Open Cycle WI.DE Gravel Bike Review

If you like your bikes with plenty of design flair and the very best in materials, then Open Cycle may just be the right gravel brand for you. Open was formed by a partnership between the ex-founder of Cervelo and the former CEO of BMC, Vroomen and Kessler, who collaborated on the Open Cycle range of Gravel Bikes. Their design mantra has always been to create high-performance carbon fibre gravel bikes with unsurpassed off-road ability. Open Cycle is ‘Working Hard to Stay Small’ in their own words, focusing on their core range rather than providing a bike for every rider.

The WI.DE. is one of the brand's premium framesets - and in this post, we look at the brand and the frameset in particular in greater detail, helping you figure out if the bike is worthy of your investment.

Design And Features

The WI.DE name stands for ‘Winding Detours’ and has been engineered to provide all of the capability a rider needs for adventurous off-road gravel riding, whilst maintaining efficiency across many different terrains. High-modulus carbon fibre is used for the frame, and this is Open’s own TCRinTRS technology, which integrates stiff carbon fibre for superior performance and power transfer alongside more compliant, softer fibres to enhance ride quality and comfort. With all this high-modulus carbon fibre, Open bikes are among the lightest in their category, and this frame is paired with a 390 Gram U-Turn Fork. The frame allows tyres up to 46mm wide.

As this is sold as a frame, gravel riders can tailor it to their needs - it can be twinned with any number of wheel and tyre combinations. The geometry of the frame stays the same, though and is a real highlight - the frame provides an upright posture which is ideal for changeable off-road riding - but the riding position can very quickly become speed-focused. There’s a 71-degree head tube angle, alongside a 73.5-degree seat tube angle, a 75mm bottom bracket drop and 420mm chainstays.

A sample build we think works well includes an SRAM Rival AXS in a mullet configuration with a GX Eagle Derailleur.

On the Bike

We have ridden these bikes pretty extensively now and have also had some pretty good customer feedback - riding these bikes across the North Yorkshire Moors - the frameset performs really well on everything from single tracks to forest tracks. The frame offers decent levels of vibration absorption, with the high-grade carbon fibre soaking up a lot. The bike feels really agile at slow speeds but still maintains stability. It bridges the gap between a mountain bike and a road bike perfectly, which is exactly what it needs to do.

The bike feels incredibly durable, and reports are that these bikes hold up to punishment over incredibly long distances. The bike feels ready to work; it’s got a tough matte finish that doesn't scratch easily, and there are plenty of mounting points for bottles and luggage alike. The bike lacks some of the most up-to-date features, such as internal storage - but that’s not a huge priority for many riders.

Competition And Alternatives

Open Cycle certainly does enough to distinguish itself within a crowded marketplace, thanks to its high-quality materials, design, and pretty good price point. There are, however, plenty of other options available.

The Cervelo Aspero is an obvious choice, with similar carbon construction and tyre clearance, but it performs much more like a road bike than the off-road bias WI.DE. Diverge from Specialized is another option, with its Future Shock suspension - but it’s heavier than the Open cycle choice and still manages similar levels of compliance.

Open Cycles Online

At Westbrook Cycles, we regard the Open Cycle WI.DE as an exemplary gravel frameset that seamlessly merges road efficiency with off-road capability. Its innovative engineering, lightweight build, and practical features position it as a leader in its class. We highly endorse it for riders seeking premium performance, and our team is on hand to provide tailored advice and builds. For those valuing versatility and excellence, this frameset offers outstanding value.