Airdrop Bikes, Uk based FWIW

Just seen there page seems good, anyone know much about them?

NEW. INDEPENDENT. RIDER OWNED.

Airdrop Bikes is an independent mountain bike brand based in Sheffield. We’re rider owned, small, and we do things our own way. Our bikes are simple, effective and above all, fun to ride. We develop our own frames, refining them on the trails of the Peak. Then they’re built to order here in Sheffield. It’s a bit different but it works

Frame and Shock ~ 1k
http://www.airdropbikes.com/collections/frames/products/airdrop-edit-frame-with-rockshox-monarch-rt3

They’re not manufactured in the UK though are they? The bit I found said

“They’re hand-made by carefully selected factories. Then they’re built to order here in Sheffield using tried & tested components”

So, that would still imply far-eastern manufacture right?

Nothing wrong with that, but it may explain why the only colour options seem to be grey or a different grey.

Good luck to them though.

Been following these guys for a while. Looks like an interesting addition to the direct sales, far eastern built market

Looks good to me. Transition-esque, which is no bad thing.

They do look good but I can’t understand why they appear to have not designed for stealth dropper routing. Seems odd for a modern frame not to have the option.

They do look good but I can’t understand why they appear to have not designed for stealth dropper routing. Seems odd for a modern frame not to have the option.

Also, no bottle cage mounts. Again, seems a little out of date, especially now bottle cages are totally enduro, braw.

Might just be the graphics, but something about that frame shouts “catalogue” to me

I worked with Ed, who’s behind Airdrop for a few years at a previous job. I know he had quite a lot of input and feedback from some of the Sheffield based riders who’ve thrown a lot of companies prototypes about.
Really impressed with what he’s achieved and put out, in a tough market. He’d not be doing it if he wasn’t sure he could make a difference, and I hope he achieves what he’s aiming to do.

It’s not “catalogue”.

They do look good but I can’t understand why they appear to have not designed for stealth dropper routing. Seems odd for a modern frame not to have the option.

Also, no bottle cage mounts. Again, seems a little out of date, especially now bottle cages are totally enduro, braw.

Where many brands strive to add more to their products, we’re asking what can we take away, what is essential?”. Airdrop bikes are purely about the essentials, and that means a bike that’s reliable, fast and fun. A bike that just works.

I really like that. Looks like a Pyga/Transition but for less money. Geometry’s good too. Much prefer the design to the Bird Aeris and the site is fantastic.

Lack of bottle cage mount is a deal breaker for me. I used it for a bottle and to strap tools to. I don’t see how taking it away makes it simpler.. if you dont use them it doesn’t compromise the bike so why not keep them. Maybe cost?

Seems odd when there’s clearly space for them, but it’s hardly a deal breaker, just get some rivinuts installed on the downtube.

Looks very similar to the Pitch (even the geometry), just a bit longer and with hopefully easier to replace bearings, which were my only gripes with mine.

In the specifications it says Bottle Cage Mount Yes

Although photos say otherwise.. be worth double checking

In that case, I’m hoping they come with bottle cage mounts and in bright colours (as in the photos). Then I’ll probably go for it.

Edit: There’s a drawing on the site that has water bottle cage mounts..

Photos of pre production maybe

The specs are identical to the YT Capra AL1 other than the wheels and finishing kit.
Drivetrain, tyres, etc are all the same.
Pretty much identical pricing other too in £ to € so a Capra is still cheaper.
They look good for the money though and as long as their service is good for back up they should get sales.

Ref: Stealth routing

Where many brands strive to add more to their products, we’re asking what can we take away, what is essential?”. Airdrop bikes are purely about the essentials, and that means a bike that’s reliable, fast and fun. A bike that just works.

150mm Reverb is probably the post that most would buy right now, it only comes in stealth configuration so I would agree that it’s a bit of an oversight

Lack of stealth routing would result in a big nope from me. The days of messing around trying to get good routing, with loops of cable flapping around are long gone and good riddance.

Just seen there page seems good, anyone know much about them?

Ed used to have an orange clockwork back in the day I was very jealous of.

it may explain why the only colour options seem to be grey or a different gr

I’ve seen an orange one.

Can’t think what frame it reminds me of – there was a bike with that exact setup with the bridge from seat tube to down tube for mounting the shock…..just can’t place it

George- Looks a bit like a modern updated Cove Hustler 26” maybe?

Airdrop Bikes Set to Land in the UK

Not grey

Excellent sizing, nice clean styling and pricing is OK.

Would absolutely be on my shortlist if I hadn’t bought recently.

And if we have to play the “looks like a…” game: Kona Process.

I quite like the simple look of that, particularly the frame+fork options. I couldn’t find any warranty info though?

EDIT **** me, found it now. And to think I’m supposed to be a detective 😳

I quite like the simple look of that, particularly the frame+fork options. I couldn’t find any warranty info though?

EDIT **** me, found it now. And to think I’m supposed to be a detective

is a 2 year frame warranty standard now, I thought transistion/SC were longer who id assume would be on your list if you were looking at something similar to this?
I spose its down to how good the company are to deal with, a 2 year warranty that’s working is better than a warranty if they do jeff all with it ala EVIL

SC are 5 years I think, like Orange. All the frames I’ve been looking at (steel HT’s) are 2 years, although I think I would like more. It would be a big selling point for me.

I think I would like more. It would be a big selling point for me

I did the same, looks all good, nice figures etc then went off to look at the warranty. I have no basis for this, touch wood I’ve never needed one this far but my logic is small company so want a decent warranty to take the worry away some.

Personally looked at the rocket who are similar, BUT have been in the game longer and have a reputation for good back up.

this was only wonderings anyway, does look good though

Yeah, the warranty isn’t great.. Bird have the warranty nailed for a UK direct sales brand.

Also, from their instagram ‘the production frames have slightly revised cable routing and a bottle cage mount on the top of the downtube‘. They need to update their website!

Excellent sizing, nice clean styling and pricing is OK.

Would absolutely be on my shortlist if I hadn’t bought recently.

I don’t know what makes a good bike these days; but I agree with that.

Nice to see another UK company offering something decent to challenge the likes of the usual tossers with shite customer service (YT/Canyon et al.)

You can tell it’s an engineer who’s done the branding though……

Having just bought a Transition (Smuggler) it’s hard to take the “we do things differently” claim too seriously. Rider Owned? Check. Far East manufacture? Check. Horst Link? Check. Monarch Debonair shock? Check. Even the bracing from the seat tube to the top tube looks remarkably similar.

Not that I’ve got any problem with that. I obviously like Transition as I’ve just bought one and a UK based company doing something similar sounds good to me. It also ticks a lot of boxes for me; threaded BB, good geometry, good price.

Some more interesting colours would be nice. I’m not sure why outfits like this don’t get the bikes shipped with just a primer coat then get them finished in the UK. That way they could offer a range of colours. I guess it would add a bit to the cost, but in a market where most bikes are pretty damn good it does often come down to something as seemingly trivial as the colour.

Looks like a Trek too eh?

davidtaylforth – You can tell it’s an engineer who’s done the branding though……

Except he’s a graphic designer https://www.linkedin.com/in/edbrazier

thepodge – MemberExcept he’s a graphic designer https://www.linkedin.com/in/edbrazier

about time we had a British version of Evil

Some more interesting colours would be nice. I’m not sure why outfits like this don’t get the bikes shipped with just a primer coat then get them finished in the UK. That way they could offer a range of colours. I guess it would add a bit to the cost, but in a market where most bikes are pretty damn good it does often come down to something as seemingly trivial as the colour.

I suppose by the time you’ve had a half decent, one off, powdercoat, spent another hour reaming/chasing the frame, pressed the bearings in (another hour), it starts to look a lot more expensive than the presumably cheap price the factory can do all those for.

I quite like the look of it, and would like another FS bike at some point, but color options of painted gray or raw isn’t exciting me. The orange prototype looks a lot better.

I think offering rolling chassis is a very good idea, often I’ll look at a full spec and realise I’d like to change a lot of it and then when a decent value for money bike looks bad as you factor in additional costs. Should have made it 27.5+ compatible though, that’s just me though.

All these colours look great, but limiting it to the 2 most boring ones isn’t ideal.

legend – about time we had a British version of Evil

Not quite sure if this is a compliment or an insult given Evil’s reputation

Love it.

Along with Bird, this looks properly cool. Love the external cables, love the clean lines, great colour choices.

Hope it does well.

I like the raw best

How long before Apple notice this and make moves to prevent them from using the Airdrop name?