Still Stacking Miles

Whether it’s a new route, a PR, or the latest carbon aero weapon, humans are wired to chase what’s next. As a performance oriented cycling company, we keep a pulse on all of it: new standards, new tech, new marginal gains. That’s part of the job. The industry moves fast.

But this week, we’re stepping off the treadmill.

Instead of the latest exotic frame to roll through, we’re winding the clock back roughly 15 years with two Baums from the early 2010s.

At its core, AC has always stood for products that work. No bullshit. No fancy marketing lingo. Just builders and components we actually ride and believe in. Baum, one of our most respected builders out of Australia, has always operated in that lane. Titanium built with intention, not chasing trends.

The Baum Extensa featured here has endured 15 years of singletrack abuse. Anyone who rides mountain bikes understands what that means. Head tube angles get slacker. Drivetrains evolve. Dropper posts become required. And yet, this frame keeps stacking miles.

It’s still running a Shimano XTR 2x10 groupset. Not current by modern MTB standards, but proof that quality components can outlast the industry’s pace. A return on investment that isn’t always measured by marginal gains. Sometimes it’s measured in seasons. 

The catalyst for this piece was the client bringing in his other Baum, a custom Corretto from the same era. Purchased around the time we moved into our current Sausalito location, it carries a bit of shared history. A light refresh and a clean, and it looks nearly as it did the day it rolled out 13 years ago. Custom paint. Rim brakes. Classic lines. It’s a bike that feels at home in the studio.

We’re not anti-progress. Modern technology absolutely has its place. But if your bike is obsolete after three seasons, something else might be driving the cycle. Stepping off the treadmill is a useful reminder of what actually matters in our builds: aesthetics, durability, and emotion.

Two bikes. Same builder. Same era. Still stacking miles.

That says more than any launch cycle ever could.

Learn more about Baum.