Gravel Grinder News: Baumier & WTB Press Releases

Image courtesy of Baumier 

 Note: With Sea Otter coming up in a week there are press releases hitting the in-box at Guitar Ted Productions headquarters which require space here to publish outside of the FN&V. 

All information and images were provided by Baumier and WTB. Comments are Guitar Ted's.  

Quebec's Baumier Announces Their First Complete Bicycle: 

The Canadian company, Baumier, is known more for wheels than complete bicycles, but the Quebec based firm hopes to change this in the future. Their first complete bike, the BO1, is designed and manufactured completely in the Marche Central District.

The BO1 has 3D printed titanium junctions including the head tube, bottom bracket, seat cluster, and drop outs. The connection between these titanium bits is made from braided RFC carbon fiber tubing. The RFC process (Resin Flow Composite), allows Baumier to optimize strength and lightness with zero waste. The process has been in development for eight years. 

The Baumier B01 is defined as an "all-road" bike and maximum tire clearance is 42mm. The bike can be configured in three spec levels which Baumier calls "Hors Categorie", "Lifetime", and "Timeless". 

B01 Hors-Catégorie (HC)  Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano XTR Dura-Ace Di2 or Sram Red XPLR
• Crankset: Rotor Carbon 
• Wheels: RT40 HC or GT24 UL

B01 Lifetime (LT) Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX-827 Di2
• Crankset: Gemini Forged carbon & 5DEV Titanium crank arms
• Wheels: RT40 LT or GT24 LT

B01 Timeless (TL) Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX mechanical
• Crankset: Rotor alloy
• Wheels: RT40 LT or GT24 LT

Technical Specifications
Frame Features

• Material & Process: Braided RFC (resin transfer molding) carbon tubes & 3D-printed Grade 5 Titanium lugs
• Constructed, finished, and built in-house
• Geometry: Allroad road geometry, 5 sizes from 50 to 60
• Finish: Natural brushed titanium or sandblasted titanium
• Maximum tire size: 42mm 

No pricing was given in the press release. See Baumier's site for more. 
 

Comments: The BO1 is an interesting bike which leverages newer tech and allows for a bit better style of manufacturing considering Baumier's focus on zero waste and Earth-centric values. Granted, this is a canadian company and they are not well known here in the States, but I like the in-house design and production piece here. 

Hopefully they can make a go of it. Similar efforts by Allied and others in the US have not been as successful in doing what Bamier is trying to accomplish with the B01. 

WTB Announces All New Fit Right Saddle Finder System:

WTB, the tire, rim, and saddle makers from California, just dropped their revamped saddle fit system. Their previous system was a bit less robust when it came to details, but the new system seems to have addressed those shortcomings. 

Dubbed the Fit Right System, the new saddle finder has riders answer a few questions, plug in their sit bone width, (if you do not know this measurement, they have a way for you to find out), and then there are suggested saddles for you to look at. 

Comments: As with any fitting system for humans, this isn't going to be a slam-dunk, definitive saddle answer for everyone. That said, it's better than what they had before and probably will get you in a ball park so you can find that perfect saddle eventually much more quickly as well.