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I've got the option of buying an Open Wide frame at a very good price.
I currently have a Raleigh Roker, which I really like.
The frames have very similar geometry, tyre clearance - which either makes it pointless to change to a Wide, or a good indication that I would enjoy the Wide too - depending which way you look at it.
The Wide does have shorter chainstays, and therefore shorter wheelbase by 18mm. Not sure whether I would notice that or not!?
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/raleigh-roker-comp-2017-56cm,open-cycle-wide-2019-l/
My question is - how much better would a Wide be to the Roker?
I've never head a high end bike and so not sure if different carbon lay up etc. is noticeable?
Al wrote:I've got the option of buying an Open Wide frame at a very good price.
I currently have a Raleigh Roker, which I really like.
The frames have very similar geometry, tyre clearance - which either makes it pointless to change to a Wide, or a good indication that I would enjoy the Wide too - depending which way you look at it.
The Wide does have shorter chainstays, and therefore shorter wheelbase by 18mm. Not sure whether I would notice that or not!?
My question is - how much better would a Wide be to the Roker?
I've never head a high end bike and so not sure if different carbon lay up etc. is noticeable?
I suggest delay gratification and try stuff. There's diminishing returns as you spend but plenty of fine reasons to do something really special.
The Raleigh Roper we had my son used and his newer model with Campy were and are very nice bikes. If you enjoy a steel frame you might miss that characteristic. We have two nice plastic bikes in the family fleet but I found titanium has some what I like with steel, what I don't like with AL, and a hard to describe something nothing else has.
On frame materials we've had and have same Trek models made of the recycled beer cans and plastic. If that proved anything it was how your bike engine and a good day count.
Enjoy shopping and good luck with finding inventory!
pushstart wrote:It's also a really beautiful bike in the bright orange colorway.
TwoWheeler wrote:
I’ve seen this frame in person and it was stunning…but all I could think was “I would cry every time I heard a stone ping off the frame…”
SolitudeSports wrote:Have you considered an Otso Waheela C? You get a quality made carbon bike that weighs in almost the same as the OPEN but you get better tire clearance, adjustable wheelbase, and an actual threaded bottom bracket instead of press fit garbage.
Appreciate the recommendation.
The Waheela C looks amazing. I particularly love the fact that the geometry is corrected for swapping a 100mm sus fork if need be.
The only dilemma is that the frame is around $2,500, as opposed to the Open Wide frame available which is $1,500....
chas wrote:I have a high end Carbon Canyon bike that has similar geometry. HUGE difference between this an the Roker.
Too many superlatives? realistically on a long ride when I'm doing 150-200 watts, not much of a performance difference. But my bike accelerates hard when I put the power down, and handles lively like a playful puppy. I've lusted after OPEN - but on paper my bike and the OPEN look the same (and both have high end carbon).
So, the biggest differences are going to be on hard acceleration (sprinting) and possibly handling (harder to quantify though).
I'm guessing the Roker is a bit more relaxed? I can drift an old school mountain bike on gravel, but I can't drift a short wheelbase gravel bike. Then again, the acceleration and climbing are worth it.
Mmm, that's really interesting, thank you.
The Roker is quite relaxed, but the geometry looks pretty similar to the Wide.
Key differences look to be shorter chainstays but actually higher stack.
The Geometry geeks link I posted above has the two bikes side by side.....
Al wrote:Mmm, that's really interesting, thank you.
The Roker is quite relaxed, but the geometry looks pretty similar to the Wide.
Key differences look to be shorter chainstays but actually higher stack.
The Geometry geeks link I posted above has the two bikes side by side.....
tsafur wrote:The regulars that have never ridden a OPEN(Up, UPPER or Wide) offering advice on ride quality. Also comparing other bikes stating they are comparable to an OPEN.
LOL......
next they are going to tell you the Chinese fake/ copy bikes ride just as good.
LMAO!
pushstart wrote:Open isn't without its naysayers. Hambini loves their frames ;-)
pushstart wrote:
Yes, totally true. I felt bad that we were riding on (light) gravel and it was gonna get dusty! But, yes, personally my favorite aspect of owning brushed titanium frames is that there's no cringing when rocks are pelting against the frame.
pushstart wrote:Everyone knows they are terrible. And yet people still vote for them with their wallets, perplexingly.
pushstart wrote:At least there are thread-together systems to work around the press-fit frames (and probably undo any weight savings the pressfit shell offered).
Just thought I would close the loop on this....
I decided not to go for the Open Wi.de in the end.
Two decision making reasons:
1) Geometry - It's so similar to my Raleigh, which is fine, as I love that bike, but ultimaely the Wi.de appeals because of the clearance for wider tyres. But wider tyres mean taller tyres. And I already get a bit of toe overlap on my bike when it is wearing a 48c tyre on the front. And I have ride comments from owners of the Wi.de that they get toe overlap - and I have size 46 feet, so it is probably gonna happen.
2) Faffness. It just didn't seem that much better than my bike in enough areas to warrant the cost and swapping my parts from one frame to another, with re bleeding brakes etc.
It wasn't lighter, it wasn't gonna allow me to fit my favourite 2.1" 700c tyres etc.
Nice bike, and if I was starting out, it would have been a good option, but it didn't end up feeling like much of an upgrade,
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