To the extended Baum family,
We are kicking off our Staff introductions on the blog and of course Darren's asked me to kick things off as i'm the newest addition to our team.
My name is Jarrod Hopkins, i'm 31, live in Melbourne and have been an avid MTB and Road cyclist for 15yrs. I've mainly ridden steel bikes, then onto carbon and now i'm patiently awaiting a lovely Baum Corretto later in the year (yes I have to wait just like our customers!)
I don't race bikes -although that might change in summer, but love getting out on the bike whether it be along Beach Rd, through the north east suburbs, out to Kinglake / Christmas Hills, to Lysterfield, out the back of the You Yangs or simply anywhere my bikes take me. Getting out on my own or with friends helps me clear my mind, relax and just enjoy life!
I've worked predominately in the wholesale Outdoor / Sport industries as a Account Manager for the last 11 years.
My role at Baum Cycles is varied across quite a few area's, generally i'm responsible for Sales, Marketing, Website and PR among other things - I'm your initial contact here for when we get a call or email.
Please feel free to give me a call or email should you have any questions about our current bicycle line or our upcoming exciting redesigned MTB line.
Thankyou and enjoy the ride!
Jarrod
Friday, 30 July 2010
Jarrod's Introduction
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Customer Bike Stolen!
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Website outage
We've been moving internet house to a shiny new web server and the cut-over hasn't been as smooth as we'd hoped. It's not something that's within our control, but we're crossing our fingers and toes that we'll be up and running again in the next 24 hours.
The most important thing though is that our email is still alive and kicking so if you need to, drop us a line at handcrafted@baumcycles.com or call us on +61 3 6277 1933.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Ready and Will-ing
Down the back, beyond the glow of the welding torch, the newest Baum team member Will and I sat on the mezzanine looking out over the factory. He seemed comfortable surrounded by the hustle and bustle, like it was a home away from home.
With a busy schedule ahead our chat was brief, just two guys chatting for a while about riding and life. First off the rank was the colour of his bike. After lobbying long and hard for a flame paint job, a style compromise was reached and red chosen, not because it goes faster, but because it's cool.
As our legs dangle over the edge, his pale skinny legs in stark contrast to my own, I question him about his distinct lack of sock height. Surely as cool conscious as he is, he'd have material up to almost his calf, but he declares it's not his way, instead preferring the practicality of a short sock and the feel of wind on his unshaven legs. The conversation naturally flows on to the differences in our tans, to most a tan line is a badge of honour, a sign of hours spent in the saddle, to him it's a sign of poor sun smarts. The times are changing my friends.
Wishing to steer the conversation away from our differences, I ask Will about his heros, the ones he loves to watch race. "Cadel" sprung swiftly from his lips and was quickly followed by our own Jim Hsu. So given that both are men who've raced road and mountain bikes, I enquired as to what sort of riding he enjoys most. Despite his red, rigid, 1x9 beast he confided to me that he prefers riding on road rather than off. Rocks and trees just slow you down, interrupting the unstoppable progression down to the 11 tooth cog of a cassette. Sadly I think this means that track racing is out of the equation as well. There is some hope, I got the impression he's got deep respect for the wisdom and speed that comes with years spent on the bike.
Living in Geelong he's no stranger to battling the cross winds near Lake Connewarre, or doing repeats in the hills. So, what does he eat to fuel his body and aid recovery? Chocolate pancakes. Truly the breakfast of champions.
So what about life away from the bike? It can get tough at times, trying to juggle study and family life all while remaining focused on riding... but not so focused as to attract the eye of any podium girls... girls are icky.
So, what else is there to know about Will? He's the 7 year old that's chasing you down.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Dr. Strangeclimb or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Hills
I'm a little biased about hills, despite my best efforts I'm just not built to dance on the pedals up them. For those of you who (like me) don't have a BMI of "underweight", hills can be pure torture. Regardless of the time we spend attacking Bergs or grinding up Cols they still punish our pitiful power to weight ratios.
I'd like to show that there is hope at the end of the tunnel, for not only is it possible to not hate climbing, but you can actually grow to love it. Like all the good things in life, it's not an easy process, you will have to suffer, there will be doubts, but it's worth it in the end.
The method is simple, so simple I'll sum it up in one word:
Under-dress
Ok so it's hyphenated, but the internet tells me I can count that as one word, so I'm going to do so. Besides "one word" sounds a heap better than "two words kinda joined with a dashy thing in the middle".
Anyway, back to what you need to do. Go for a ride, somewhere there are some hills, and don't wear appropriately warm clothing. Given that we're trying to under-dress it's probably best to do this early in the morning. Getting there before the sun has a chance to add warmth to the day is ideal.
While I don't condone hypothermia or frostbite, you should reach the point where you begin to wonder if a coffee big enough to warm you back up exists anywhere in the world, and if selling both your kidneys would get you enough money to buy it.
It's at this point that you'll see the benefit of hills. In these conditions, going hard on the flat or *shudder* down a hill will help generate some internal heat, but the corresponding increase in wind chill will leave you wishing for a quick(er) death.
You ride tempo up the first little rise and at the top it clicks like indexed shifting. You can feel your face again! That little bump in the road just enabled you to speak words without drooling (as it's early, no one expects them to be big words).
The next hill is a bit longer. It pinches slightly towards the top. You work hard, getting out of the saddle to finish it off. As you pull against the bars there's an odd sensation. Yep. That's right – you can feel the bars with your fingers. Praise be to Campy, there's sensation in your pinky!
By this time you've no doubt encountered a descent, probably one that leaves you with a brain freeze, but despite lacking sensation in your lips, you smile. Up ahead, just round the corner is a corker of a hill. One that's made you grovel on countless other rides. One that you'd usually add 7 extra km to avoid. Today, just the thought of it makes you grin. Today, as you click down to the last gear on your cassette, you love it. Despite leaving you with the feeling that your heart is set to leap out of your chest it also leaves you with feeling in your toes. A price I'm sure you'll agree is worth it.
Rolling to a cafe, stripping off your arm warmers in the balmy 5° Celsius air, you've taken the first step down the path that leads to a passion that equals your love of cross winds.
Friday, 21 May 2010
Jared's Bike
We never thought we would actually see this day but it seems good things happen to those who wait. The pictures speak for themselves so for those whom are into hard facts and numbers here's the full spec list of Jared's build.
