Airborne Bicycles Goblin

MSRP: $1,199.95 A well built bike for  5 cents under $1,200.   For the person looking to upgrade their entry level bike, getting into 29ers or simply a deal finder that will upgrade the parts as they need. (I fit in the latter.) Weight: 18 inch is 28 lbs Key Parts: Aluminum hydroformed (shaped) frame, SRAM X7 2×10 drivetrain, Avid Elixir R brakes, RockShox Reba RL fork, WTB Trail 29 wheels.

What that means for you

This bike is a budget friendly bike, Airborne gets you a very well spec’d bike at a cheaper price by taking out the middle man, the bike shop.   While I encourage most folks to go to a bike shop to purchase bikes, this doesn’t always fit and personally I am glad to have a bike company behind me for the season (I’m sponsored by Airborne) that I can sell to my consumer – my READERS.  Not every reader has a shop down the road, or a shop that knows what they are talking about.   I’m still going to be at the drum of shopping at local shops , but if they can’t help you I at least have a tool in my back pocket to get you on a bike that I believe in.

First Impressions

The bike is not light, at all.  28 lbs for a 29er isn’t horrible, especially looking at the parts that come on it (new 2×10 technology, an air fork and good hydraulic brakes) this bike isn’t something to put your nose up at.  In fact you are getting a better parts package on this bike than some $1,800-$2,000 bikes.   Take the money you saved and buy yourself a lighter set of wheels and tires to save yourself 2-3lbs!

Other Things to Know

This bike will come to you in a box about 80% built.  You still need to know how to install a handlebar, pedals, adjust shifting and your brakes.  If you don’t know how to do this, or don’t have a friend to do this, please budget in cost to get a bike shop to build it.  Also, be ready for the bike shop to give you grief for shopping online. The day I built mine I installed a handlebar, the Answer ProTaper XC, that I had received for review.  The stock handlebar is a bit heavier, still flat, and very white.

Full Review to Come

After a couple hundred miles I will check back in to give you a full run down of the Airborne Goblin!

This product was given to me at no charge as a member of the Airborne Bicycle Flight Crew.  I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out.

When friend and follower Rick Vosper sent along spy photos of a new cyclocross bike he had up his Airborne Bicycles sleeve, I was impressed and excited.  I was sworn to secrecy until they finished testing it.

Here’s the low down.  $1099 for a SRAM Apex equipped, custom carbon fork, disc brake cyclocross bike.  Yes, you read $1099.  Do you know how rare it is to find a cyclocross bike around $1000?   Meet the Airborne Delta CX.

Now Airborne Bicycles is a unique company as it is everything that local bike shops hate.  You can only purchase them online, and because they take out the middle man their bikes are cheaper.   There’s going to be a specific customer for their niche, one that knows what they are looking for, and either knows how to put their unbox their bike, or is okay to take it to the bike shop.   Personally, I’m a fan of this concept.   Buy your bike online, as long as you know what you are doing, bring it to the shop for them to properly build it and then pay them again to fit you.   No low margin bikes for the shop, and only money making profit on the labor of the services.  This is a completely different rant, but for now I’ll save you.

The Airborne Delta CX One Part CX, One Part Commuter

This bike will be ready to rock well before the cyclocross season comes back around.   It is also equipped with bosses for your rack, as a disc brake cyclocross would be a perfect commuter.   That’s the great thing about a good cyclocross bike.  The ample tire clearance gives you room for fenders, rack and all those goodies plus a slightly more upright position than a road bike.  While living in DC, Boston or major cities cyclocross bikes were my go to bikes for 80% of people wanting to “tool around”, commute and go for a fun road ride.

View more photos on Airborne’s Facebook Page.