In effect, the brand is a sortie into a high-end scene, allowing Walmart to test the waters of a rarefied market. Love lower price bikes and bringing the MTB sport to more people.. Likewise, this doesn't mean that the UK will see high-end road and MTB bikes retailed from Walmart-owned Asda (not least because Walmart is off-loading Asda in a deal with Sainsbury's if the CMA allows it Maybe in this specialist market they've done a better job. I'm honestly surprised by how many people don't realize the Walton family is already waist deep in the cycling industry. I was recruited two and a half years ago to raise the game and show what Walmart can deliver in terms of bikes, Spinhirne-Martin tells me. And just like any other reality, outsiders ignore ours at their peril. Its also important to note whats not in the current lineup: womens bikes, utility bikes, and e-bikes. Note: Viathon sent over the Rival 1 G1 bicycle for test and review at no charge to Riding Gravel. Or did you have its sale / closeout pricing in mind ($1,599)? They have dumped millions into cycling in AK, even helping to fund the Arkansas High Country Route. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. Which raises the question who is the brand aiming to reach? WhatsApp. @I wonder how many ZX-6rs are produced and sold. Kudos to them, but that story stretches back some 15 years and is still far from over. Twitter. Could be interesting. But it is building out a platform not just with more and better bikes, but with video and editorial support. Climbing and racing bikes made of carbon are tough enough for tumbles and rough riding. 'Box-store bike' takes on a whole new meaning as Walmart launches Viathonn, a private high-end cycling brand. People talking about this being good for "the industry" have no idea what they're talking about. Discussion of everything bicycle related. The brand is starting with three models . Gwin was smoking everyone on a very close to stock YT tues high end build. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. Shop all Genesis Bikes with sizes ranging from 18" to 700c, in kids and adults sizes. 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. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. You do not get the benefit of having a face-to-face resource for things like minor adjustments, tune-ups, or advice, as you would in a bike shop experience, but maybe that doesnt matter to some of you? Moosejaw now sells cycling gear on their website and has a retail bike shop in Birmingham, MI. Viathon emerged as an interesting consumer-direct brand, under the ownership of Walmart. The road bike is 200 grams lighter than the gravel bike, with more aggressive geometry, 28c tires, and a stiffer frame. jim preston mchenry, il obituary. While you could swap to 650B wheels, and the bike can carry a front rack, there isnt a lot of versatility built in here beyond that. That bit of information, incidentally, is not something youll find on Viathons website. Wed like to see fork mounts for extra water bottles, for instance. tony dokoupil ex wife the bachelorette. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. My surfing friends friends and others who are "action sports oriented" are super hesitant to bike at first due to the cost of entry, fear of injury, etc. Oh that bike would make a good gift for my grandchild, so he stops playing mine craft and go outside a bit. If the demand for an entry level bike is there, then they can produce enough units to make it financially viable. Correct that 74 million. And failing. Brand manager Zack Spinhirne-Martin doesnt see it that way. But there aren't enough spec details to tell what we're looking at. In Europe there's this large French sports goods chain called Decathlon. Well, so much for that. Compare that to a top end World Cup dh bike at around 10-15k. Both are well-qualified bike industry veterans, but its not a riveting founder story like, for instance, that ofAllied. I can build proof of concept and then push over time into stores.. America's low price leader served up a single no-name (and possibly open-mold) model with full mechanical Ultegra group, complete with wheelset, at a very low price point. It's why car companies like BMW don't come out with a new 3-series every year, but more like every 7. I think it's time for a Field Test review on this bike to dispel or confirm all the controversy. They want tech, they want new features, they want new stuff. 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. Unfortunately, your shopping bag is empty. The point is, a Viathon purchase does not include some intangibles that are benefits of buying in a traditional model. Unlike, say, the car industry, its relatively cheap to launch into the world of making bicycles, even bespoke framed ones. Sold exclusively through Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles. Dont squint at the pix. So far, Viathon isnt saying much about what makes its bikes different, nor is it telling much of a brand story. No dropper on the GX spec? Thanks to its robust construction, coarse tyre tread, powerful brakes and . Since 1994 these are the words that continue to resonate within us. 29 plumtrees road newtown, ct; popular subdivision names; how to cite the implicit association test The value from Viathon is good- not a spectacular deal but decent. bicycle But does it have enough soul and personality to compete with more established brands offering quality bikes at a similarly low price?". The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. Spinhirne-Martin wouldnt reveal sales targets but, reading between the lines, he likely doesnt have to sell many for the brand to be considered a success. Thats a challenge. That wont set it apart in a highly competitive market or bring high-end tech to a new market of people. Viathon calls the full carbon frame optimized for light weight & efficient pedaling, claiming a frame weight of 870g a size 54 with all hardware. 3 for online traffic after Google and Amazon. Viathon is backed by the big box retailer but has teamed up with industry veterans that'd designed frames for brands like Cervelo and Pivot. 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. Viathon was his idea, springing from his background as a former pro rider, a one-time USA Cycling team mechanic and latterly a web commerce geek with Backcountry.com and before that Competitivecyclist.com. Could always ride it and return it! Bikes are getting more expensive because more expensive bikes and bike parts are selling better than cheaper bikes and bike parts. Of course, you can always install a nice, compliant carbon post. 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. Maybe. At least they dont come with pegs. 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 What is this, a bicycle for ants?? It's not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. Who makes Viathon frames? Bike shops could benefit from more riders on more bikes. Whole Foods sells the Yeti decals to place over 'Viathon'. Pleased to see this. We got bills to pay and we work our asses off for you ya jergoffs. Um that copper color scheme on the pre-order bikes is also quite loveleh. It'll take ONE major company (looking at you. https://bikepacking.com/routes/arkansas-high-country-route-northwest-loop/. 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. The issue with Walmart isn't how the founders choose to spend their billions, but the effect that Walmart has on local economies. Schedule a free call. Not sure where you were getting the 2400 price tag before price drop because I seen reviews months ago and 1900 was the price then not 2400. Oct 2, 2019 by James Smurthwaite Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. If they somehow get interested in riding they will take what Wmart has to offer, and if they have a lot of money and want the "best", Wmart is now there for them. For now, no. The difference is being wholly owned by US hypermarket chain Walmart. He proposed a private-label project, and hes bringing it to fruition. The bikes are clean and simple, classy but without any fanfare. Someone in the Walmart family must be a mtb enthusiast as they also fund the Bentonville Arkansas trails which I believe is where their HQ is located. All models are available exclusively at Walmart in-store and online. However; on crushed rock and rough surfaces, the overly-stiff front fork can be a liability when it comes to rider comfort. Wouldnt be caught dead buying one of their bikes but competition in any industry is a good thing. Dont squint at the pix, the forks face the right way. Lots of things coming from different directions can sometimes become out of whack enough to cause a problem. The bike thats getting the most attention is Viathons new hardtail mountain bike, though Walmart is also launching with road and gravel options. 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. It is aimed squarely at millennials and digital natives. Whether this will serve as a "halo product" to introduce more affordable (or approachable) mountain bikes from the brand in the future is yet to be seen. Pinterest. according to industry analyst Jay Townley. How long do Walmart bikes last? I'd love to buy a rigid carbon 29er single speed for about $1300 Viathon. Who am I kidding. 3G for Ultegra, double the 105 model. One could even go as far as to install Redshifts own ShockStop Seat Post for the ultimate smoothness out back. The G.1, one of 3 models launched by Viathon, is a modern gravel bike with a 1,010g claimed 54cm frame weight with hardware. 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. Plus, Viathons graphics are a little bland, in my opinion, the pricing isnt so aggressive that its clearly better than bikes from established brands like Canyon or Giant (or Remot, for that matter), and the product marketing so far feels spare to the point that its pro forma. Thats a call youll have to make. Walmart already has impeccable high-end bicycle connections. Bike industry seems super healthy (at least outside looking in), coming from the moto world. Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. Will these bikes be sold in a box and assembled by the owner? Bikes come equipped with well-recognized components such as SRAM, Zipp, and Stans' No Tubes, on a good/better/best three-point pricing structure, with all models starting below $2500. 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. Bike is not returnable if damaged or not fit for continued use (Please see Warranty and Crash Replacement policy) ", i wouldnt buy the mountain bike but their gravel offering is interesting for sure at 3k. The Boundary has the geometry of a road bike with the heart and handling of a trail bike so you can rumble confidently across all kinds of mixed terrain and races. Or assembled in store by Walmart employees???? No mention of any real pertinent specs that you'd expect when buying a bike. RZC Investments, founded by Tom and Steuart Walton, grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton, owns Rapha and part-owns Allied Cycle Works, a high-end bike manufacturer based in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a straight-up road bike, wed have no issues with the Viathon G1. For the hardtail mountain bike, thats a $2,000 frame, $2,400 GX Eagle build, $3,500 X01 build (which comes without a dropper), or a $6,000 XX1 option. The brand is starting with three models: the R1 road bike, the G1 gravel bike, and the M1 hardtail mountain bike. Im sure you can find wheels that wouldnt clear, depending upon hub design, and wheels that would be just fine. Considering the Walmart shopper and what bike theyre on now, the answer is probably yes. But Quan is the only person mentioned in a team of top bicycle industry veterans with decades of collective experience. The only other real face behind Viathon is brand manager Zach Spinhirne-Martin, who spent nine years with the online retailer Competitive Cyclist before joining Walmart as its bike category manager. The Viathon website has more specs: https://www.viathonbicycles.com/products/road-bike-r1-105. Like was stated, much of the pricing for this sport is utterly absurd. A Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem tamed the harsh vibrations coming from the Viathons beefy carbon fork. Two many folks here getting a bit specific. It does all those things a really good racing bike should do. Im guessing thatwithout the connection to the largest retailer in the world, Viathon wouldnt be getting nearly this level of attention. This is not meant to be in support or against Viathon or Walmart, but there's a few things people here are missing. Hopefully they turn over some % of these bikes into more trail advocacy. Cue the cheap-crap jokes. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. @MDZ Thanks for checking out Riding Gravel and for that feedback. For instance, TRP Sprye calipers are known for having a part in this issue with many other combinations due to the wider caliper designed to accommodate the dual moving pistons on that design. viAtHOntM is a systemic product. @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? We tested the brand's top-end M.1 Mountain Bike for 6 weeks to gain an. Having 29 wheels means that you need less fork travel, leading to a reduction of the pedal bob effect. Refunds can only be issued to your original payment method. yup. The writer, Sarah Moore, found the connection when looking up the trademark on the name, which isregistered to Walmart. i gave it a spin. But once you lend them a bike and let them tear it up, they are all-in, 99% of the time pending an injury. Don't need. Arkansas is also hosting several UCI events in the next few years including cyclocross WORLDS. So take the roads less traveled, or the ones that don't even show up on the . The bikes look pretty good on paper, and the price points are very slim for what you get. . 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 tire clearances are a bit on the restrictive side as well. Never blame a person, blame a tool, people are never to blame only the tools they choose to use. Department-store bikes look a lot better than they used to. Walmart isnt currently targeting the kind of customer who wants the latest carbon layup or the greatest new geometry, nor is it targeting customers who self-identify as cyclists. houses for sale hervey bay $250,000 to; gwinnett county gun show 2021; eagle point elementary school staff; super shuttle sanford airport ''', And indeed they were. 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. They were puzzled by it, because the market for a pure XC race bike is pretty small compared to more general modern geometry hardtails that are built for "fun.". For the last update and a link to the introductions, Click Here. 0. khao lak, thailand tsunami 2004. The wheels were Shimano RS100 or whatever is the wheelset that sells for about $100. ummm.I regularly pass the bikes in walmart on my way to the sporting goods section to buy fishing/hunting stuff and I don't know of these $500 walmart bikes you speak of$250 is about the top price going unless yall have some gucci walmarts wherever this story was based? 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. I built the brand without them knowing about it at all, reveals Spinhirne-Martin. Its not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. And cost of owenership for the V10 is probably about the same as for a 450. The brand is starting with three models: the R1 road bike, the G1 gravel bike, and the M1 29er MTB. At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. I'd like to know how it rides, how well it's assembled, quality of the frame, etc. not bad at all. Of course they will be. To be honest they have decent bikes (they sold an aluminum frame/carbon fork road bike with Ultegra Di2 and disc brakes for about EUR 1800, which is/was unique in the industry I believe) but, take this as you may, I only buy products from this line (clothing mostly) which don't feature large logos. "With Walmart's reach, we will create an awareness of the brand.". REI bikes are made by the largest manufacturer in the industry, Giant. But if Viathon is going to have any real impact, its the next set of new bikes that will matter most. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. Honestly the bike prices are high because people buy them LOL. It turns out that Walmart bike buyers, as much as theyre dismissed or even ridiculed, include some passionate fans. Were partnering with the bike industry to deliver so we dont mess it up, said Spinhirne-Martin. Bicycle Shop. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review. You can race and ride it at the highest Mtb level. But when people saw these bikes here, it was like, 'Hey, these are real bikes! Have your questions answered, get a virtual tour of our showroom, collect measurements, or talk about financing options. At first it was seemingly impressive for $2500. 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. I have my doubts. The SRAM components and Zipp cockpit pieces are quality bits that should last the rider quite some time. I would have thought their frame prices would have more closely matched online Chinese carbon frames. Viathon is a standalone direct-to-consumer brand that, by rights, shouldnt exist. It is being released alongside a carbon road bike, the R.1, and a carbon gravel bike named, you guessed it - the G.1. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts But Ive never seen the numbers. 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. He employs six engineers and designers at his Toronto-based studio. If successful, Viathon can be rolled out widely, claimed Spinhirne-Martin. All Viathon bikes come with a 2-year warranty. The impetus for the brand was therefore personal, not corporate. Viathon has chosen a RockShox SID RLC with 120mm of travel. Viathon's staff is made up of bike industry veterans, and the company has partnered with Kevin Quan Studios for its design and engineering. We will strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout. 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. Now it has a toe in the high-end market and the chance to show that itscapable of making quality stuff. And I suspect Viathon isnt relying on a deep tech story to market its bikes for a simple reason: the frames dont seem to offer clear innovation in design or materials. The Waltons own Moosejaw. It's funny - as a surfer, I'm seeing a lot of people who typically spend mediocre wave days in the water scrapping for a lousy ride now turn towards mountain biking as their go-to activity when the waves are garbage. Mountain bikes that rival the cost of motorcycles, silly parts that cost $30 for a $5 part, extremely expensive tools (because Park Tools is worse than Snap-On), etc. And the bikes look good! You can buy the same frames on aliexpress for under $300, or if you're more risk-adverse you can buy them through this guy: Perhaps we'll see a revolution that surfing seems to be having. Complete builds start at $2,300, and top out at $3,500 for the gravel models and around $6,000 for the road and mountain bikes. 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. Very glad for your fair judgement and perspective. The R.1 is a true road racing bike, the G.1 is for gravel and the M.1 hardtail is for cross-country riding. I read an article that estimates the bikes the top pro supercross riders use would cost somewhere in the range 100k-200k. Then theres the idiots who think they can get 1500 for their POS 1988 cr125. When I worked for Fly racing in sales it was a tough barrier going from Moto shops to bicycle. This may have been mentioned already but Im not gonna read everything. It makes it a lot more difficult to invest in processes and equipment that can ultimately bring the cost down significantly. I've bought many clothing items from them, trekking boots etc and I was perfectly happy with the price/quality ratio. Walmarts top-of-the-line M.1 hardtail mountain bike has 120mm travel with RockShox components, Stans wheels, Level Ultimate brakes, and Continental tires. "The negativity starts in-store with reports of forks installed backward. Read through the small print "Returns and Refund Policy: 60 days from date of purchase - new or used with proof of original purchase. Quan was with Cervelo from 2004 to 2008. VIATHON BICYCLES SPONSORS CAFFEINE AND WATTS CLUB. That's a hell of alot of awesome MTB trails read about it here Do Steu and T-Dubs ride Viathons? The GVR is designed for the speed of race day and fast-paced action on pave and open fire road sections. The gravel scene is important for that. 2G for 105, 1.5G for a frame. what happened to viathon bikes Byjunho 3, 2022 At Viathon, we believe that great bikes make riding more fun. Now on to the final word on this carbon fiber crushed rock roller. DSA_CATEGORY:BIKES DSA_MARKETABLE_CATE Bike MSRP vs. what people actually pay is a whole nother conversation. Viathon, like Bonobos, goes against the fundamental tenets on which Walmart was built. Many people are the same, I guess the rebranding isn't for nothing. 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. Maybe they could pump out some sultans for turner? Walmart didnt opt to adopt more modern geometry, possibly because its current customer base will have to take a few steps to catch up to the rest of the bike market. As for the wheels, Viathon M.1 GX Eagle 2021, has a 29 aluminum model. And failing. Who the fuck cares where it came from, so long as it is a good bike. New bike brands come and go, but its rare that one makes as big of a splash with its debut as Viathon, a new direct-to-consumer marquee that launched this week. @roma258: The development and progress is exciting but the concern is that the bike industry is nothing but development and process - all icing no cake. what happened to viathon bikes. 2 - You can't buy these bikes at a Walmart. A fine example might be the PRO Discover Carbon Seat Post which we reviewed, but there are others that would do the job well also. By James Smurthwaite With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly.. needham bank mutual conversion. The frame costs just the same as a TCR frame, without the TCR reputation. The GX spec would be tempting if the geometry and looks weren't reminiscent of my 2009 Stumpy hardtail. Little info you may want to know about the Waltons. They also have controlling interests in Rapha and Allied Cycles. As much as I agree with the general sentiment, there are some other factors that tend to get overlooked in this comparison: Wal-Mart has these pretzel bites with beer cheese for like $2 bucks, pretty freakin awesome after a ride. Compare prices, components, suspension, reviews, images and more on current and past MTB's. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on mountain bikes. the forks face the right way.