Nedbank Gravel Burn has partnered with pioneering bike company Open Cycles to create a Limited Edition Nedbank Gravel Burn x Open WIDE 2.0 bike package. Born out of a longtime friendship between respective founders, this collaboration represents their intersecting philosophies – both pushing the frontiers of innovation, adventure and competition in the growing gravel category.
Open Cycles supported the event during its initial development phase, providing a fleet of Open WIDE 1.0 bikes for route testing across the demanding Karoo terrain. Following the successful performance of the platform, the friendship and partnership has expanded into an official product co-development initiative.
Nedbank Gravel Burn founder, Kevin Vermaak said, “Andy and I have been friends for 14 years and Open supported us even before we’d actually launched the event. They helped us by providing 10 gravel bikes for our test riders to try out some proposed routes – our Trial Burn in 2014. They handled the rigours of the Karoo superbly. Recently, Open launched their new WIDE 2.0 and we agreed that a collab would be a great idea – a very special Limited Edition package.”
Open’s co-founder Andy Kessler said, “Two years ago Kevin told me about his idea of the race and he didn’t have to convince me of the idea for even a minute, and we became a ‘Founding Friend’ of the event. It all came together very last-minute, but I knew that if Kevin was building it, this would be an amazing adventure – and it is.”
Like with all their gravel offerings, Open’s new WIDE 2.0 pushes industry boundaries, combining aerodynamic features with race-ready geometry plus the ability to fit up to 66mm (2.6-inch) tyres – ready to tackle the toughest races.
Even after only one edition, the seven-day, 750km gravel stage race, held in South Africa’s Karoo region, is known as a “frontier-gravel” racing adventure experience, characterised by wild terrain and unpredictable conditions, including rugged road surfaces. The new Open WIDE 2.0 delivers the ideal bike solution for these conditions. The design provides a ride quality that better “insulates” the rider from the rough surfaces over seven consecutive days of racing.
Kessler said, “The collab model had to be the new WIDE 2.0 – the perfect bike, with generous tyre clearance ensuring more comfort on the rugged Karoo roads, while still being a genuinely fast race bike.”
The limited-edition frame features custom artwork inspired by the textures and palette of the Karoo landscape and the bonfires lit in the remote Burn Camps where riders congregate and share the experience, celebrating the unique aesthetic and identity of the event.
Vermaak said, “This livery features hand-painted details showing the textures of the Karoo, the hues of the gravel we ride on and the luminescence of the fires we sit beside at night – all reflecting on this unique journey we embark on each year.”
The Nedbank Gravel Burn Limited Edition Open WIDE 2.0 is offered as a complete package, including a custom-designed Open WIDE 2.0 with component spec tailored to individual rider preferences, exclusive Open x Nedbank Gravel Burn cycling kit made by Assos and one Nedbank Gravel Burn race entry, redeemable within three years. Package pricing from $11900 (US) and €11500.
For complete info on the Open WIDE 2.0 model and specification options, visit opencycle.com. For further details and to order, contact Open Cycles co-founder Andy Kessler directly at [email protected].
For information on Nedbank Gravel Burn including race entries, visit www.gravel-burn.com
About Nedbank Gravel Burn
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven day, 750km gravel stage race set entirely in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Starting in the historic Robert Sobukwe Town / Graaff Reinet, the race journeys deep into remote semi-desert landscapes, with all riders staying together in the purpose-built Burn Camps. The route spans the Great Karoo, concludes in Big 5 territory at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Designed as a true pro-am experience, Nedbank Gravel Burn brings elite and amateur riders together in a shared journey defined by scale, remoteness and connection.
For media enquiries, please contact: Sarah Harrop at [email protected]
About Open Cycles
OPEN Cycle is a next generation bicycle brand founded by two bicycle industry pioneers and are guided by the philosophy of “working hard to stay small”. By stripping away corporate overheads and marketing noise, OPEN channels all its resources into pure product development and customer support – designing the bikes the team wants to ride and delivering them directly to riders and via independent bike shops. Learn more at www.opencycle.com