Not often an FB makes the national news (Darren Baum on ABC)

[Mark Kelly]

It's not often that an FB makes the national news feed. It's in the context of the ongoing stoush about pollie's travel entitlements, but it's still noteworthy.

BTW it says Abbott "has ridden" a Baum but I don't think he owns one: he's normally seen on a Cannondale.

[Blakey]

oh he definitely owns a baum

2014  Fitted and Built Custom Titanium road bike for Prime Minister of Australia (Hon. T. Abbott).

Here's the stupid git with it

[Mark Kelly]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that.

I wish I still hadn't.

[hampco]

Now I understand the Baum graphics...

[crumpton]

HA, the PM blocking the handicap space. like the time we boarded a flight to Austin and Rick Perry was in first class with his laptop open the entire time taxi, takeoff landing and so on.

[hampco]

HA, the PM blocking the handicap space. like the time we boarded a flight to Austin and Rick Perry was in first class with his laptop open the entire time taxi, takeoff landing and so on.

Rules are for the proles.

[dinucci]

HA, the PM blocking the handicap space. like the time we boarded a flight to Austin and Rick Perry was in first class with his laptop open the entire time taxi, takeoff landing and so on.

Ha is right. Seeing that made me think of his handicap.....
a total lack of compassion.

[Jonathan]

I always though the graphics were under the tube so we in The Northern Hemispere could read them. Is that not right?

[progetto]

13 people on the books, that explains a lot.

[devlin]

^ They are more production shop than most people think. With top end boutique prices.

[CarbonNeutral]

I wonder if Darren would sell a frame to Hitler? Probably.

#GodwinsLawFTW

[Andrew R Stewart]

I wonder if Darren would sell a frame to Hitler? Probably.

#GodwinsLawFTW

What!!! Why are you going there? Andy.

[progetto]

Because Warwick can be an arse.

What!!! Why are you going there? Andy.

[CarbonNeutral]

I know Darren and we have a history, so I'm pretty sure he won't mind. In fact, he'd probably be having a little chuckle.

[BenjaminGs]

I don´t understand this bashing on Darren Baum...

Can anyone explain ?

[crumpton]

the bashing is not on Darren but rather politicians. as least that's what i read.

[devlin]

No Darren bashing from me. Baum make stellar bikes and Darren is a very successful businessman. A lot of people, punters still think its a one man show.

[Tristan]

I don´t understand this bashing on Darren Baum...

Can anyone explain ?

I think there is a bit of tall-poppy syndrome towards Baum and from the outside they seem to be remarkably successful and for whatever reason some people love to try and tear that down. Baum have been at it for a long time and are far from an overnight success story.

[progetto]

My comment wasn't a smear, large overhead explain pricing structure to a degree. Nothing but respect for people that make a sole living from building bikes.

13 people on the books, that explains a lot.

[CarbonNeutral]

the bashing is not on Darren but rather politicians. as least that's what i read.

Well it's both, but mostly my attempt at humour failled so my bad for not being funnier. I find it hard to go 'the full funny' when it comes to things like this, but that's my issue.

What I was crudely trying to illustrate, is that for over 50% of the population, putting one of your bikes under the Prime Minister would be the worst move. The list of ethically reprehensible actions of this douchebag and his colleagues is making Thatcher and Bush look like girl scouts. Did you know it's now illegal for medical personal to report the mistreatment of new migrants, or that y'all have marriage equality and we don't, or that the PM thinks that wind farms make you sick?

Fortunately for Darren however, Liberal Party voters think this shit is awesome, so seeing the PM on a Baum and then buying one must make them think they're part of some amazing brown-coal burning, clean energy commission dismantling Superclub.

I think people have to understand that there are certain things you have to compromise on to be successful that not everyone is going to be comfortable with.

I also think that unless you've tried to start a custom bike business in Australia then I have to respectfully say that you have no idea what's required. We're not the 53rd state of the US and conditions here couldn't be more different.

Now before anyone breaks out the 'tall poppy' or jealousy card, you need to understand some things. I worked with Darren and Peter to help set up their business back in the early 2000's. I know who Darren is, I know his strengths and weaknesses, I know his talents. I could not have done what he's done, and I'm completely at peace with that. I also know that without the help of a lot of people - myself, Luke Hibberd, Jo Banks, and his corporate bank-roller, Peter Jones, Darren would be just another guy making bikes for fun and selling a few to the local guys.

To get where he is, he's made a lot of sacrifices and compromises, and people have to realise that to make the first and only successful custom framebuilding shop in the country, there is going to be a lot of decisions made that are purely in the name of 'scrambling over bodies to the top'. Is it possible to do that in a more inclusive and ethically robust way? I don't know. Didn't work for me the first time, and the fact that in a country of 24 million we can count the number of full-time builders on one hand says something about that too. But I think it's completely fair and reasonable that in the age of teh intarweebs there's going to be discussion on whether or not putting one of your custom bikes under the arse of the PM is a good and/or ethical move, or more broadly, what compromises are you making to get where you are.