Then & Now: The OPEN UP & All-New UPPER 2.0

Gravel season is here: the sun is shining, the dirt is dry, the cars are mostly absent (😎), and the race calendar is peaking. Just this past weekend, multiple Contender staffers crossed the finish line at the Crusher in the Tushar (70 miles, 10.4K feet), the biggest gravel race here in Utah, and one of the most prestigious nationwide. 

If you too are feeling the gravel stoke, you’re not alone. We see it every day here at the shop, with gravel bikes driving countless conversations, and a significant percentage of our overall inventory. 

Strava sees it too. According to Strava reporting from calendar year 2023, athletes logging gravel rides grew 48% in the U.S., and 55% globally. Gravel is also growing among the pros; the UCI Gravel World Series has grown 3x in the past three years, expanding from an initial slate of 11 races in 2022 to 33 for 2025. 

With this backdrop in mind, OPEN Bikes is at it again. Following the recent release of its UPPER CONCEPT bike, OPEN is now releasing the UPPER 2.0, its more obtainable, do-it-all gravel bike for the masses. 

Then & Now: The Original UP vs. The New UPPER 2.0

As we wrote back in 2021 in this retrospective, “The OPEN U.P. didn’t just anticipate the gravel boom—it sparked it.” As the O.G. bike maker in the gravel space, and with 10 years between the release of the original UP and the UPPER 2.0, this release is enough of a biggie that even the The Notorious would be proud.

To help make sense of it all, including where the UP started, the upgrades and innovations available on the UPPER 2.0, and whether an OPEN is for you–either as a first-ever gravel bike or an upgrade from your current rig–we’re thrilled to present this side-by-side, ‘Then & Now’ breakdown. 

As they say, to know where you’re going--and to appreciate the groundbreaking legacy of a bike like the UP--sometimes you need to know where you’ve been.

Chainstays & Tire Clearance: 

• Then: the original U.P. shocked the industry by fitting 700×40mm tires (29er equivalent)—or even 650b x 2.1" (27.5 equivalent)—into a road-like frame. To make it work, OPEN pioneered the now-iconic dropped drive-side chainstay, which allowed for short rear-end geometry and wide tire clearance without compromising the Q-factor (i.e., the distance between the outside crank arms and the bottom bracket axle). This was one of the defining innovations of early gravel bike design, helping to kickstart the broader category by proving that you didn’t need a mountain bike to explore dirt.
  

• Now: with the UPPER 2.0, OPEN has refined its priorities. Tire clearance has gotten bigger—officially supporting 700c tires from 35–46mm ISO width—and the frame now uses straight chainstays, a shift that improves stiffness, power transfer, and overall handling feel. OPEN has phased out 650b compatibility on the UPPER line (albeit still available on the Wide), reflecting rider preferences for 700c wheels with slightly wider tires for traction, comfort, and fast-rolling efficiency. The result is a rear triangle that’s simpler, stiffer, and tuned for the racy end of the gravel spectrum.

Aerodynamics: 

• Then: the original UP and UPPER weren’t built with aerodynamics in mind, per se. Their round tubes and simple front-end design prioritized durability, comfort, and clearance over airflow. While the frame was light and responsive, drag reduction wasn’t part of the equation.

• Now: the UPPER 2.0 introduces targeted aerodynamic shaping at the front of the bike, where clean airflow matters most. The headtube and downtube feature truncated airfoil profiles, the fork is reshaped for reduced drag, and cables are routed internally through a new cockpit. These refinements make the bike faster on OPEN roads and gravel alike—without adding complexity.

Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH): 

• Then: earlier UP models used a proprietary hanger system. This was effective, but limited in terms of drivetrain flexibility and part availability.

• Now: the UPPER 2.0 uses a UDH-compatible design, which supports SRAM Transmission, Shimano, and Campagnolo drivetrains. Add in a T47 bottom bracket and internal cable routing, and the bike is easier to build, upgrade, and maintain.
  

Cockpit: 

• Then: the UP featured standard round handlebars and stems, with exposed cables and traditional fittings. It worked well, but offered no aerodynamic or ergonomic tuning.

• Now: the new, one-piece carbon cockpit on the UPPER 2.0 is clean and performance-focused. Medium frames come with a 42cm bar; Large frames, 43cm. Both offer 15mm of fore/aft micro-adjustment to help dial in your fit without needing to change hardware.

Fork Design: 

• Then: the original fork design on the UP emphasized stiffness and clearance, but it lacked refinement in compliance and cargo versatility.

• Now: with the UPPER 2.0, riders can choose between two forks, depending on their ambitions, riding style, and terrain:

  • U-Turn Aero Fork: aerodynamic, clean, and designed for pure speed.

  • U-Turn Adventure Fork: more compliant, with mounts for bottles or bags. That said, both forks offer better control and tailored ride feel depending on how you use the bike.

Production: 

• Then: OPEN’s original frames were manufactured in Asia, in line with most high-end carbon bikes of the era. This enabled nimble prototyping and access to premium carbon production.

• Now: the UPPER 2.0 is built in Portugal, reflecting a shift in OPEN’s values around freedom, ethics, and craftsmanship. The move allows for tighter oversight and is part of OPEN’s commitment to building “in freedom,” as co-founder Gerard Vroomen explained in a recent interview with Bike Rumor. 

Contender’s Take: Why These (UP)grades Matter

Viewed feature by feature, the UPPER 2.0 isn’t a reinvention; it’s a methodical, thoughtful, and highly welcome evolution to the bike that started it all. OPEN has retained the original bike’s best traits—versatility, weight, stability, and comfort—while modernizing the key systems that make a difference on the demands of today’s gravel riding: drivetrain integration, front-end speed, cockpit, and production values.

If you already ride an UP or UPPER, you’re admittedly on a great bike, and a favorite among the Contender staff. But next to the 2.0, the gains in compatibility, adjustability, and performance are undeniable. 

It’s not just a worthy successor—it’s a compelling upgrade.

In-Stock Now: UPPER CONCEPT, with UPPER 2.0 To Follow

Ready to take the plunge on an upgrade or first-ever gravel bike from OPEN? 

You’re in luck. Since we announced the release of the UPPER CONCEPT bike in late May, we’ve since received numerous Medium and Large framesets, ready to be built out and ridden. As a quick reminder, the UPPER CONCEPT is identical to the UPPER 2.0, but with a 1x drivetrain setup only, a raw carbon finish (for weight savings), and a super limited production run, with just 250 models globally (125 Medium, 125 Large). Word to the wise: once the CONCEPT sells out, it will be gone for good. So make sure to get while the gettin’ is good. 

As for the UPPER 2.0, a variety of frame sizes are slated to hit Contender in the coming weeks; we’ll post an update once they’re in stock, but feel free to check back at your convenience, and we’re happy to share what’s arrived. 

Learn More

Curious how the UPPER 2.0 compares to your current setup? Want to feel the ride difference yourself? As the largest OPEN dealer in the world, we’d be thrilled to answer your questions or set you up with a test ride on a built up bike.

Come on down to the shop, drop us a line, or give us a shout at (801) 364-0344.