions

Summary

With its balanced and good-natured handling, the OPEN WI.DE excelled in our group test. Its outstanding efficiency allows users to move swiftly in every scenario without being excessively sporty. Whether you’re a novice, professional, racer, or bike packer, the WI.DE frameset is the most flexible on the market. The OPEN, with 700 x 42C wheels, is the most excellent gravel all-rounder currently available.

The WIDE is a modern hybrid that combines many minor elements from the cycling industry to create a remarkable performance ride. Open thinks much further beyond the box, creating a distinctive bike in riding and design. Many tiny things build up to a final product that performs on many levels and in many areas. The Open WI.DE is available as a frameset for $3200, and the construction choices are virtually limitless.