First Look: 2022 Antidote Woodsprite

The bike is made of the Vectran composite that Antidote has been using on their bikes for years. One of the chief benefits of adding into the composite mix of the frame is the claimed increase in impact resistance and strength. There are also claims that Vectran carbon fiber is better at damping vibration. The bike uses CNC'd frame links made of a 7075 T6 alloy. A medium frame with all frame protection added weighs 2.5KG without a shock.

The bike is meant to be paired up with a fork of either 140 or 150mm of travel. It has clearance for 2.6" tires and features a 180mm post mount on the rear.



Frame Details

The carbon frame, which can come with the color of your choosing, has smooth uninterrupted lines that seem to extend from the headtube, all the way down the seat stays to the rear axle. Each bike features its own serial number and it seems Antidote is aiming for craftmanship rather than mass production.


Anitdote claims that the bike houses its shock in this particular location to keep the bike's center of gravity lower. Either way, it certainly frees up a lot of space within the front triangle and easily accommodates a water bottle. All the bikes come with a fender to try and prevent too much mud and grit from getting on the shock.

Some may have misgivings about the shock's placement though, and not without reason. We of course want to reduce the chances of any of our suspension or hydraulic systems ingesting any dirt or grit. That said, nobody seems to mind about their seatpost, rear brake, or fork legs. Maybe it's just a perception of it being more likely to get covered in crud, but either way, it's clearly a system Antidote believes in as it appears on all their bikes.


Geometry


The geometry has some values that scream progressive whilst others that seem a little less so. For instance, the bike is built around a 65.5-degree head angle and a 76.5-degree seat tube angle. These are combined with a roomy 485mm reach for a size large and long 450mm chainstays that should mean there's plenty of weight driven through the rider's feet. Antidote says it does this in the name of balance and better weight distribution for the trail bike. I think it's interesting to see bike brands diverge in terms of rear center lengths. It seems in some ways the question of reach is giving more settled answers, with measurements of around 480 or 485mm quite typical on a large trail bike, but between brands, they could match that up to anything between 430 or 450mm chainstays. The Woodsprite's rear is certainly on the longer side of things.

Suspension Design


The Smart FDS suspension on the Woodsprite is compatible with both coil and air shocks. The shocks are orientated with the piggyback over to the non-drive side. The shock is driven from their lower end by the swingarm directly and from the upper by the linkage as it floats between the two.


The leverage ratio of the bike is relatively constant until the sag point of the stroke, at 2.55 for the first 35mm of travel. It then ramps up and is progressive from 2.5 to 2.2 in a very consistent through to the end of its travel. The anti-rise is also very consistent. Falling from around 85% to around 80% at sag, before reducing further in a very linear fashion to 64% at the end of the stroke. This value would suggest the bike is more likely to prioritise geometry conservation over separating braking forces from suspension action.


The anti-squat is slightly lower than some, with some bikes reaching over 100% at sag, whereas the Woodsprite varies between 85 and 95% at sag. This means the bike will want to compress slightly under suspension forces, even if only slightly. Values such as these can also mean the bike is better at gripping over rougher or chunkier terrain though, as the wheel is simply happier to go into its stroke.

Build Options

Antidote sells the Woodsprite in several different build kits, including suspension kits from EXT, Rockshox and Fox, as well as drive trains from Shimano. Here are some selected builds from the range.

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For more details please visit antidotebikes.com