Westin Itasca Wedding, Salt Lake Tribune Obituaries For The Last 2 Weeks, Articles W

I have noted that we are not the only ones saying this, for what it is worth. The impetus for Viathon didnt come from Tom and Steuart Walton, avid riders, Walmart heirs responsible for the trail network in Bentonville, Ark., and investors in Rapha and Allied Cycle Works. They want tech, they want new features, they want new stuff. First, this hardtail gets more than just the usual 100mm-travel fork. Since 1994 these are the words that continue to resonate within us. Muley Freaks Erik Van Woerkom Charged With Felony Possession of Trophy Mule Deer, Get Up to 60% Off at REIs End of Season Clearance Sale, The Biggest Improvement to My Camp Kitchen Is a Mini Pizza Oven (But Not for Pizza), VanDOit Moov Builds on Adventure-Ready Ford Transit Trail, Avalanche Outside British Columbia Resort Buries 10, Kills 3 Heli-Skiers. You could get a 450 for the same as a well optioned V10. @roma258: It's not. Don't need. In fact, the only example I can think of where a large outside brand has achieved even modest success is Dorel Industries, with its serial purchases of Pacific, Cannondale, Schwinn, GT and related brands. 1600 is still not going to mitigate the way this bike rides, and that is maybe something some folks wouldnt be willing to compromise on at any price. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmarts current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiastbusiness. I read an article that estimates the bikes the top pro supercross riders use would cost somewhere in the range 100k-200k. Our Fezzari Bicycle experts are here to help you find the perfect bike. The Waltons own Moosejaw. And Kawasaki employs a lot more people in R and D and production than a typical bike company, thats my guess. Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. Sure, some R and D for that motorcycle has come from up and down the lineup, but the same can be said for the bike companies. unless you can pay for it with your grocery bonuses / tickets that accumulated over a year after you forgot the card on your neighbors house after playing some domino. The Viathon website has more specs: https://www.viathonbicycles.com/products/road-bike-r1-105. Crickets. What is this, a bicycle for ants?? @MDZ Thanks for checking out Riding Gravel and for that feedback. Wal-Mart shoppers are not going to spend 3-5 k for a bike! Certainly Viathon's not to that point yet, but time will tell. But once you lend them a bike and let them tear it up, they are all-in, 99% of the time pending an injury. And then you have a full Dura disc model for 5G. By James Smurthwaite Picked up a fishing pole and Razor scooter for my kid there recently. Shop our Buy Direct collection for a new ride they'll love! They are direct to consumer from the website, just like Canyon. All rights reserved, an opinion column about Viathon's unique formation, Workers at REI Cleveland store vote to join union, Hi-Torque closes Road Bike Action and Electric Bike Action magazines, Top Executives Tackling Biggest Bike Industry Challenges at the 2023 Bicycle Leadership Conference, Suplest shoes now available in North America through Blacksmith Cycle, NY City Council passes lithium-ion battery safety package. as an example they probably make 100-1000-10000 more of the same model moto as they would for the mtb. what happened to viathon bikes This line of thinking reflects a massive gap In understanding about top line Mtb (for example s-works) and the stock YZ250. @Greg B We did not experience that issue, but as you say, the clearances are minimal, and that is not an uncommon issue with many combinations of calipers/wheels. 2G for 105, 1.5G for a frame. By building via consultants and going straight to the consumer without any immediate plans to be available in Walmart stores enabled Spinhirne-Martin to get the brand up and running quickly. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. When I worked for Fly racing in sales it was a tough barrier going from Moto shops to bicycle. So take the roads less traveled, or the ones that don't even show up on the . So they're definitely taking a loss on these.. 12-speed, electronic shifting, handlebar diameter changes, four piston brakes, blah blah don't need. A Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem tamed the harsh vibrations coming from the Viathons beefy carbon fork. I will also say again that for the extra money, a RedShift ShockStop stem cures that front end issue. But don't count the traditional players out yet, on either the supply or retail ends of the supply chain. That wont set it apart in a highly competitive market or bring high-end tech to a new market of people. Still others are simply doing their best to sort through the marketing-speak to make a performance-to-value calculation on the best tool to get on the roador into the woods. Who am I kidding. Seems like an easy decision there. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. Bikes. But there aren't enough spec details to tell what we're looking at. By running razor thin margins at insane volumes. I dont think people in the market for $2000-5000 bikes would even think to buy at Walmart let alone shoulder the stigma of owning a bike bought at Walmart, right or wrong as that is. 1. Oh that bike would make a good gift for my grandchild, so he stops playing mine craft and go outside a bit. Damn. At the end of the day, we bike people live and work in a quirky, parochial and, more than occasionally, incestuous little industry, one with its own set of business realities. Who makes Viathon frames? Of course, you can always install a nice, compliant carbon post. The GX spec would be tempting if the geometry and looks weren't reminiscent of my 2009 Stumpy hardtail. Not just kooks either. There are no whiz-bang spangles for instance, the MTB is a vanilla hardtail. They travel by private jet, stay in luxury hotelshave huge parties And never tip anybody anything EVER. I wanted to make bikes that I would want to ride, says Spinhirne-Martin. Now, if Viathon frames were suddenly produced in the USA my American hands, with progressive geometry and class leading weights, that might be a different story - but a Taiwanese sourced frame that is pretty much identical to a Hong Fu or Workswell or whatever isn't really a selling point, especially when it costs a few grand. Except none of that happened. Its a one-man Canyon, with Spinhirne-Martin sitting at his computer in San Bruno, California, bolting on expertise when he needs it. Viathon is a new direct-to-consumer bike brand owned by Walmart that launched this week with a line of carbon bikes that sell between $2,300 and $6,000. I'd be interested in something like this (depending on where I lived) but it would likely be a third or more mountain bike for me and that seems unlikely. dont think people in the market for $2000-5000 bikes would even think to buy at Walmart let alone shoulder the stigma of owning a bike bought at Walmart. The SRAM components and Zipp cockpit pieces are quality bits that should last the rider quite some time. If nothing else, we've been surviving in this business for decades and we know the "easiest way to make a small fortune" in it a lesson which even the best-heeled outsiders have yet to learn. I'd love to buy a rigid carbon 29er single speed for about $1300 Viathon. As technical editor Dan Cavallari pointed out in our sister publication VeloNews, "Viathon ticks almost all the high-end boxes for a bike with a lower pricepoint. Bayside Women's Cruiser Bike, Rose Gold 1385 Pickup 2-day shipping Best seller $648.00 Hyper Bicycles Electric Bicycle Pedal Assist Mountain, 26 In. We could ship anywhere but Im concerned about customer service, because I dont have distributor partners globally. First they took our jerbs, and they're taking our guns! @alex There are better bikes in regard to front end compliance than the Viathon. So far, Viathon isnt saying much about what makes its bikes different, nor is it telling much of a brand story. Wed like to see fork mounts for extra water bottles, for instance. It just so happened that I have one of these stems to spare so that Andy T could check it out on the Viathon G1 to see if that might tame the harshness of the massive carbon front fork. Little info you may want to know about the Waltons. And the company currently sells more bicycles in the United States than any other retailer. Huh, no one wanted to buy a $6k hardtail that has no track record? The simple answer is: because it can. As a straight-up road bike, wed have no issues with the Viathon G1. Right? On its own, Viathon strikes me as a modestly interesting enthusiast brand with some solid, value-oriented bikes that feature industry-standard design and technology. We tested ways to dial out that feeling, like installing a ShockStop stem, and even to the point of using ridiculously low tire pressures, but as is, this bike is on the harsh side. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. In road bikes, the R.1 comes as a frameset ($2,000), as well as in three complete bike options, all with Shimano groupsets - 105 ($2,300), Ultegra ($3,575) and Dura-Ace ($5,850), each equipped with disc brakes. WhatsApp. Right. The rolex is just a bunch of metal gears and springs where the casio has a better computer in it than what got us to the moon! I know you're talking frame only, but at least this one ships with tires that actually fit the frame (unlike the DV9, which has known problem with tire rub on the tires it ships with). I might consider buying it for the components. What's the point? Giant Stance, pretty close to fitting this bill at 2k! Shop all Genesis Bikes with sizes ranging from 18" to 700c, in kids and adults sizes. The bikes will be available to order within weeks. The frames are customized for REI's product line and highly durable. That bit of information, incidentally, is not something youll find on Viathons website. Get Free Shipping Storewide ViathonBicycles.com w/ Coupon (Activate). here is a whole range of styles with bikes for children all the way up through adults. Its not the frames: they arent open-mould no-names, all three shapes were CAD designed by the legendary Kevin Quan Studios of Toronto, Canada. Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. Viathon is a standalone direct-to-consumer brand that, by rights, shouldnt exist. Walmart already has impeccable high-end bicycle connections. Im sure you can find wheels that wouldnt clear, depending upon hub design, and wheels that would be just fine. Viathon's goals seem to be crystal clear with the R.1: Build a race-ready road bike for a high-end audience without the high-end price tag. Unless they are basically making no money on the bikes, I find it hard to see how they could undercut their competition, especially considering the frames themselves don't really often anything out of the ordinary. I'm guessing this is Plan B to get the bike seen by more people Will it actually be in the store or order online with instore pickup or delivery? The bike arrives 98 percent pre-assembled the customer has to tighten on pedals, install the front wheel, and attach the front face plate over the handlebar. Although from a bike industry perspective, the geometry is a few years outdated even for a hardtail. This may have been mentioned already but Im not gonna read everything. @jason-99: If a home mechanic rounds off the flats on a nut, because they used a Wal-Mart adjustable, is that the fault of the tool or the mechanic? So how much cheaper are these complete builds? Your email address will not be published. Again- something we cannot make a call on. For less. We have incredible traffic on our site. Walmart is also the largest grocer in America and possibly the world. A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. It is being released alongside a carbon road bike, the R.1, and a carbon gravel bike named, you guessed it - the G.1. Now on to the final word on this carbon fiber crushed rock roller. Yea 10k is a lot for a bike, but its also top tier in the Mtb world. Brilliant, someone commenting who clearly has no idea how much it costs to actually make a bike. But the move that really set the cat among the industry pigeons was the Viathon sales strategy, which at least strongly hinted at distribution via Walmart.com. Andy T fitted the ShockStop stem and immediately felt the benefits. I'm cheering for you walmart!!! Ive already gotten questions for people internationally. The impetus for the brand was therefore personal, not corporate. Browse. Arkansas is also hosting several UCI events in the next few years including cyclocross WORLDS. Go to the shop Go to the shop. It's very hard to make it and also find decent paying work. Its almost impossible for Walmart to develop premium offerings with the Walmart name, which is synonymous with keen pricing and out-of-favour out-of-town malls. Nowadays, a search for Viathon bikes on the Walmart website (see here, here and here) returns a notice that the item is no longer available; the image from the final link (also shown above) displays another brand and model entirely. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. The load is transmitted through four large bearings and a large 19mm chunk of steel. Certainly, there are many Walmart shoppers among us, though likely few who have bought a bike there. not bad at all. Someone posted an Outside magazine article above that details it. The Club will ride Viathon's newly released carbon G.1 gravel bike and send a group of five Elite riders to key events like the Belgian Waffle Ride and Dirty Kanza, two of the most challenging gravel races in the world. Love lower price bikes and bringing the MTB sport to more people.. It is aimed squarely at millennials and digital natives. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. The average person is a Walmart shopper, he says. Quan was with Cervelo from 2004 to 2008. Viathon equips the M.1 with two clever features that challenge the common definition of an elite cross-country bike. I would love to see good reviews on them, but KevCentral's just don't cut it for me for actual riding. However; on crushed rock and rough surfaces, the overly-stiff front fork can be a liability when it comes to rider comfort. Viathon is hitting the market with three model families. We wanted to create a non-intimidating platform, said Spinhirne-Martin. The Viathon M.1 is available in three complete build kit options, starting at $2,400 USD. REI Co-op bikes are worth a look for most cyclists. Thats a challenge. Re: Viathon G1 Rival being good (but not spectacular) value Was that determination based on list price ($2,498)? Viathon bikes are not yet available, but appear set to retail through a direct to consumer model, rather than stocked in Walmart stores. And while the bikes may be sold on Walmarts website at some point, theres no mention ofselling in stores, which would put the bikes in front of a broader audience. Look for Viathon bikes online at ViathonBicycles.com in mid-May, and soon after at Walmart.com. ruston city court hours; conventional tillage advantages and disadvantages; texas express lane payment; i can t pass the praxis core writing But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. There are no whiz-bang spangles for instance, the MTB is a vanilla hardtail. Writing in 2016, Dunn wrote: Digitally native vertical brands (DNVBs) are maniacally focused on the customer experience and they interact, transact, and story-tell to consumers primarily on the web., Dunn added: The DNVB is born on the internet. Walmart are best known for their $300-$500 bikes that. Unlike, say, the car industry, its relatively cheap to launch into the world of making bicycles, even bespoke framed ones. There is certainly a fair amount of seat post extension to work with there., explained Andy T. Hes right too. Turner Tech Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. https://bikepacking.com/routes/arkansas-high-country-route-northwest-loop/. Thats a call youll have to make. Spinhirne-Martin doesnt need to fret about shipping: he outsources that to industry veteran Richard Wittenberg of Lucidity-Podium Marketing, who has been involved with in-house logistics for brands such as Ridley, Cannondale and Factor. When everyones selling a $3,500-ish Shimano Ultegra disc-equipped carbon gravel bike with an oversize headtube, asymmetric rear triangle, and scads of tire clearance, its a little hard to stand apart from the crowdeven when there are real differences. By July, barely 90 days from its glitzy premiere, Viathon had announced via direct mail and on its website that it was dropping prices on all models by as much as $1,000 per bike, to as low as $1,998. Bike industry seems super healthy (at least outside looking in), coming from the moto world. "Of course, there was some backlash with the Walmart connection,'' said Mark Jordan, whose CrankTank marketing group staged the Viathon launch and was quoted in Yobbi's original article. Needs another $ 1,000 price drop still. Cue the cheap-crap jokes. Or is the front-end harshness that pronounced? Marketing has been slow-burn so far, rolling out a website and social media, getting journalists on the bikes at Sea Otter, and paying for GCNs Simon Richardson to ride the G1 from Outerbike in an advertorial video posted on 12th July and which has already had 34,000 views. There's this scales of economy thing you should look into: Compare top end to top end, yeah you can get a budget moto for less than an s works, but that is simply because motos prices increase at a much more exponential rate. The gravel scene is important for that. The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers like Fizik, Hed, and Zipp, and the pricing is competitive with a number of brands. All models are available exclusively at Walmart in-store and online. It's well documented in various media outlets. And that right there is the problem with any form of cycling, "my bike is better than yours" bullshit mantra. At first it was seemingly impressive for $2500. The company's launch includes three bikes: the G1, R1 and M1 for, aptly, gravel, road and mountain biking, respectively. Also if you make that thing for many years, it further amortizes the investment. The frame looks eerily similar to a China carbon frame I bought recently for $400 (frame and rigid fork). Wouldnt be caught dead buying one of their bikes but competition in any industry is a good thing. yup. $$$ Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company Privacy Policy Photos See all Videos See all 0:11 Since the news was announced last week, fans have been coming out and saying that this is what theyve been waiting for. The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers. But it is building out a platform not just with more and better bikes, but with video and editorial support. I mean, they still have to make the same deals with sram, rockshox, shimano etc. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. Lightweight carbon frames: Viathon bikes, including the Dura-Ace road bike, Ultegra model, R.1, and G.1 bikes, are crafted with durable, lightweight carbon frames to give you an edge over riders with heavier XC and mountain bikes. They are currently in a process of rebranding it because they realized it's forever associated in people's minds with entry level or even below entry-level (BSO) bikes. Doubt they are taking a loss, even at these prices. Savvy consumers may baulk at the Walmart connections not just because of the value connotations but also the corporates reputation for poor labour relations but nor is Viathon a bike brand for the decal-focussed. This is not meant to be in support or against Viathon or Walmart, but there's a few things people here are missing. He wants to grow the brand slowly but steadily. In effect, Viathon is a pop-up bike brand, and just as quickly as it has appeared it could just as easily disappear again, no skin off Walmarts very large nose. It turns out that Walmart bike buyers, as much as theyre dismissed or even ridiculed, include some passionate fans. Viathon is run as a digitally native vertical brand, a phrase coined by Andy Dunn, founder of US menswear brand Bonobos. Should brick-and-mortar or other online retailers worry? Bike MSRP vs. what people actually pay is a whole nother conversation. Viathon will benefit from the supply side muscle of Walmart, it may even one day be sold in Walmart stores, but it wont ever market itself as offering Walmart bikes., Australian MTB lifestyle brand Dharco has officially opened its European subsidiary, and has plans to, The BikeBiz jobs board helped filled over 740 positions in 2022, and listings are still, German custom bike brand Velo De Ville is due to launch in the UK and, Ribble Cycles has just announced a new collective of sponsored ridings, competing across various disciplines., Historic lock brand Squire has launched its first range of wearable security equipment for the, SRAM has released the latest development in its Force AXS groupset, including a new shifter. Tommaso Sentiero Gravel Bike, Shimano Claris Adventure Bike with Disc Brakes, Extra Wide Tires, Perfect for Road Or Dirt Trail Touring, Matte Black, Red Visit the Tommaso Store 60 ratings | 40 answered questions Price: $844.99 Color: Matte Black/Red Size: Select See more About this item But does it have enough soul and personality to compete with more established brands offering quality bikes at a similarly low price?". How is the Walmart frame wroth 4x an ebay frame? And the mountain-biking-mad Waltons have also upgraded the MTB trails close to Walmarts corporate HQ in Bentonville, Arkansas. It's not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. Viathon, like Bonobos, goes against the fundamental tenets on which Walmart was built. Or at least, hasn't happened yet. Its also important to note whats not in the current lineup: womens bikes, utility bikes, and e-bikes. Walmart is the largest retailer for bikes in America by a good margin. The issue with Walmart isn't how the founders choose to spend their billions, but the effect that Walmart has on local economies. bike Thanks to a dropped chainstay design, the G1 clearance for 700c x 40mm or 650b x 2.1" tires and a maximum chainring size of 50t, according to the viathonbicycles.com website, while walmart.com boasts 700c clearance up . The tires were Schwalbe Lugano which sell around $10 each. Browse our range of in stock and ready to ship road, gravel, mountain, hybrid and electric bikes. Not that Viathon is going mass-market anytime soon. Walmart Launches High-End 'Viathon' Bike Brand - Pinkbike. Returns only available to original purchaser. Did you have any issues with clearance between the spokes and rival caliper in the front? With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly.. Were not trying to undercut the industry; were offering our bike line at a solid price, not a ridiculously low price, said Spinhirne-Martin. And the bikes look good! It doesnt need to get younger customers. Every single mountain bike I owned is used, unlike a motorcycle they should not depreciate as much (mileage) because there are few moving parts..I currently ride an RM Altitude MSRP $6k + tax however I bought it used and paid less then the cheapest Viathon bike!!!