About BAUM…
In 2010, I ordered two frames from the other side of the world. On a whim. It was this tiny company (just an Aussie named Darren) building what we thought might be the next big thing in custom bikes. I saw some photos on an internet blog and the welds seemed flawless. The design was classic, yet progressive in all the right ways. Really, the only bad thing was the marketing.
Back then it was so hard to know what you were getting, and we didn’t have anyone who could go check them out. Then I saw a Corretto painted in Audi Nimbus Grey and called him on the spot. I asked him how fast we could get a Ristretto and a Corretto.
The BAUM bikes arrived late. But flawlessly packaged. Better than anything we’d seen at the time. And absolutely stunning.
That’s where it all started.
“Darren is probably one of the most hard-core designers. I love what he does.” - Chad
This was the first time (and there have been others) I found a bike with perfect attention to detail in every millimeter of the frame. I mean every last one.
Darren Baum’s principle is refreshingly simple: “build what we want to ride, and ride what we want to build.” From the start, the mission was fusing technology with timeless design – and moving slowly to get it right. So it actually worked.
Back then, the industry – bike technology – was evolving at true warp speed. This was the age when carbon bikes were suddenly mainstream, and the reverberations were touching everything from cockpit design to internal routing. Tech was changing the bike industry forever, but the barriers to entry were still incredibly high. Custom bike builders could develop and integrate the technology (for example, Sarto was one of the first to develop internal routing, on their Lampo Plus). The big companies stole their ideas, added marketing and called it their own. None of these businesses scaled. And most didn’t want to.
Then there was Darren. This obsession with building the best. Nobody could touch it.
We brought Baum to the USA the following year, in 2011. At that point, the Celaris was still an idea on Darren’s drawing board. A high-tech modern road bike, with the timeless design of enthusiast classics. This was the machine I’d dreamed of for a long time, so expectations were at an all time high.
1000 miles on the BAUM Celaris
Not to worry. It didn’t take 1000 miles to figure out that the Celaris is the apex bike of its category. Try 50. It’s impossibly consistent across the entire package; the inside looks as good as the outside. From every angle. And then it brings the performance to match. Our sales director Julius called the Celaris high performance rolling art…
But it took some time to write this review, mostly because I keep trying to find problems with this bike, and still can’t find them. Julius calls that a miracle.
The Baum Celaris won’t demand applause on first ride. It presents plainly, confidently, making a case slowly. This is how Darren envisioned it… a simple bike for the discerning enthusiast. Within ten rides, you’ll be in love.
Ride Feel & Behavior
The Celaris feels tuned. Not stiff, but calibrated. I can feel feedback: road texture, loading rate, and tire grip, but none of it bleeds into fatigue. Front and rear triangles manage different vibrations: the rear softens chatter; the front stays precise. The result is nuanced composure. A unique rear frame design puts the left chainstay 3mm lower than the right, offsetting the intersection with the bottom bracket housing to reduce chainslap. Baum was the first custom ti frame to do this, and it’s so subtle that you wouldn’t know unless we told you. And those kinds of details are everywhere.
Climbing & Power Transfer
My build weighs in at ~15 lbs (AC scale). That’s outrageous for a metal bike – and it’s accomplished by obsessive weight reduction at each stage. For example, BAUM was the first builder to mill out the brake studs on the rear. Common practice is welded tubes. But these are milled, then half integrated into the sidewall of the left chainstay.
Handling & Geometry
BAUM’s geometry roots itself in rider nuance, not aero angles. The Celaris stays true in fast corners. It doesn’t surprise. It doesn’t exaggerate. It allows measured inputs and rewards discipline with line‑holding stability. It never asks me to reason with the machine.
Smooth and stable. With the giddy-up when you need it.
Craftsmanship & Detailing
This is where the Celaris shows depth:
- Ultra-light, all-titanium construction
- Custom butted titanium tubesets
- Sculpted machined dropouts, bottom bracket shell and head tube
- Relentless attention to detail: every lug, every tube, mirror-polished inside and out
- 3D‑printed titanium steer tube insert keeps cables internal without bulky headsets. All the benefits of modern routing with the classic look
- All paint and anodizing done in house at BAUM HQ
- Welds are clean, finishes exact. I’ve now built hundreds of BAUMs (and nearly every custom frame) and this is as close to perfect as it gets.
Julius is right. It’s high‑performance rolling art…
Build Observations
- Weight: a 15 lbs build—no pedals, but no other tricks.
- Tire clearance: comfortably fits up to 35mm tires.
- Cockpit: standard bar/stem, easy serviceability for internal routing.
- Serviceability: no proprietary parts, no hidden maintenance hurdles
For the Above Category Rider
If you’re passed the ledge of hype and are seeking craftsmanship, precision, and ride feel, this is for you. The Celaris doesn't chase marginal gains with aero. It is not the fastest bike on the road. It doesn’t care.
It cultivates pure excellence. Reliable, responsive, and enduring. And extremely quick under load.
This is the dream machine if you:
- Value timeless build over flash: no flashy carbon layups—only pure titanium elegance
- Can ride fast, long, and smoothly. It’s an enthusiast's bike, for serious cyclists.
- Want a bike that’ll age with grace (look at a Baum built in 2009 and it feels current).
The Celaris is not for people who want the latest cheat codes on aero, high-performance carbon lay-up design. That’s a Factor game, or on the custom side, Sarto.
Final Thoughts
BAUM develops their tech internally and deliberately. Nothing is rushed to market, and you can tell Darren doesn’t cut corners. Even on the inside – where most builders take a free pass to skimp – BAUM delivers the best. Titanium hardware across the board and deliberate machining to save grams wherever possible.
If you're after a bike that's elegant, powerful, and built to last, the Celaris deserves your attention.
Ten years from now you'll still smile every time.
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