A closer look at Geoff Kabush's OPEN U.P. gravel bike and how it helped him speed to victory at Low Gap
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Geoff Kabush's OPEN U.P. fresh from the gravel at Low Gap(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The special-edition Yeti Turq colour scheme in all its glory(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
Geoff ran double King Ti Cages, a down tube-mounted pump and a saddle bag(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
A Stages L50 is mounted out front to track power data as well as other ride metrics(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The Di2 junction box is mounted under a 110mm Pro Vibe stem(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
Geoff used Shimano Dura-Ace 9170 Di2 for Low Gap, however he is changing to Shimano GRX as he prefers the braking control of the gravel-specific levers(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
King Ti Cages are timeless and understated(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
Doubles aren't dead yet, Kabush ran a Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 crankset (50/34) with Shimano XTR pedals(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The 175mm crankset is fitted with a right-side-only Stages Cycling power meter(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The Dura-Ace rear derailleur has no clutch to manage chain slap so Geoff has got the electrical tape out to protect his paintwork(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The OPEN U-Turn fork is 160mm disc-specific and Shimano Freeza rotors have been specced(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
Maxxis Rambler tyres offered plenty of grip thanks to the CushCore gravel inserts that allowed 27psi to be run front and back(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
The 40mm Maxxis Rambler's are tubeless ready and have EXO protection sidewalls to resist cuts and abrasions(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
A Pro Turnix Carbon saddle in a 132mm width, underneath sits a small saddle bag for storing essential items(Image credit: Geoff Kabush)
Geoff Kabush took the win at the opener of the 2020 Grasshopper series at Low Gap in dramatic fashion, storming the final descent to close a three-minute gap and overtake Peter Stetina and Sandy Floren just metres from the line.
Kabush, who is usually found racing cross-country for the Colorado-based mountain bike brand Yeti, has jumped ship to gravel racing and plans to race a handpicked selection of gravel events in 2020. As Yeti does not currently feature a gravel bike in its catalogue, a partnership with OPEN was developed between the two brand owners.
This is Geoff’s first OPEN Cycle gravel bike and the U.P. frameset has received a special-edition Yeti Turq colour scheme. At 1.88m tall, Geoff rides an extra-large frameset. OPEN has designed the U.P. with a focus on versatility and it is able to handle any tyre size between a rowdy 650b x 2.1in mountain bike tyre down to a 700c x 28c road tyre for on-tarmac speed.
For the Low Gap race, Geoff chose Stan’s NoTubes Grail CB7 700c gravel wheelset. These lightweight wheels use Stan’s 300g Grail CB7 carbon rims which feature a 21.6mm inner rim diameter that is optimised for tyres between 28mm and 40mm.
Geoff says that he set the bike up specifically for the final 8.5-mile descent which is obvious from his tyre system. While other riders were concerned about punctures and held back, Geoff was able to ride to the limit. His confidence came from his combo of tubeless Maxxis Rambler EXO TR 40mm tyres paired with CushCore Gravel inserts. This is a setup Geoff has a lot of experience with and knows how hard he can push on rough terrain. With the security of the CushCore inserts, he was able to run pressures as low as 27psi front and rear for maximum grip and stability.
Rather than opt for a gravel-specific 1x groupset, Geoff has specced a Shimano Dura-Ace 50/34 combo. As this bike also doubles for training duties, the double-ring setup offers a wider gear range giving him the versatility to train on the road when needed. For training and racing, a Stages power meter is integrated with the right-hand crank and connected to a Stages Dash L50 computer.
The cockpit and seatpost are all from Pro’s Vibe range and features a 110mm stem and 440mm compact-drop handlebars. The saddle, also from the Shimano components brand, is a Pro Turnix Carbon with a width of 132mm. Other touchpoints come in the form of Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm bar tape and Shimano XTR pedals.
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Click through the gallery above for a closer look at Geoff Kabush's OPEN U.P.
Geoff Kabush's OPEN U.P. full bike specifications
Frameset: OPEN Cycle XL U.P. Yeti Turq Special Edition with U-Turn fork
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace 9170 Di2
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 (50/34T) with Stages Cycling right-side power meter
Graham has been part of the Cyclingnews team since January 2020. He has mountain biking at his core and can mostly be found bikepacking around Scotland or exploring the steep trails around the Tweed Valley. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has gained a reputation for riding fixed gear bikes both too far and often in inappropriate places.
