Abbott backs local bike
NORTH Shore custom-built cycle manufacturer Baum Cycles has had some highprofile customers over the years, including one Cadel Evans.
But the list recently grew to include Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who rode his Baum bike in the weekend’s People’s Ride.
Mr Abbott spoke highly of Baum Cycles, which he said were custom-made titanium bikes sold to a worldwide clientele.
“It’s my latest bike and my best bike and it’s the one I’m going to be riding tomorrow. It’s also Cadel’s favourite bike,’’ the PM said before the ride.
Mr Abbott said it was going to be private initiative such as Baum Cycles that would be the long-term salvation of Geelong, not decisions made in Canberra or Spring Street.
“We want the money ... to go to grassroots innovators, people who are going to be creating the long-term businesses of the future, the new industries of the future and creative people,’’ he said.
“A little business like Baum is a good example of a couple of local guys who now have a serious international business.’’
Mr Abbott said even small firms like Baum Cycles could help to transform the ethos of a city like Geelong.
Business owner Darren Baum said he had been tinkering with bikes since he was 16, and sold his first bike commercially in 1996.
The business has been operating in its current form for 12 years, and last year sold about 120 bikes, with a third of those going overseas.
“We have won a number of awards and Cadel has been on our bikes as well. We have built bikes for him,’ Mr Baum said.
“He has a fixed-gear bike that is not actually branded as a Baum, which he uses for training. BMC didn’t have one in its range so we built him one.’’
The company employs seven people and operates from a small factory in North Shore. Mr Baum said there was a nine-month waiting list for orders.
He said overseas clients were often met at the airport, brought to Geelong and given a guided tour of the operation.
Mr Baum said Mr Abbott was given a group set including gears, wheels and other components by the Japanese prime minister and Baum Cycles had built the frame.