Behind the Zenith is Sebastian Baldauf, former professional cyclist and founder of the Allgäu brand Baldiso, which most recently made a name for himself with the sensational The One. The new Zenith carbon frameset is more performer than piece of jewellery, it is produced in small quantities and is entirely handmade. Each model can be individually configured, from the choice of components and frame colour to the last screw.
Light, fast and comfortable
The carbon frame should weigh 860 grams in size M. Many comparably fast aero frames are much closer to one kilogramme. A raw carbon surface without paint saves a further 100 grams of weight. Depending on the desired build, the complete bike weighs between 6.2 and 6.9 kilograms. The bike should also perform very well in other disciplines. The bottom bracket stiffness is 73 N/mm and, according to the manufacturer, ensures direct power transmission. The Zedler-Institut also attested the Zenith a remarkably good comfort value for a consistently aero-orientated road bike. Many classic aero platforms are higher in this discipline and tend to be less comfortable.
In April 2026, Baldiso tested the Zenith in the GST wind tunnel according to current standards with a dummy including a drink holder and round bike bottle. The result: 195 watts at 45 km/h. This would put the Zenith on a par with the currently fastest UCI-compliant production bike according to this measurement standard, the Storck Aerfast.5 Pro.
Development and production
The Zenith was designed and constructed by Simon Bühler from CarbonWorks, an engineer with many years of experience in the optimisation of carbon structures. Baldiso opted for a highly focused development structure without a broad industrial organisation based on a division of labour. Production takes place entirely at Bike Ahead Composites in Bavaria, a manufacturer known in the scene for the surface quality and precision of its carbon production.
Prices, sizes and availability
The frameset is available in three sizes S, M and L; in carbon raw look it costs 6,900 euros. Complete bikes cost between €10,500 and €16,000, depending on the customised equipment. Baldiso produces the Zenith in manageable quantities, as each bike is made entirely by hand.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
