Make it local, think differently: what we learned by bringing the Baumier brand to the market
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A few days ago, an article in La Presse raised a question: is it still possible to buy a truly Canadian bike? The setting: a globalized industry, with components produced all over the world and local brands subcontracting abroad.
It was in this context that we’ve had the privilege of collaborating on the creation of Baumier, a bike brand made here, designed here, and intended to always go further, without compromising on the essentials.
The mission: to build a more sustainable bike, one step at a time. Starting with the wheels.
Making things local, not just by slapping on a label
Yes, the article was right: producing a 100% local bike is almost impossible, as evidenced by Louis Garneau, Panorama Cycles and several other Quebec brands. But at Baumier, we decided to ask the question differently. What if truly local meant a consistent chain of decisions, from sourcing to design, from management to the product’s end of life?
Baumier is about offering bikes that are designed, tested, and assembled locally in Montreal. It’s also about a workshop in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, where each rim is made in 24 hours. That’s right, 24 hours for a single wheel. Making local also means respecting the pace of expertise.
Thinking outside the box entirely
Behind Baumier, there’s also a way of working. The company is rooted in the Teal model: no rigid hierarchy, but distributed autonomy, an evolving purpose, and governance that values collective intelligence. That’s also what it means to make things different.
Cycling as a social project
What we found most inspiring about Baumier was their ambition to minimize their impact from the outset, not as an afterthought. An analysis of their rims’ carbon cycle showed a significant reduction in emissions compared to those made in Asia. This was not a marketing ploy: it was a measured, compared, and assumed.
By 2026, the company will publish its first full carbon footprint (scopes 1, 2 and 3), strive to divert as much of its waste as possible from landfills, and invest 2% of its revenue in social and environmental initiatives. It will continue to be involved in research to develop recycling solutions, such as microwave pyrolysis for carbon fibre.
What’s more, Baumier is committed to donating 1% of its revenues to the community and 1% to environmental preservation starting from its very first sales. Convinced that abundance is the result of righteous deeds, Baumier chooses to give right away.
Guaranteed for life, designed to last
It can’t be said often enough: the most durable objects are those that never need replacing. That’s why Baumier’s upcoming wheels and bikes are guaranteed for life. The best part about this is that there are no terms and conditions. It’s based on an implied agreement with those who choose Baumier: bikes built to last, in the hands of owners who will look after them. It’s a guarantee that rewards responsible use, careful maintenance, and a sincere attachment to a well-crafted object. No forms to fill out, no proof to submit. Just a two-sided promise: to make it last. Bonus: a local maintenance service that will make your bike the last one you ever need to buy.
Make with purpose. Choose with care.
Yes, local production requires compromise. But it also requires vision. Collaborating with the Baumier team means recognizing that a bike is more than a simple object: it can embody a unified economic, social, and ecological approach. And we are so proud to be a part of it.
