Airdrop bikes introduce new hardcore hardtail - the Bitmap
Prior to now the range of bikes from Sheffield based brand Airdrop consisted solely of one enduro bike, the Airdrop Edit. Now they add an aggressive hardtail to the line up after a design process they say has taken two years to get perfect.
Airdrop say they wanted to make the best bike possible for ripping up trails and it certainly looks the part. The company say the whole idea was to produce a bike that's fast and fun with progressive geometry and the latest standards.
The Bitmap is designed around the use of a 140mm fork and Geometry wise, it looks progressive but not super long and low. It does appear to be pretty roomy with a reach of 460m on a large sized bike. The head angle is slack at 65 degrees and the effective seat angle is slightly steeper than a majority of hardtails out there at 74 degrees. We've talked to bike designers at Bird Cycleworks and Cotic and both are in agreement that an effective seat angle that is too steep puts too much weight on the hands when seated on flatter trails so we expect Airdrop are thinking along similar lines here.
There are four sizes to choose from, all with super-low standover. You can choose the reach you want and there's room to run a 150mm or 170mm dropper post too. There is also room for 27.5 x 2.6" tyres front and rear which is good to see.
The bike is available in four sizes Small to XL and in two colours, raw or grey with 16 different decal colour options. The frame only is £499 with the following full builds available too:
- Bitmap Trail - £1,999
- Bitmap Pro – £2,399
- Bitmap Works – £2,799
For more details head over to www.airdropbikes.com
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