High end bikes from Walmart
11-19-19, 12:19 PM
#1
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High end bikes from Walmart
Walmart entering the high end Bicycle market
11-19-19, 12:22 PM
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11-19-19, 01:10 PM
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I had no idea "High end" and "Walmat" could be used in the same sentence. Have things gotten better?
I may have to try shopping there for more than just my monthly supply of canned sardines and kippers....
I may have to try shopping there for more than just my monthly supply of canned sardines and kippers....
11-19-19, 01:54 PM
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Well, the Walton heirs have owned Rapha for a couple years now, but they keep the Walmart connection kinda quiet for some reason.
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11-19-19, 02:06 PM
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@livedarklions (sorry, meant to quote!) ... and they (Walton grandsons) are I believe also responsible for the new bike line (Viathon).
Not surprising, given their very strong and productive mtb advocacy efforts in Arkansas.
Not surprising, given their very strong and productive mtb advocacy efforts in Arkansas.
11-19-19, 02:37 PM
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11-19-19, 03:53 PM
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good lord this is getting old.
11-19-19, 04:10 PM
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Cheap pile of junk....Those brake hoods look to be too high, which would make braking from the drops very uncomfortable.
11-19-19, 05:38 PM
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still makes you wonder if they don't come off the same line as one of the good known name brands ie: the Ozark stainless steel cup supposedly comes off the same line as the Yeti's . I only paid 9 bucks for mine while the yeti goes for about 35 or 40
11-19-19, 06:44 PM
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I wonder if Walmart will start selling downhill bikes next ??
11-19-19, 10:05 PM
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People could go to the other thread and get some info (link is above ...) assuming anyone Wanted to know what they were talking about.
These are serious bikes with serious builds, bought by the Walton Bros (at least one of whom is an avid cyclist) and for some insane reason offered for sale via Walmart. These are not "Walmart" bikes. These are not cheap pieces of crap designed to look like bikes. And the Walton lads, being riders, Know that they couldn't pawn off crap in a market as competitive as the higher-end bike market. Riders have too much interest, too much information, and too many choices to bother buying crap---so the Waltons are not selling crap, with these bikes.
I am not endorsing them, I am just facing realities and using what i have read about the offerings. As far as I can tell, these bikes are as good as any other bike of similar build and cost on the market---it's not like the Waltons couldn't afford to buy quality, and it is that they couldn't sell low quality ... two bad reviews and a few customer complaints and the whole deal would be dead int h water. Prospective customers are already going to be challenged by the "Walmart" connection (as these threads clearly show.)
These are the real thing.
As for downhill bikes ... that is a much smaller market, every bit as competitive, and very regional. Road- and gravel-riding are pretty much nationwide, so that makes a lot more sense.
These are serious bikes with serious builds, bought by the Walton Bros (at least one of whom is an avid cyclist) and for some insane reason offered for sale via Walmart. These are not "Walmart" bikes. These are not cheap pieces of crap designed to look like bikes. And the Walton lads, being riders, Know that they couldn't pawn off crap in a market as competitive as the higher-end bike market. Riders have too much interest, too much information, and too many choices to bother buying crap---so the Waltons are not selling crap, with these bikes.
I am not endorsing them, I am just facing realities and using what i have read about the offerings. As far as I can tell, these bikes are as good as any other bike of similar build and cost on the market---it's not like the Waltons couldn't afford to buy quality, and it is that they couldn't sell low quality ... two bad reviews and a few customer complaints and the whole deal would be dead int h water. Prospective customers are already going to be challenged by the "Walmart" connection (as these threads clearly show.)
These are the real thing.
As for downhill bikes ... that is a much smaller market, every bit as competitive, and very regional. Road- and gravel-riding are pretty much nationwide, so that makes a lot more sense.
11-20-19, 08:27 AM
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People could go to the other thread and get some info (link is above ...) assuming anyone Wanted to know what they were talking about.
These are serious bikes with serious builds, bought by the Walton Bros (at least one of whom is an avid cyclist) and for some insane reason offered for sale via Walmart. These are not "Walmart" bikes. These are not cheap pieces of crap designed to look like bikes. And the Walton lads, being riders, Know that they couldn't pawn off crap in a market as competitive as the higher-end bike market. Riders have too much interest, too much information, and too many choices to bother buying crap---so the Waltons are not selling crap, with these bikes.
I am not endorsing them, I am just facing realities and using what i have read about the offerings. As far as I can tell, these bikes are as good as any other bike of similar build and cost on the market---it's not like the Waltons couldn't afford to buy quality, and it is that they couldn't sell low quality ... two bad reviews and a few customer complaints and the whole deal would be dead int h water. Prospective customers are already going to be challenged by the "Walmart" connection (as these threads clearly show.)
These are the real thing.
As for downhill bikes ... that is a much smaller market, every bit as competitive, and very regional. Road- and gravel-riding are pretty much nationwide, so that makes a lot more sense.
These are serious bikes with serious builds, bought by the Walton Bros (at least one of whom is an avid cyclist) and for some insane reason offered for sale via Walmart. These are not "Walmart" bikes. These are not cheap pieces of crap designed to look like bikes. And the Walton lads, being riders, Know that they couldn't pawn off crap in a market as competitive as the higher-end bike market. Riders have too much interest, too much information, and too many choices to bother buying crap---so the Waltons are not selling crap, with these bikes.
I am not endorsing them, I am just facing realities and using what i have read about the offerings. As far as I can tell, these bikes are as good as any other bike of similar build and cost on the market---it's not like the Waltons couldn't afford to buy quality, and it is that they couldn't sell low quality ... two bad reviews and a few customer complaints and the whole deal would be dead int h water. Prospective customers are already going to be challenged by the "Walmart" connection (as these threads clearly show.)
These are the real thing.
As for downhill bikes ... that is a much smaller market, every bit as competitive, and very regional. Road- and gravel-riding are pretty much nationwide, so that makes a lot more sense.
Walmart is trying for a more Amazonian approach to its website, wanting to be a one-stop for a wide variety of items. I think the choice of bikes in this regard may be because of the brothers' interest in bikes (they're the ones who own Rapha), but this is part of a bigger internet strategy.
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11-20-19, 09:01 AM
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11-20-19, 09:50 AM
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Why not simply go to the source?
https://www.viathonbicycles.com
https://www.viathonbicycles.com
11-20-19, 09:52 AM
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11-20-19, 10:01 AM
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I look at this as Walmart testing the "competing with Bikes Direct and Amazon" market. This is basically a web-only operation, and has everything to do with their website and nothing to do with the stores.
Walmart is trying for a more Amazonian approach to its website, wanting to be a one-stop for a wide variety of items. I think the choice of bikes in this regard may be because of the brothers' interest in bikes (they're the ones who own Rapha), but this is part of a bigger internet strategy.
Walmart is trying for a more Amazonian approach to its website, wanting to be a one-stop for a wide variety of items. I think the choice of bikes in this regard may be because of the brothers' interest in bikes (they're the ones who own Rapha), but this is part of a bigger internet strategy.
It is interesting to noodle around exploring how this is set up. One can access 'Viathon' via Walmart.com, but aside from placing an order everything else (intentionally?) directs one to the dedicated 'support team'/website etc. The whole process, the WM link aside, is very reminiscent of e.g. Canyon.
The other thing I've found interesting is the relationship with Kevin Quan Studio -- design/engineering firm responsible for bikes for Factor, Cervelo, Cube, and Devinci among others. The Walton bros. et al. weren't fooling around when they set this brand up.
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11-20-19, 10:45 AM
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A good* bike shop checks air pressure, torques, gear & brake adjustment and touches up the wheels. That's kinda what one needs to do with any direct-to-consumer bike.
*In an effort to encourage folks to go direct and save money, my LBS seems to just get the bike out of the box and put in on the showroom floor.
*In an effort to encourage folks to go direct and save money, my LBS seems to just get the bike out of the box and put in on the showroom floor.