I love metal bikes for the simple reason that I get a lot of satisfaction out of staying with the same product for several years - if not a lifetime. As the seasons tick by and the miles become monuments to a life spent doing what you love, a steel or titanium frame will be there for every turn. You can knock them down, sweat all over them, crash them, and they always come back for more. But that's not to say they don't need a refresh now and then.
Which brings us to our latest bike of the week. This is Eduardo's Baum Corretto that we first delivered almost seven years ago. Originally, it was painted a gorgeous Poison Ivy Green and configured for an electronic Campagnolo groupset. However, after a good amount of use and a lot of travel, it was time for something new, or at least different. So after a few chats with Eduardo about the bike's new direction, we gave it the Above Category treatment and got it ready for several more years of sterling service.
THE FRAMESET
2017 Baum Corretto.
At one time, it was drilled for Campagnolo EPS. We sent the frame to Velocolour in Toronto, Canada, who helped us fill in the three holes in the frame and braze on mounts for mechanical shifting as Eduardo wanted to run the more classic, simpler version of the two options.
Back when we first specced the build, we chose the ENVE 2.0 fork for rim brakes. And yes, they still exist, and they're still rad.
After Velocolour stripped the old paint and finished the little bit of brazing, they applied the frame's new geometric finish. Eduardo and the team at Velocolour worked on the concept for a good while before perfecting it and sending us what you see here.
A navy Chris King headset, Darimo seat collar and polished low profile titanium hardware finish the frameset.
DRIVETRAIN
The other reason that I love metal bikes is that you can add or take away things over time. As I mentioned above, this bike started life with a Campagnolo Super Record EPS group but now wears a Campagnolo Super Record mechanical shifting group. At the time of shooting the video and photos, we didn't have the Ceramicspeed bearings mounted, but we'll bring them to bear on the pulleys and the bottom bracket. Eagle-eyed viewers might notice the white scruff (there's no other word for it) around the rear derailleur on the video. That's the bike's new waxed chain!
COCKPIT
All ENVE here. The road stem and compact bars were sent along with the seat post to Velocolour to match the frame. Bar tape and saddle will be coming from Busyman in Australia to accent the frameset. We'll get more pictures up after all of that comes in.
WHEELS
Lightest of the light, 960g (for the pair!) Lightweight Obermayer tubular wheels with Ceramicspeed bearings. Having ridden these wheels a lot in the past, I can vouch for how stiff and durable they are, which is pretty impressive for such a light wheel. The Vittoria Speed tubulars in 25c nicely complement this rather quick wheelset.
EPHEMERA
Silca cages, ceracoated in blue and EE brake calipers complete the build.
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