Beautiful Bicycle: Ryan’s Open UPPER 2.0 Custom Gravel Bike
OPEN Bikes doesn’t release new bikes all that often, but when they do, it’s typically a watershed moment for the gravel category: intentional, packed with subtle yet impactful innovation, and built to stand apart from the competition, both now–and for years to come.
Earlier this year, when OPEN released the UPPER 2.0–its first update in several years to the bike and platform that quite literally catalyzed the gravel revolution–it was something of a moment around the shop, but especially for Contender owner Ryan Littlefield.
As one of OPEN’s first U.S. dealers and one of their best partners globally, Ryan caught the vision in the early days on what OPEN was trying to achieve–road bike speed and performance, paired with gravel bike capability and ruggedness–personally owning and loving multiple OPEN’s over the years, while considering himself lucky to count OPEN founders Andy Kessler and Gerard Vroomen as friends.
All of which raises the question: with the UPPER 2.0 finally here, what would Ryan customize and build for his latest gravel bike?
As showcased in our latest Beautiful Bicycle, the answer is a raw-carbon, SRAM-powered stealth machine that embodies everything OPEN stands for—light, clean, understated, and ruthlessly capable.
Frame: OPEN UPPER 2.0 in Raw Carbon
The backbone of the build is the new UPPER 2.0 frameset finished in raw carbon, chosen both for aesthetics and for weight savings. The white OPEN logo on the downtube provides contrast, while lichen-green accents provide a subtle, tasteful pop of color.
As we captured here when the UPPER 2.0 was released, the updated frame brings several quiet but meaningful improvements: refined tube shaping for added torsional stiffness, increased tire clearance to suit modern 45–50mm gravel rubber, a T47 threaded bottom bracket for service longevity, and a cleaner front-end layout. It’s everything riders loved about the original UPPER (light, responsive, stable), but evolved and modernized.
Cockpit: The New OPEN B.A.R.
New to this build is the OPEN B.A.R. (Break All Rules)—a one-piece carbon bar-and-stem engineered specifically for the UPPER 2.0 platform. Its closed-structure composite eliminates stress risers, improves long-term durability, and keeps weight startlingly low. An integrated expander secures the bar to the steerer and offers 15mm of fore-aft reach adjustment in 5mm increments. Visually, the B.A.R. is perfect for this bike: clean, intentional, and beautifully matched to the raw-carbon palette.
Groupset: SRAM Force AXS
For shifting and braking duties, Ryan went all-in on SRAM's tried and true Force AXS groupset. Wireless integration keeps the cockpit uncluttered, the ergonomics of the brake levers are an excellent match for long days or demanding descents, and the overall weight aligns with the UPPER’s featherweight ambitions. It’s a workhorse group with just enough panache to match the frame.
Wheels & Tires: All-Road Ready
Leaning into the go-anywhere, ride-anything ethos of the UPPER 2.0, Ryan chose to outfit his bike with an all-road wheelset that’s perfect for the mixed surface, road and dirt rides that he leans towards. Specifically, Ryan went with Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels and Panaracer GravelKing SK tires. Together, the net is increased confidence, stability, and traction on unpredictable surfaces, be it the chunkier trails of St. George, or his all-road go-to on the homefront, combining Emigration Canyon with the lower portion of the Mormon Pioneer trail.
Saddle: Poised For All-Day Comfort
To finish the build, Ryan went with a Specialized Romin EVO Comp saddle with MIMIC technology, which adapts to your body to reduce pressure while delivering all-day comfort--perfect big adventures on the road, backcountry, or both. Its performance-forward shape pairs with Mimic technology to maintain even support across changing terrain, whether climbing, cruising, or pushing pace. Everything else remains purposefully understated. No unnecessary flair, no excess—just a beautifully composed gravel bike from someone who knows precisely what he wants out of every ride.
Learn More
If Ryan’s OPEN UPPER 2.0 has you dreaming up a custom gravel build of your own, we’d love to help.
Reach out anytime at info@contenderbicycles.com, give us a call at 801-364-0344, or stop by the shop to chat through frames, wheels, and all the little details that make a bike uniquely yours.
The Build
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Frame | OPEN UPPER 2.0 — Raw Carbon w/ White Logo + Lichen Accents |
| Drivetrain | SRAM Force XPLR AXS • 10–44t Cassette |
| Crankset | SRAM Force • 1x Chainring |
| Brakes | SRAM Force AXS Hydraulic Disc |
| Wheelset | Zipp 303 XPLR SW |
| Tires | Panaracer GravelKing SK • 700c x 40 |
| Bar | OPEN B.A.R. Integrated Carbon Bar/Stem |
| Stem | Integrated (OPEN B.A.R.) |
| Tape | Ciclovation Featherlite |
| Seatpost | OPEN 27.2mm |
| Saddle | Specialized Romin EVO Comp w/ MIMIC |
Curious what the WAM of the Panaracer GKs is on the XPLR SWs …
Matt Grondin on