Walmart Premuim Bicycles, $1,000 to $6,000 Viathon

[Burnette]

This just may get more people on bikes:

" The most expensive bike that Walmart sells just went from about $1,000 USD to $6,000 USD.

The top of the line M.1 XX1 comes with a RockShox SID RLC 120mm fork, a SRAM XX1 gold Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Level Ultimate brakes, an FSA K-Force carbon 740mm x 31.8mm handlebar, and Stan's No Tube Crest CB7 Carbon Pro 29 Wheels. It sells for $6,000 USD.

The mid price point is the M.1 XO1 which comes with a RockShox SID RL 120mm fork, a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Level TLM brakes, an FSA SL-K carbon 740mm x 31.8mm handlebar, and Stan's No Tubes Arch MK3 Team 29 Wheels. It sells for $3,500 USD.

The entry level price point is just $400 more than the frame. The M.1 GX1 comes with a RockShox SID RL 120mm fork, a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Level TL brakes, an FSA Afterburner 740mm x 31.8mm handlebar, and Stan's No Tubes Arch S1 Team 29 Wheels. It sells for $2,400 USD.

With such a huge pool of resources, Walmart has the potential to grow mountain biking and get more people out on two wheels. Here’s to hoping."

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/walmart-launches-high-end-viathon-bike-brand.html

[speedevil]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

[Elefantino]

The Walton brothers also own Rapha. I see synergy here.

[fishwhisperer]

One of the heirs is a huge trails advocate in Bentonville, so this makes a lot of sense in that respect. I was there on business last fall and enjoyed the network of trails very much. California could learn a thing or two, frankly.

[soulspinner]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

yup

[Keith A]

One thing that is interesting is that all three options have the same paint scheme and look very similar. I'm sure there's a marketing strategy there, just not sure what it is.

[rallizes]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

“The bikes are assembled to 98% using Carlsbad, California based company Lucidity to be ready for a home delivery requiring minimal final assembly.”

[oldpotatoe]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

I've always said, since these types of big box places, sell more bikes in the US than anybody, if WallyWorld steps up with bike wrenches that know something
about bikes, this could put a (further) hurt on LBS'...kinda good/bad..AND see just above the 'Scott' and "Canyon' model...
“The bikes are assembled to 98% using Carlsbad, California based company Lucidity to be ready for a home delivery requiring minimal final assembly.”


BUT some will automatically get out the long guns on anything labeled 'wallmart', regardless of what it is or does..:eek:

[peanutgallery]

So ...Walmart and a former engineer from Cervelo team up on a carbon, race oriented hardtail? So what do billionaires and roadies know about riding on the dirt? IMHO, they're missing the market. This segment of the market has diminished greatly, especially at this price point. Customers are looking at something entirely different. Think rake, trail, stack and travel

[Hellgate]

I think it's a great idea and a nice looking bike. It's good to see the Walton's as fans of bikes. If this gets more people involved in the sport that's a good thing.

[Keith A]

So ...Walmart and a former engineer from Cervelo team up on a carbon, race oriented hardtail? So what do billionaires and roadies know about riding on the dirt? IMHO, they're missing the market. This segment of the market has diminished greatly, especially at this price point. Customers are looking at something entirely different. Think rake, trail, stack and travelThe article states that they will offering a carbon road and gravel bike series too.

[nooneline]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

Looking forward to seeing these $6000 bikes with backwards forks.

[unterhausen]

I don't quite understand how this is supposed to work out for them. The Walton kids took over when Sam died and destroyed their reputation with the people that would buy a $6000 bike. I don't think I'm alone in considering them to be something like a very large Dollar General store. They have tried to rehabilitate themselves, but not very successfully.

[alancw3]

I think it's a great idea and a nice looking bike. It's good to see the Walton's as fans of bikes. If this gets more people involved in the sport that's a good thing.

+1 kudos to Walmart. getting more people involved in cycling is such a positive. I am sure from a purely business dollars and cents standpoint it doesn't make much sense, but obviously there is a bike enthusiast high up in Walmart and that is a good thing.

sidebar. when I need parts, tires and tubes cables etc. for my beater bike where do I go to buy. Walmart. they have a good selection of basic bike part at reasonable prices. convenient and no hassle from lbs personnel.

[Dave B]

It seems like a lot for a hardtail. For $6K you can get a really good new or amazing used full suspension bike.

Unless I read it wrong these are only hard tails. Good on Walmart for doing more with cycling and I don't begrudge the company as a teacher I get most of my supplies there as a result of cost.

Still $6k for a hardtail...man that one is a hard pill to swallow.

[oldpotatoe]

It seems like a lot for a hardtail. For $6K you can get a really good new or amazing used full suspension bike.

Unless I read it wrong these are only hard tails. Good on Walmart for doing more with cycling and I don't begrudge the company as a teacher I get most of my supplies there as a result of cost.

Still $6k for a hardtail...man that one is a hard pill to swallow.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/procaliber/procaliber-9-8-sl/p/23166/?colorCode=orangevisibility_black

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/epic-hardtail-pro/p/154338?color=237766-154338

[Dave B]

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/procaliber/procaliber-9-8-sl/p/23166/?colorCode=orangevisibility_black

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/epic-hardtail-pro/p/154338?color=237766-154338

I hear you, but as great as those bikes probably are, I would rather have a custom HT built for me if I am spending that kind of money.

I still cannot get over how much bikes at the high end cost now. I just no longer even try to keep up with new stuff.

[charliedid]

I bet they sell okay.

Millions love Walmart and sometimes it's a matter of who you trust and who you want to give your $ to.

[oldpotatoe]

I hear you, but as great as those bikes probably are, I would rather have a custom HT built for me if I am spending that kind of money.

I still cannot get over how much bikes at the high end cost now. I just no longer even try to keep up with new stuff.

I can't even spell 'MTB', but the other day I was at Vecchio's and he was building a Moots, coupled, Di2, hydros..that pushed the $12,000 level so...

I think the info about the very high end at WallyWorld is more about advertising rather than actual sales of a $6k MTB..BUT an attempt at showing customers that not everything at walmart is $139 kids bikes, $15 shoes or $199 TVs...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Women-s-Blast-Athletic-Shoe/295630705?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=5780&adid=22222222222065228914&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=17603694463&wl4=pla-1105759542412&wl12=295630705_10000006006&wl14=high%20end%20shoes%20at%20walmart&veh=sem&msclkid=70169c9a877b13ecda03c0377dcb8d21

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SAMSUNG-75-Class-4K-2160P-Ultra-HD-Smart-LED-HDR-TV-UN75NU6900/602316951

[charliedid]

I can't even spell 'MTB', but the other day I was at Vecchio's and he was building a Moots, coupled, Di2, hydros..that pushed the $12,000 level so...

I think the info about the very high end at WallyWorld is more about advertising rather than actual sales of a $6k MTB..BUT an attempt at showing customers that not everything at walmart is $139 kids bikes, $15 shoes or $199 TVs...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Women-s-Blast-Athletic-Shoe/295630705?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=5780&adid=22222222222065228914&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=17603694463&wl4=pla-1105759542412&wl12=295630705_10000006006&wl14=high%20end%20shoes%20at%20walmart&veh=sem&msclkid=70169c9a877b13ecda03c0377dcb8d21

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SAMSUNG-75-Class-4K-2160P-Ultra-HD-Smart-LED-HDR-TV-UN75NU6900/602316951

I agree

The Walton boys see "bikes" and Walmart/Bentonville in a big picture way.

I'm cool with that.

[redir]

I've not stepped inside a Wal Mart in years. Don't plan to any time soon. Seems like everything I've ever bought there broke.

[Dude]

It's not about the $6k bike, it's about the $2500 bike that is now available in all of those towns that requires a 30min drive to the nearest bike shop.

It's about taking someone who loves their basic $600 bike from wal-mart and giving them a better bike.

It's also not about the people on this website. We are not their market. They probably don't even care about the "bike industry." It is a small blip on their radar.

[Lanternrouge]

Just as long as Walmart bike assemblers aren't involved.

They are not.

[yinzerniner]

The article states that they will offering a carbon road and gravel bike series too.

Surprised no one's linked to the CT article about this:
https://cyclingtips.com/2019/04/jra-with-the-angry-asian-viathon/

The road and gravel builds are extremely competitively priced and the price seems to align with "pay retail for the groupset and kit, but get the frameset for free." This is kind of similar to the pricing style of Ribble and Decathlon over in Europe with their house-brand bikes, so the Waltons might see a viable strategy worth copying before the others get regulatory approval to sell stateside.

If it has a no-questions asked return policy I don't see any reason not to try them out. $3600 for a Ultegra 8000 road bike with Knight Composites wheels, or a Force 1x Gravel bike with Hed Ardennes wheels is tempting.
https://www.viathonbicycles.com/

[sitzmark]

Will be an interesting marketing experiment to watch.

While the "typical" Walmart customer is not high-net-worth or high-income, there is no lack of spend within the Walmart demographic on outdoor recreation - not necessarily at Walmart, but in total. Many Walmart shoppers that I know are value shoppers for "commodities" and basics, but also have yards full of high-dollar (usually motorized) vehicles and equipment - fishing boats, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmachines, etc.. Product acceptance in the demographic is often very socially connected and word-of-mouth driven, products that tap the lifestyle component the right way become a must-have in every household. Not that that is any different than any other demographic, but the Walmart demographic is huge and even a modest portion of it generates large unit sales.

To the extent that off-road and mtn biking gain acceptance within the demographic as rugged, challenging outdoor recreation, I don't doubt even the $6,000 bikes will sell through. Changing the value proposition for large-cash recreational spend from motor-powered to human-powered is my guess for where the test will be to divert dollars into Walmart rather than Outdoor World, Cabella's, or motorsports dealers.

Walmart's success with these bikes would open the door to doing the same with other product segments as well. Serving a different target market, REI just had its best year ever - sales volume and 1 million new memberships. BRAIN reported a very disturbing downward trend for the first qtr YoY as it relates to $ and units for cycling at the wholesale level, which may be a fluke or a canary for things to come in the LBS space.

[Heisenberg]

i, for one, am entertained that folks who once drove the tip of the spear when it came to premium cycling are now doing the same with accessibility.

kudos.

[cderalow]

I've not stepped inside a Wal Mart in years. Don't plan to any time soon. Seems like everything I've ever bought there broke.

I only tend to find myself in walmart when there's no other options, and always while travelling.

I don't actually know where the nearest walmart to my house is, but I can tell you where all three of the nearest Target stores are.

Even Target, my trips are limited to about once a month, and normally for something like canned seltzers or some pantry item that's more expensive at the grocery store or on amazon.

[buddybikes]

What's next - Amazon branded bikes...

New bike shops will be build shops, similar to buying car rack or amazon for tires and pay 60.00 for mounting.

Could be a decent business model.

Wonder how Walmart will handle warranty issues which on a bike can be wild.

[cal_len1]

It feels like it's worth noting based on the comments here, these bikes are direct to customer from online only. I've not found an article that states they will be sold in Walmart stores (feel free to prove me wrong), only online. The Walmart connection is that some Walmart heirs own the brand, it has nothing else to do with the store.

[Keith A]

It feels like it's worth noting based on the comments here, these bikes are direct to customer from online only. I've not found an article that states they will be sold in Walmart stores (feel free to prove me wrong), only online. The Walmart connection is that some Walmart heirs own the brand, it has nothing else to do with the store.I wondered the same about this being online only.

[LegendRider]

I've been considering a relatively low-end gravel bike. This seems nice for the money:
https://www.viathonbicycles.com/products/g1-105/?variant=19968933298289

If you had a $2,300 +/- budget what would you get?

[sitzmark]

It feels like it's worth noting based on the comments here, these bikes are direct to customer from online only. I've not found an article that states they will be sold in Walmart stores (feel free to prove me wrong), only online. The Walmart connection is that some Walmart heirs own the brand, it has nothing else to do with the store.

Not in store - online only. Reported that Viathon bikes will be available through "marketplace" option on Walmart.com. D2C delivery. There are other "marketplace" products online that are "sold and shipped by" an affiliated 3rd party.

[nmrt]

it must be only me since no one else has mentioned it.
but viathon sounds like the name of a prescription drug.
like a guy on VIAgra running a maraTHON. :eek:

[yinzerniner]

it must be only me since no one else has mentioned it.
but viathon sounds like the name of a prescription drug.
like a guy on VIAgra running a maraTHON. :eek:

So by that thinking every mention of those three letters reminds you of the little blue pill? Viacom, Stevia, the ancient Via Appia, Trivial Pursuit, on and on?

Someones got a singular focus on the :banana:

[Jaybee]

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/procaliber/procaliber-9-8-sl/p/23166/?colorCode=orangevisibility_black

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/epic-hardtail-pro/p/154338?color=237766-154338

FWIW, the price point on the Viathon bikes is really solid. You'll pay significantly more for a similarly spec'd XC race hardtail from a known big brand. e.g. the "same" spec (XX1, carbon wheels, top shelf SID) Epic HT is $8500.

The point of "who is the market for a full-out racer boy hardtail" and will these people look at walmart is valid.

FWIW, the geo on a medium Viathon M.1 and the 17.5" Procaliber is almost identical. The ProCal frame weighs 200g less, which is pretty important to the lycra-on-dirt crowd.

[zetroc]

Walmart treats their employees so horribly that they will never, ever get a dime from me. Nor will Rapha, even though I enjoyed their cafe in SF and the clothing that I bought there. They won't get my kudos either.

[dddd]

Rewind two years, and while recovering from a debilitating "geriatric" skeletal affliction I decided to have a go with my first 27.5" MTB.
Fatter tires would help me get my trail-riding confidence back I thought.

After first buying a steel 27.5" Mongoose at Kmart (and of course upgrading most of the faulty components), I found a much nicer aluminum Huffy 27.5" clearance-priced on the Walmart site several months later for just $179.

As with the Mongoose, at least half of the components went bye-bye within just a few months, but the bike really did seem better than anything that Walmart actually sold in their stores. I still have it, and it's proven reliable by now.

Not sure I would buy an expensive bike from them though, my bike came into the store to be picked up with it's rear derailer sticking out of a hole in the box!

https://live.staticflickr.com/5622/30977693802_dd5a7b8c0b_b.jpg

[peanutgallery]

For that kinda cash you can get a heckuva stumpjumper

More bike than you'll ever need

It seems like a lot for a hardtail. For $6K you can get a really good new or amazing used full suspension bike.

Unless I read it wrong these are only hard tails. Good on Walmart for doing more with cycling and I don't begrudge the company as a teacher I get most of my supplies there as a result of cost.

Still $6k for a hardtail...man that one is a hard pill to swallow.

[Mikej]

For that kinda cash you can get a heckuva stumpjumper

More bike than you'll ever need

What’s the cheapest spesh with xx1 Eagle?

[Jaybee]

What’s the cheapest spesh with xx1 Eagle?

I think it’s the $8500 S-works Epic HT. That does get you a Brain fork and a 300g lighter frame than the Viathon, but if you absolutely have to have XX1 and get into it as cheaply as possible, $6k is probably competitive.

I think peanutgallery’s point though (which I agree with, btw) is that most people with $6k to spend on a MTB would be better served by something like the new Stumpy. At that price you are getting a top line Pike, 150 front and rear travel, GX Eagle, pretty nice alloy wheels and clearance for huge tires. It pedals well enough that anyone short of competitive XC racers would be happy and keeps up in the downhill well enough that anyone short of the every weekend Enduro crowd won’t be left wanting.

The Viathon is a really well specd XC hardtail for the price, but I wouldn’t put most of my friends on an XC hardtail.

[peanutgallery]

If you have to ask, it's probably not the kit for you:)

I had one once, promptly smashed it into a rock and replaced it with a GX. Could not tell a difference. That one is still working great

What’s the cheapest spesh with xx1 Eagle?

[oldpotatoe]

Walmart treats their employees so horribly that they will never, ever get a dime from me. Nor will Rapha, even though I enjoyed their cafe in SF and the clothing that I bought there. They won't get my kudos either.

Which 'big box' store do you frequent?

Target?

https://target.pissedconsumer.com/they-way-target-treats-their-employees-is-worse-you-think-walmart-treats-their-employess-bad-tryt-20080423118746.html

http://listverse.com/2015/08/24/10-companies-that-treat-their-employees-even-worse-than-amazon/

You can shop where ever you wish and I'm not a Walmart fan boy but this type of social media driven stuff 'may' not be as accurate as it 'appears', often..:)

[zetroc]

Mr. Chisholm,

No, I don't shop at Target either.

It's impossible to police the entirety of one's consumer choices. It is, however, possible to make the decisions here and there about where one spends one's money, and nobody is required to be accountable to people on the internet about it.

Have a good day.

Steve

[Lanternrouge]

For what it's worth, Viathon is itself separate from Wal-Mart notwithstanding Wal-Mart owners being involved and the business relationship between the two companies. As others have already noted, the people on this board are not the targeted audience for these bikes. From a business perspective, way more money is made by selling through big box stores than LBSs.

For the bargain hunters out there, just imagine the price for which you might get one of these from someone who buys it, barely uses it, then decides to sell.

[vincenz]

If comparing retail prices, sure it’s better value than big brands, but I’d rather wait for big brands to have end of season sales if I’m going to be paying 6k for a bike.

Either that or source the parts separately new and be patient with getting a nice frame on sale as well.

Carbon is all made in the same place anyway, so might as well get the brand recognition also if you’re going to pay those prices.

[oldpotatoe]

Mr. Chisholm,

No, I don't shop at Target either.

It's impossible to police the entirety of one's consumer choices. It is, however, possible to make the decisions here and there about where one spends one's money, and nobody is required to be accountable to people on the internet about it.

Have a good day.

Steve

No doubt but many companies are not the best to their employees..Walmart(again, not a wallyworld fanboy) just seems like a convenient target is all, Nike too(a lot of that is interweb baloney).

Accountable to ME? You must be joking..nobody on this or any other interweb anything is accountable to me or anybody else. Sorry you took it personally.
You shop where YOU wish or wish NOT to...please continue.

[asindc]

I’ll pass.

[Buckeye]

What's next - Amazon branded bikes...



This is a bit of a dumpster dive but this thread came up in a search on Decathlon bikes/sporting goods.

Amazon branded bikes might not be too much of a stretch. My niece uses one of those Peloton stationaries and the other day I had heard that Amazon was selling a competitor to that for a lot less money. Evidently that is not the case as the company Echelon is selling a "Peloton-like" competitor for $499 and has named it a "Prime Bike." The name understandably caused some people to believe that the product was coming from Amazon. Amazon has purportedly told Echelon to quit using the name "Prime."

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/peloton-pton-amazon-amzn-debunks-prime-bike-offering

[retropean]

This is a bit of a dumpster dive but this thread came up in a search on Decathlon bikes/sporting goods.

Amazon branded bikes might not be too much of a stretch. My niece uses one of those Peloton stationaries and the other day I had heard that Amazon was selling a competitor to that for a lot less money. Evidently that is not the case as the company Echelon is selling a "Peloton-like" competitor for $499 and has named it a "Prime Bike." The name understandably caused some people to believe that the product was coming from Amazon. Amazon has purportedly told Echelon to quit using the name "Prime."

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/peloton-pton-amazon-amzn-debunks-prime-bike-offering

Actually even worse, apparently in the original press release they claimed it was developed "in collaboration with Amazon."

https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/23/21452145/amazon-prime-bike-500-disavow-echelon-fitness-peleton-competitor

Maybe... in that its a collaboration that Amazon will sell the bike on their website... :confused:

[benb]

Walmart is such a common target.

I don't have a Walmart anywhere convenient enough to go there on a regular basis. Nearest one is maybe 10 miles away, but it's a small Walmart, not a normal one, and it is nearly an hour away depending traffic.. it just happens to be along a very nasty traffic route from my house.

But when I go in a Walmart I never fail to notice that for whatever bad reputation for selling inexpensive/cheap stuff to people who don't have a lot of money there is one truth.

They run their business really well.

I am mostly in there when traveling and we're looking for groceries.

IMO there are 3 places I see for groceries that are well run:
- Whole Foods/Amazon - high prices, high quality, store is well run, lots of employees, short lines
- Wegmans - medium prices, high quality, store is well run, lots of employees, short lines
- Walmart - cheapest prices, medium quality, store is well run, lots of employees, short lines

Then you've go the whole rest of the market:
- High prices, medium quality, store is not well run, long lines, very few employees

So you've got the well run businesses able to have more employees on the floor and deliver medium to high quality with good customer service & short lines verse the poorly run companies that seem to be unable to put employees on the floor and yet have high prices.

Walmart knows what they're doing.. we like to hold bikes up as beautiful butterflies but 99% of bikes are just another consumer product outsourced to Asia. Walmart is the undisputed heavy weight champ of outsourcing stuff to Asia.

The only difference between a Specialized and Walmart in this game if Walmart gets in would be what price point they ask the Asian supplier to build to and whether Walmart would want to drop a zillion bucks on marketing like BigBikeCo does.

[Zackus]

Looks like the Viathon project might not have worked out. Website has gone down.

Perhaps they're re-building, but that seems unlikely. It's strange to me though. They could not have had a hungrier bike market the past year, and they did offer great value, they got decent reviews, and they were being sold through the world's largest company.

So what went wrong?

Disconnect from their target market?

[Clean39T]

Looks like the Viathon project might not have worked out. Website has gone down.

Perhaps they're re-building, but that seems unlikely. It's strange to me though. They could not have had a hungrier bike market the past year, and they did offer great value, they got decent reviews, and they were being sold through the world's largest company.

So what went wrong?

Disconnect from their target market?

They blew them out at Walmart on BF. Maybe couldn't get a second run together due to Covid. Who knows.

[Zackus]

They blew them out at Walmart on BF. Maybe couldn't get a second run together due to Covid. Who knows.

I saw some of those deals. The G.1 Rival was a pretty great deal. Approaching just the cost of the components, get a free frame and assembled bike for free!

I honestly thought there was room to improve on branding. Clearly that was one of the areas where costs were cut.

[ORMojo]

Looks like it is just supply issues. From FB:

1698014961

1698014962

[prototoast]

It's not surprising they're having supply chain struggles. It's a little surprising they were offering such great black friday sales when they knew they weren't going to have inventory. But I guess the luxury of being a Walton is you've always got something else to sell.

[ridethecliche]

Their gravel bike was very well received

[ORMojo]

Their gravel bike was very well received

Yes, it was. There are still 2 size 58 framesets available (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Viathon-G-1-Carbon-Gravel-Bike-Frame-58cm/596349229) at the $699 shipped price.

[ORMojo]

It's a little surprising they were offering such great black friday sales when they knew they weren't going to have inventory.

Lots of Black Friday/Cyber Monday items are for sale in limited quantities, supply issue or not. Drives bodies to store, eyes to web site.

[Hilltopperny]

I thought the sales were too good to pass up. I ended up picking up one of the R1 framesets and am going to build it up as a budget friendly go fast road bike.
It may see some Winter road miles if we do not end up with large amounts of snow this year.

[yinzerniner]

I thought the sales were too good to pass up. I ended up picking up one of the R1 framesets and am going to build it up as a budget friendly go fast road bike.
It may see some Winter road miles if we do not end up with large amounts of snow this year.

I ended up getting one of the G1 framesets for my brother's christmas gift, and in the process of building it up as well. $699 for a 1040g frame and 395g fork (actual weights) with a warranty is pretty darn spiffy if you ask me.

He hasn't ridden in a LONG time, so the idea is to get it built with some stuff I have lying around for use on a trainer or very close and safe rides, but with the larger tire clearance and fat rubber he can be off the busy roads if he wants.

[Coffee Rider]

I ended up getting one of the G1 framesets for my brother's christmas gift, and in the process of building it up as well. $699 for a 1040g frame and 395g fork (actual weights) with a warranty is pretty darn spiffy if you ask me.

He hasn't ridden in a LONG time, so the idea is to get it built with some stuff I have lying around for use on a trainer or very close and safe rides, but with the larger tire clearance and fat rubber he can be off the busy roads if he wants.

They are relatively nice bikes on their own merits, but have not been marketed well and the known affiliation with Wally World does not help. They are not marketed to bike snobs such as myself.

[Crotchrocket]

Dang, that’s no huffy !!

[redir]

I would not have guessed that this would do well becasue who would buy a high end bike at Wal Mart over a good bike shop? I could be wrong.

One of the Waltons BTW was a pretty darn good amateur bike racer back in the day. I think he may have won the Arkansas state TT one year.

[KJMUNC]

Walmart is the undisputed heavy weight champ of outsourcing stuff to Asia.



I'd actually argue that Walmart doesn't care WHERE it comes from....they're the undisputed king of leveraging their size to tell their suppliers the price they're going to pay and how many they're going to sell (not buy). They don't care if you source from Asia or Indiana....just as long as you meet their price and volume demands. Just so happens that the easy route for most is Asian-sourcing.

One of the Waltons BTW was a pretty darn good amateur bike racer back in the day. I think he may have won the Arkansas state TT one year.

Well they've also created Bentonville as a major MTB'ing destination, so they definitely have strong ties to the cycling community.