Beautiful Bicycles: OPEN UPPER Concept & UPPER 2.0
A Dynamic Duo, Gravel Style
Some things are simply better in pairs.
Especially when it’s not just one custom built OPEN gravel bike, but an ass-kicking dynamic duo, gorgeously conceived and custom built to perfection, ready to crush both gravel and tarmac without a second’s thought.
The Batman in this duo: an OPEN UPPER Concept, finished in SRAM RED and subtle bronze accents. And the Robin: an OPEN UPPER 2.0 with SRAM Force, unapologetically bold with pink hubs, spokes, and tape.
Both built for speed. Both built to ride anything, throttling across the hardpack while disappearing into the horizon line. Just with slightly different capes.
OPEN UPPER Concept: Refined Power, Subtle Authority
Frame
The OPEN UPPER Concept is gravel minimalism and sophistication at its finest: lightweight, efficient, and purpose-built for riders who care about both speed and simplicity. With clearance for 700x44 tires and geometry that feels quick but composed, it’s a frame that disappears beneath you, until you ask it to surge, that is.
Manufactured in smaller batches in Portugal, the UPPER Concept’s frame’s gloss carbon finish reinforces the build’s understated authority. It doesn’t scream–it simply performs.
Drivetrain
SRAM RED paired with XX SL mullet gearing is where this bike quietly flexes.
A 40t chainring up front matched to a 10-52t SRAM XX SL cassette delivers enormous range without sacrificing cadence precision. The RED XPLR crankset in 167.5mm keeps the pedal stroke efficient and balanced, while RED E1 brakes provide crisp, confident stopping power with minimal lever effort.
Wheels
Industry Nine Solix G UL250c wheels anchor the UPPER Concept’s build, featuring a bronze hub laced to black spokes. The fast engagement and lightweight carbon rim profile bring immediacy to every pedal input.
Wrapped in Ultradynamico ROSÉ Race 700x42 tires with grey tread and amber sidewalls, the palette is cohesive and warm — the bronze hub echoing the amber casing in a way that feels intentionally curated.
Cockpit & Finishing Touches
Up front, the OPEN B.A.R. keeps the cockpit clean and integrated, while Lizard Skins DSP V2 3.2mm tape in Jet Black maintains the stealth theme. Rounding things out, an OPEN seatpost and Specialized Power saddle complete a build that’s cohesive from axle to axle.
This one leads with confidence.
OPEN UPPER 2.0: Same Platform. Expressive Energy
Frame
The OPEN UPPER 2.0 shares the same lightweight, do-it-all gravel pedigree as the UPPER Concept (above). It’s quick, composed, and built to cover serious ground, whether that’s a race course or a spontaneous detour down an unfamiliar dirt road.
But while the foundation is on par, the personality and custom touches is where things diverge.
Drivetrain
SRAM Force E1 meets SRAM XX SL mullet gearing, mirroring the 40t x 10-52t setup of its sibling. The 165mm Force XPLR crank subtly shifts fit and cadence preference, showcasing the kind of rider-specific nuance we obsess over at Contender.
Wheels
Here’s where the dynamic duo becomes unmistakable.
Industry Nine Solix G UL250c wheels return — this time with pink hubs and pink spokes. It’s bold. It’s kinetic. It’s impossible to ignore once those wheels start turning.
The same Ultradynamico ROSÉ Race 700x42 tires with amber sidewalls ground the aesthetic, balancing the flash of pink with warm, earthy tones.
Cockpit & Finishing Touches
The OPEN B.A.R. cockpit keeps the front end sharp and purposeful, but the Lizard Skins DSP V2 3.2mm tape in Neon Pink ties the entire build together. From hub to spoke to bar wrap, the color story flows seamlessly. Finishing touches include an OPEN seatpost and Specialized Power saddle; a performance backbone, with a playful edge.
Bottom line, this rig doesn’t just keep up; it also adds personality to the pace.
Learn More
Interested in building your own OPEN gravel bike, 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
OPEN UPPER CONCEPT
| Frame | OPEN UPPER Concept |
| Drivetrain | SRAM Red / XX SL Mullet |
| Crankset | SRAM Red XPLR 167.5mm |
| Gearing | 40t Chainring | 10-52t SRAM XX SL Cassette |
| Brakes | SRAM Red E1 |
| Wheels | Industry Nine Solix G - UL250c | Bronze Hub, Black Spokes |
| Tires | Ultradynamico ROSÉ Race 700 x 42 Grey, with Amber Sidewall |
| Cockpit | OPEN B.A.R. |
| Tape | Lizard Skins DSP V2 Bar Tape - 3.2mm Jet Black |
| Seatpost | OPEN Seatpost |
| Saddle | Specialized Power |
OPEN UPPER 2.0
| Frame | OPEN UPPER 2.0 |
| Drivetrain | SRAM Force / XX SL Mullet |
| Crankset | SRAM Force XPLR 165mm |
| Gearing | 40t Chainring | 10-52t SRAM XX SL Cassette |
| Brakes | Sram Force E1 |
| Wheels | Industry Nine Solix G - UL250c | Pink Hub, Pink Spokes |
| Tires | Ultradynamico ROSÉ Race 700 x 42 Grey, with Amber Sidewall |
| Cockpit | OPEN B.A.R. |
| Tape | Lizard Skins DSP V2 Bar Tape - 3.2mm Neon Pink |
| Seatpost | OPEN Seatpost |
| Saddle | Specialized Power |
