Shimano Di2 Corretto

It sometimes takes allot for us to get excited about a new product, always being around high end bikes and parts, but the idea of creating our first Shimano Di2 bike had the everyone here eagerly awaiting the finished product.

We have been asked a number of times about doing Di2 on our existing frames, however it wasn't until one lucky customer from South Australia requested us to build him a Di2 specific bike 5 months ago, that we finally went ahead with it.

The challenge for us was that we wanted to make sure the frame was finished with a clean look, eliminating potentially messy external wiring. It wasn't as easy as drilling an extra four holes in the frame. We had to make major changes to our tubing to allow for potential stresses caused by the additional holes.

We're more than happy with the results and the photos speak for themselves. More to the point our customer was blown away with the final result. Bellow is the full spec of this Corretto.

Corretto Di2 specific frameset
Edge Composites 2.0 fork
Chris King Sotto Voce headset
Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset with compact cranks
Deda Zero 100 stem
3T Ergonova Ltd handlebars
Deda Superzero seatpost
Prologo Scratch saddle with custom painted rear clip
Reynolds DV UL46 T wheelset
Continental Comp 22 tubulars
Look Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals
King Ti cages custom brushed to match frame finish

Additional photos can be found on our flickr site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/baumcycles/sets/72157623498212776/

We are now offering complete bikes with Di2 on both our Cubano & Corretto models in oversized tubing as well as framesets preassembled with wiring kits.
Later this year the same option will be available on the Ristretto.

For further information and pricing please contact us on +61 3 5277 1933 or handcrafted@baumcycles.com

Baum cycles is now on Facebook.

Baum cycles is now on Facebook.

Become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baum-Cycles/244631164897?v=info&ref=nf

We will be updating the page regularly with images of all our latest bikes and gear as well as race news from our team riders and general info on what is going on here at Baum.

Corretto with new GT stripe paint scheme

The boys out back in the Baum paint department have been working overtime recently to create a new look for Baum. Inspired by late 60's American muscle cars they have created a traditional Baum simple retro clean look with a racier edge. With 2, 3 and 4 colour options, your imagination is the only limit with this design.

This bike above was picked up by our customer last weekend. Instead of us ranting and raving about how proud we are of our latest design we thought we would let the customer himself speak a few words. Please note that the letter was heavily edited for what it seemed like extreme excitement letting choice words fly any chance he could get. As much as we all use these words in our everyday vocabulary we wish not to offend.

I made the journey down to Geelong to see the guys at Baum in December. While it was a little like coming home, with fond memories of getting fitted and ordering my first Baum two and a half years ago – I was also a little heartbroken. I had wrecked my Cubano in an embarrassing collision with my carport while it was on the roof racks. I bloody loved that bike. Darren Baum had a look at it - it was a write off. You idiot some said, and they were probably right. Fortunately I was properly insured and while I felt a little guilty at the thought, I was pretty sure the thrill of commissioning a new Baum would ease my heartbreak.

I wanted a bike that was as comfortable after 6 hours in the saddle as my old one, but more aggressive in geometry, a bit quicker and a bit lighter. I had some ideas on components and wheels, and I had talked to Jared over the phone about his ideas on artwork for the new Baum design.

When I saw the artwork I loved it. It would be the first of its kind on the road and I liked that too. I was ready for something different to the traditional Baum design.

I made the mistake of showing the artwork to a few friends – some weren't so sure. They preferred the traditional Baum bands on the down tube. But every time I re-looked at the artwork in the pdf file over the next few weeks, I just got butterflies. I loved the boldness of the new Baum font on the larger Ti down tube. I loved the white GT stripe on the fatter top tube. The grey, white and black are my kind of colours on a bike - simple, bold, masculine. While Jared and I talked through the various options over the next 6 weeks, in the end I ran with the original design and am just so glad I did. It felt like a leap of faith at the time. Twice now the guys at Baum have proven to me that faith in their design skills is faith well placed.

I picked it up last Friday. When I walked into the workshop and saw it on the stand I basically melted. I happen to hold the view that the guys at Baum create the most desirable bicycles on the planet and it would seem that I am not alone.

I have researched all the options available out there and I am a complete convert to the custom fitted and built bikes. There is nothing to compare with riding a bike that truly fits. I do not understand why you would buy an expensive frame in off the rack sizes when for similar $ you can get made to measure. And the Baum fit process is the best in the business. Add to this the unmatched workmanship of Darren's build, the ride qualities of titanium, the unbelievable paint finish and the whole paint experience of talking through the options of your project - I defy anyone to visit Baum for a chat and leave without placing an order. Once you've seen their operation, got the feel for the passion and expertise the guys bring to every bike they create, you just want one.

How does it ride? I'm pretty sure I'm constantly riding with a silly bloody grin on my face. It feels like I'm floating. In this morning's bunch ride, in rolling turns with mates I had to hold back the urge to surge off like a lunatic. I feel more in tune with the road and faster than I have ever felt on a bike. And this is only day 4, so I'm still getting to know this bike, and I know it will get better.

It currently resides at the foot of my marital bed. My mate has named it Angus, in honour of the blistering performance by mister A. Young at the AC/DC concert we witnessed last week. I think I may need help, I can't stop looking at it, can't stop thinking about it. I wake up a 4am to ride by myself. At work I look at photos of it (and write blogs about it..!) My 7 year old daughter, seeing the look of love in my eyes when I first brought it home asked me cheekily "Daddy do you love us as much as you love your new bike?"

Of course I do darling, just please stand back a bit and don't touch it. and don't let your little brother anywhere near it.

And if you ever see me going to put it on the roof racks, then scream.

— One very happy customer.

Cheers,
Matt O

More images of Matt's Baum Corretto can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/baumcycles/sets/72157623457393240/

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for a Di 2 internally-wired Ristretto with yet another variation of this paint scheme.