If you’re at home/work worrying what to buy us for Christmas this year then just stop. We don’t want bath bombs, socks, or a gin advent calendar (well, we do actually), what we really want is an Airdrop Fade.
The Fade is the latest all alloy hardtail from Sheffield based Airdrop Bikes and the company’s first dirt-jump bike. The chaps at Airdrop admit that they’ve wanted to release a dirt-jump frame for years now, but wanted to be sure they got it right and not just release a smaller version of a current frame.
With this in mind, the Fade has been designed specifically for skateparks, dirt jumps, the pump track or street. The rear end features short 385mm chain stays with built-in CNC chain tensioners, there are no ISCG tabs, and there’s no rear-mech hanger, meaning single speed only.
You’ll have noticed that with such a short rear end this is a 26in wheeled bike.
There’s a disc brake tab on the rear end and hose routing has been cleverly located down the centre of the bike so that riders can choose to run a left or right brake lever and retain the clean lines of the simple frame.
Airdrop has been quite clever with the Fade’s geometry and given the tiny jump bike a longer than average cockpit and reach number. At 430mm the reach is very generous, and Airdrop says that this has been done so that riders of progressive enduro bikes will feel right at home on the Fade out of the box.
Airdrop is offering the Fade in a single colour, Raw with a clear coat, but you do have the option to choose frame decal colours. A frame only option is priced at £299 and includes a CNC seat clamp while a full bike will cost £1499, but will come kitted out with quality gear from Halo, Burgtec and a pair of RockShox Pike DJ forks.
Airdrop Fade Specifications
- Seat Tube: 330mm
- Effective Top Tube: 610mm
- Reach: 430mm
- Stack: 560mm
- Chainstay: 385mm
- Head Tube: 120mm
- Head Tube Angle: 69
- Seat Tube Angle: 71
- Bottom Bracket Drop: -25mm
- Wheelbase: 1067.8mm
- Fork Length: 480mm
- Fork Offset: 40mm
- Frame price: £299
- Fade Works Bike price: £1499
So now you know what we want, you have 75 days (and counting) to make our wish come true. More info available on the Airdrop Bikes website.
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I have need for one of these, lack the skills to properly use one of these, am questionably too old to own one but dam to I want one.
Will update you on the decision to buy one from an A&E room soon!