2021 Propain Spindrift "flows like water" "lit like fire"

Propain updates the Spindrift big travel park bike with more wheel options, and a new suspension layout.

The Spindrift sits firmly in the freeride/park bike category in the Propain range, and for 2021 it sees updates to the frame design, geometry, suspension layout and also adds a couple more wheel size options into the mix.

Like a lot of new bikes, the 2021 Propain Spindrift can be set up as a 27.5in bike, a 29er and will happily party with the mullet crowd. Propain is offering both alloy and carbon versions of the frame, and the suspension kinematics make sure it will happily take an air or coil rear shock.

Both alloy and carbon bikes boast 180mm of rear-wheel travel and are designed for forks running from 180-190mm. The suspension linkage has been updated so that the shock now sits inside the mainframe rather than behind bringing the look in line with the Hugene 29er we tested last year.

Propain has designed 4 frame sizes in both materials, but it is worth noting that size small bikes will only run 27.5in wheels and the XL frame can’t be built with 27.5in wheels front and rear. Riders wanting the full range of versatility and the ability to run all wheel combinations will have to hope they fit on either Medium or Large size frames.

As the geometry does change from wheel size to wheel size, we recommend heading over to the Propain website for detailed numbers, but to give you an idea of what to expect a medium bike with 29in wheels has a seat tube length of 440mm, 450mm reach, 633mm stack, 78-degree seat tube and 64.5-degree head angle. We’re not looking at a super long bike here, but something a little shorter and more playful that will suite new-school freeride fans, but it also looks more than enough bike for UK downhill runs too.

The sheer number of wheel size options, specification options, and custom choices make it impossible for us to list every detail here, but pricing for a complete carbon Spindrift with Zeb R fork and SRAM drivetrain starts at €3199 whereas the alloy version with similar spec starts at only €2599.

Andi Sykes

Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.