[3] Bauer was raised in a remote area of New Zealand called Parapara near the township of Tākaka in Golden Bay.

In 2003, Bauer began his tertiary studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, whilst residing at Aquinas College in his first year.

Whilst there, he was also often seen around the Dunedin Music scene playing his bass guitar in a band called Dream Farm.

[21][22] In the 2014 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Bauer won the Prologue from Tom Scully.

[23] He said of the win "It's a bit of a pity to knock a fellow Kiwi [Tom Scully] off the top perch, but it might as well be another Kiwi doing it,"[24] On the fifteenth stage of the 2014 Tour de France, Bauer broke away with Martin Elmiger for 222 km, only to be caught by the charging peloton a few meters from the line.

[27] In the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Jack Bauer won the silver medal in the road race behind Geraint Thomas in very wet conditions.

[28] Bauer said "When I attacked, of course gold was always the goal...But when I was joined by Thomas – he's one of the classiest riders in the world, he's really versatile, he's good in all weather, and he's just come off the Tour was well.

[30][31] Bauer said of it "It's actually the first bone I've broken to date, both on my bike in my career and in my life, so I thought I'd start at the top and break all the big ones,"[32] In stage five of the 2016 Tour of Britain, Jack Bauer escaped in a five-man breakaway, and survived until the end, winning the stage.

I had no expectations today as it was more of a 40km hit-out for my major goal of the road championship on Sunday.