With Vroomen’s road bike engineering background, Open’s design approach is truly start-from-scratch, not bound by pre-conceived notions of what a 29er hardtail should be like. The result is the O-1.0 that Vroomen introduced in person on Dec. 4th at La Bicicletta.
Vroomen’s work at Cervelo, together with Phil White, caused a minor revolution in road and triathlon bikes, and Open’s first entry into mountain bikes is quickly generating a similar buzz. Only this time the innovator’s approach is reflected in the bike, as well as the internal workings of the company.
The bike features fully-internal cable routing (ready for mechanical, hydraulic and electronic shifting), wire-thin seatstays for extra comfort, and a torsion-resistant front triangle. The new company is eager to communicate directly with the cycling community…what other company has the owner’s email published on their site? La Bicicletta was chosen as one of only fifty Open retailers worldwide for the launch.
Pedal was on site for a sneak peak… enjoy these photos by Peter Kraiker and check back tomorrow for our video interview with Vroomen. For technical specs on the bike click HERE.
- Vroomen talking about the idea behind OPEN; the company, the concept and the bike © KraikerPhoto.com
- Admiring the lightest hard-tail 29er production bike available © KraikerPhoto.com
- Vroomen with La Bicicletta's Heath Cockburn (2nd from left) © KraikerPhoto.com
- All of the cables are internally routed through a MultiStop that can be customized for different configurations © KraikerPhoto.com
- Vroomen's personal bike showing signs of having been recently ridden © KraikerPhoto.com
- OPEN has partnered with Castelli for their clothing © KraikerPhoto.com
- The top-tube gets the only brand logo © KraikerPhoto.com
- Frame # 599 © KraikerPhoto.com
- Brake mounts are tightly integrated © KraikerPhoto.com
- The O 1.0 is OPEN's only model © KraikerPhoto.com
- Gerard Vroomen, seen through the clean lines of his new bike © KraikerPhoto.com