Beautiful Bicycle: OPEN UPPER 2.0 With Custom Paint
For years, OPEN has been a mainstay at Contender Bicycles, earning a loyal following by building gravel bikes around ride quality rather than extremes of stiffness or speed. That approach gives their bikes a distinct feel on the road and on dirt, which is exactly why so many riders choose them as long-term builds. This UPPER 2.0 leans fully into that idea, balancing road efficiency with real gravel capability in a package that feels composed everywhere. Finished in a custom sky blue paint, it carries a timeless look that gives the bike its own quiet identity.
FRAME DETAIL
This customer wanted a forever bike with a finish that would feel lasting, which made a full strip and repaint the right place to start. The custom sky blue gives the UPPER 2.0 a bright, clean presence without distracting from the frame itself. OPEN’s UPPER 2.0 saves 115 grams over the UP and is produced in Portugal with a premium carbon layup that reflects the brand’s focus on ride quality. With room for tires up to 46mm, the frame remains genuinely versatile across pavement and gravel.
DRIVETRAIN
The drivetrain pairs SRAM Force and XX AXS components in a mullet configuration, using Force shifters and crankset with an XX rear derailleur and cassette. That setup gives the bike a wide 10-52 gear range, which makes sense for a build meant to move easily between road rides and steeper gravel terrain. Force brakes keep the feel light and controlled at the lever, adding confidence without unnecessary bulk. A chain treated with Silca wax finishes the system with a cleaner, quieter feel and strong long-term durability.
WHEELS & TIRES
Instead of separating road and gravel duties across two bikes, this build handles both with two dedicated wheelsets. Each uses Reserve rims and DT Swiss 350 hubs, which keeps swaps simple and avoids extra adjustment between setups. For road rides, Reserve 42|49 wheels and Continental GP 5000 tires bring a faster, lower-resistance feel. For gravel, Reserve 40|44 GR wheels paired with 45mm Maxxis Reaver tires add the volume and stability needed for rougher surfaces.
COCKPIT & CONTACT POINTS
OPEN’s one-piece cockpit solves one of the usual fit limitations of integrated bars by allowing 15mm of fore-aft adjustment through shims. That flexibility suits the rest of the build, which is clearly designed to cover a wide range of riding without feeling over-specialized. Silca Nastro Cuscino bar tape adds comfort and support at the hands, especially as rides get longer and surfaces get rougher. Shimano XTR pedals and a Specialized Phenom Comp saddle round out the contact points with choices that favor reliability, comfort, and all-day use.
Learn More
Interested in building your own OPEN, or something uniquely yours?
We’d love to help.
📍 Visit: our Salt Lake City or Park City locations
📞 Call: 801-364-0344
📧 Email: info@contenderbicycles.com
The Build
Category |
Details |
|---|---|
| Frame | OPEN UPPER 2.0 - Custom Paint |
| Drivetrain | SRAM XX/Force Mullet |
| Crankset | SRAM Force | 165mm |
| Gearing | 44t Chainrings | Cassette 10-52t |
| Brakes | SRAM Force |
| Wheels | Gravel | Reserve 40|44 CL GR Road | Reserve 42|49 Turbulent Aero |
| Tires | Gravel | Maxxis Reaver - 700 x 45 Road | Continental Grand Prix 5000 - 700 x 30 |
| Cockpit | OPEN B.A.R. |
| Tape | Silca Nastro Cuscino Bar Tape - Grey |
| Seatpost |
OPEN Seatpost 27.2 |
| Saddle | Specialized Phenom Comp |
