Okay, aside from that, yes, youre riding a high-end race bike, so you generally know what to expect. While thats a noble notion, is the Viathon bike really that groundbreaking? Not because its not important, but because Viathons business model is to swap out these components to your preference upon ordering the bike, all with no additional cost. He proposed a private-label project, and hes bringing it to fruition. Brothers Tom and Steuart Walton are passionate cyclists, and the Walton Family Foundation has helped build the Bentonville area into a world-class destination for mountain biking. Andy reports that the bike has razor sharp handling and when one puts the pressure on the . Preventing Iliac Artery Endofibrosis - Cycling Overuse Injuries. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. 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. Ten minutes of testing was enough for me to spin around and swap in my preferred Specialized Phenom. . Equipped with a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain that shifts seamlessly, Stans 29 carbon wheels, and an FSA K-force carbon handlebar, this thing was designed to climb. Why was one of the worlds most budget-driven companies focusing on the upper echelon of the bike world? Thats exactly what we sought to answer with the high-value Viathon G.1, a carbon gravel bike thats backed by the biggest of big retailers Walmart. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park. And winner winner: theres a threaded bottom bracket shell. With that in mind, it seems appropriate that Walmart is finally sinking its teeth into producing a line of proper bikes. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials.
Viathon G1 Bike: At The Finish - Riding Gravel As we continue to build out the platform, we welcome other brands, said Spinhirne-Martin.
The Rival G1 is spec'ed with a 111 Rival drive train, Mercury G3 wheels, and Zipp Service Course cockpit. I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. It lacks some of that impossible-to-define character that makes a climbing bike inspirational, especially when youre toiling away on a tough climb.
Viathon Bikes - Walmart.com I lifted the bike from its box, the staff leaning in for a first look. Were not trying to undercut the industry; were offering our bike line at a solid price, not a ridiculously low price, said Spinhirne-Martin. Are bike shopsscary, elitist, and unwelcoming? Walmart hopes its own expensive bike will be proof of concept to attract mainstream brands to that marketplace brands that previously opted out, like Evil and Niner, which are both sold at Walmart-owned Moosejaw.com. Best MTB Gear | Racers? Managing editor Dean Yobbi told the story in BRAIN's May dead-trees issue and online as well. Support us! Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business.
Viathon Launches New Direct-to-Consumer G1 Carbon Gravel Bike 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. Personally, given the sporty nature of this ride, Id have preferred to see the larger 48-31T chainring combo used. Earlier this year, Viathon Bicycles launched with a direct-to-consumer business model and a catalog of high-end carbon bicycles, taking an approach similar to the one Canyon has used. Competitor Discount Codes: Get Up To $200 Off With These Viathon Bicycles Competitor Coupons for Bicycle Components (March 2023) See Competitor Codes.
Viathon: Walmart's $6,000 Mountain Bike Put to Test I asked how it was all going and how many bikes have been sold. I also grabbed a G1. Two Walmart heirs, Tom and Steuart Walton, are themselves highly enthusiastic riders who have invested in cycling companieslike Allied Cycle Works and Rapha, and they directed the trailbuilding grants that have helped transformWalmarts home base of Bentonville, Arkansas, into a world-class mountain-bikingdestination.
Viathon Bicycles - Home | Facebook [, Official FIT ASSISTANCE for Canyon Speedmax CFR, CF SLX, and CF (disc & rim brake), Official Canyon Speedmax CF Owners Thread, Official FIT ASSISTANCE for Cervelo TT and Triathlon Bikes. 68mm threaded bottom bracket. Tire clearance is on the narrower side, but its wide enough for 700x40c tires, or 2.1 width tires with a 650B diameter. Specializeds highest-end hardtailthe S-Works Epiccomes in at a whopping $8,520, whereas Viathons most expensive model starts at $6,000. On top of the frame features, the G1 comes with a pretty respectable build kit. The handlebars could have been wider, with a shallower drop, and an extra helping of bar tape would have also been welcome. . Brand manager Spinhirne-Martin said a search of similar Trek, Specialized, or Canyon bikes will net a conclusion that they are all significantly more expensive for a similarly specced product., Spinhirne-Martin came to Walmart after 10 years working in the industry at Competitive Cyclist. When assessing the new Viathon R.1 road bike, I first chose to judge the proverbial book by its cover. After every order is placed, a customer service agent calls the customer to confirm the order and determine the stem and crank length, handlebar width, and seatpost offset to ensure the customer gets the best fit possible, said Zach Spinhirne-Martin. I ride over ladder bridges and into dense trees. Dont take this Bad Boy to the Bike Park: Viathons website proudly claims that few bikes carve up singletrack as effortlessly as the M.1. Not recovering IT Band Friction Syndrome!! Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. 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. I like my bikes to jump when I stand up and crank down on the pedals. All of these issues, perhaps barring the selected gear cables, are things that Viathon will likely now correct before it becomes your problem. Specialized's highest-end hardtailthe S-Works Epiccomes in at a whopping $8,520, whereas Viathon's most expensive model starts at $6,000. It will be interesting to see if Viathon can find a foothold in a high-end market that often relies on name snobbery above all else. Im not mad, just disappointed. In other words, it was in the business of making inexpensive bikes made for the mass market. This is courtesy of the SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and its golden chain. Although from a bike industry perspective, the geometry is a few years outdated even for a hardtail. Turner Bikes - Titanium Mountain & Gravel Bikes Born To Perform Turner Bikes COME SEE US AT THE 2023 SEA OTTER CLASSIC, APRIL 20th - 23rd at Booth B15 & Meet our newest bike - The Scrub! Official Giant Trinity Advanced Owners Thread, New Giant Trinity Advanced Hydration and Bento, 2016 Giant Trinity Advanced Pro Cable Issues, Official 12th Annual 2018/19 Slowtwitch 100/100 Run Challenge Thread, 2018/19 100 Runs in 100 Days Airing of the Grievances Thread, 100 Runs 100 Days 2017-2018 Challenge Thread: Dec 15-Mar 23. The cables rub the head tube (BYO protective frame stickers! That fits the narrative of this bike overall: It may lack the personality of a racing bicycle that costs twice as much, but it shows up for work and does its job reliably. Download the app. At least on paper, the value for money is unquestionable, but a great bike is always more than a sum of the parts bolted to it. Walmart.com, of course, is an internet behemoth with hundreds of millions of visitor sessions each month with peak holiday traffic topping half a billion, according to analyses by industry research firms SimilarWeb and Statista. All of this is in line with long-standing issues of buying bikes online. The R.1 feels like a high-end bike, except for one minor nitpick: While most high-end race bikes have taken great efforts to hide all cables, the R.1 has all four cables exposed around the cockpit.
Viathon R.1 Red eTap AXS review: Great performance, but with Walmart The R.1 for road riding, the G.1 for gravel, and the M.1 hardtail for cross-country. To get a full carbon gravel bike with a Shimano GRX600 groupset for $2,300 is a pretty sweet deal, although there are still other great deals on gravel bikes, for those who like steel or aluminum. Take YouTuber KevCentral, for example, whose channel reviews bikes available at Walmart and Walmart.com and how to upgrade them. I understand the reviewer had limited time on the bike, but there is no real detail on how the bike rode. My time was limited to two hours, so this isnt an exhaustive review. It appears the newswas first mentioned in a Pinkbike story. 2 - You can't buy these bikes at a Walmart. And while low, Viathon pricing was at parity with any number of other name-brand carbon models, including Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Canyon. As it is, other brands are becoming wise to consumer demands for affordable, high-end bikes, so Viathon has enough competition to make one wonder whether this new brand can stick with the big boys. Walmart isnt a brand most turn to for upgrading their bike, but Viathon could change that perception. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head. 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. Despite having all the good Shimano shifty bits, the full-length and low-cost Jagwire cables that connected them didnt do them justice. MSRP on the G1 with SRAM Rival 1 is $2498.00 USD.
Question: When Will Viathon Bikes Go On Sale - BikeHike But does it ride like one? Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Bike shops could benefit from more riders on more bikes. The dropper post was pretty finicky as well. Ok Fishes, here is the interview we were all waiting for!! Hed been with the online retailer for 10 years. 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. 'Box-store bike' takes on a whole new meaning as Walmart launches Viathonn, a private high-end cycling brand. Viathon G.1 105 Highlights. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. Buy Viathon G1, Rival, 56cm, Disc, 700C, Matte Black/Silver at Walmart.com . Further, a hardtail is a great entry point for a new rider looking for high-quality performance, Spinhirne-Martin said. For one, the retailer is already selling high-end bike parts on their outdoor website Moosejaw. Is Viathon's new mountain bike the real deal? My final complaint is the comment about the 70mm stem feeling twitchy and switching it out to a short stem.
Viathon M.1 XX1 Carbon Eagle Mountain Bike, Medium, Copper - Walmart For those riders hoping for a super-reactive bike that follows your every twitch, I suggest you look elsewhere. But rather than going out and buying the exact same flashy and high-end items, theyve sourced out the look-a-likes. We decided to give it a test at Outerbike to find out. That frame (which is also sold separately at US$1,498) is no open-mould cookie-cutter thing either. If theres a model for how to build a mountain bike community from next to nothing, Bentonville is it.
With a feathery weight, effective geometry, and componentry to rival the best bikes on the market, the M.1 is a relevant consideration for serious riders with a cross-country bent." All rights reserved, an opinion column about Viathon's unique formation, REI Co-op to Open in Prescott, Arizona in Fall 2023, Declining bike-product demand contributes to Thule's Q1 net sales decrease, NBDA and the League of American Bicyclists Partner to Help Build a Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone, Rad Power Bikes has a 4th round of layoffs. With both, you get two great carbon bikes, that differ when you break down the components. But thats not necessarily a bad thing. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Its what you want in a more race-focussed gravel bike, and in this sense, it gives up very little compared to the likes of the higher-priced Stigmata or Aspero. Battle of the frames: Felt IA 10 vs IA 1? Red digits displaying 22.7 pounds blinked alive, quantifying the size-large bike as bona fide feathery for its class. But the company has connections to the industry, including the support of trail networks notably, the network around Bentonville, Arkansas, near Walmart headquarters. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmart's current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiast business. Adult Mountain Bike, 21 Speed Shimano Drivetrain, 26 Inch Wheels, Aluminum Frame, Lock-Out . Viathon is a direct-to-consumer bike brand owned by Walmart. Walmart is hoping to entice customers to Viathon with a no-questions-asked return policy. Its also important to note whats not in the current lineup: womens bikes, utility bikes, and e-bikes.
Walmart Says Its High-End Viathon Bikes Will Grow Cycling A few months later in June, we got to take the M1 hardtail for a spin in Idaho. The result is a bike covered in proven, quality, big-name components at a price thats approximately a third less than its more established competition, and really, not much more expensive than a bare frame. Walmart will sell bikes under this brand soon with price tags up to $6,000. Many see this as an exciting window of opportunity - by tapping into Walmarts extensive consumer base, the sport might have a chance to grow as a whole. A group of employees gathers around, pecking in to see the Walmart bike thats arrived with measurable anticipation. A few things are apparent with Viathon. Statins: experience training and racing on them, Swimming-Related Injuries: A literature review and injury risk screening, New Tacx Neo Smart vs Wahoo Kickr trainers, school me on finding correct pressures with tubeless. Viathon made the G1 with certain features in mind: Thru-axles, flat mount disc brakes, and dropped seat stays for compliance. 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.
Viathon opted for a low-geared 46-30T chainring matched with a 11-34T cassette. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmarts current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiastbusiness. Singletracks Merch |
Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - cxmagazine.com He noted, Ive ridden and owned basically everything they sell over that time: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Ventana, Pivot, Open, Pinarello, Wilier, Cervelo, Ridley.. Who makes Viathon frames?
JRA with the Angry Asian: How much does 'soul' matter for bike brands 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. Aint nothing wrong with that! Internal cable routing keeps the frame clean and streamlined. As mentioned, this is the lowest-cost complete bike in Viathons G.1 range, but that doesnt mean the parts are low-cost. Spinhirne-Martin says yes, and reiterated that he wants to grow the bike industry, not put other brands or bike shops out of business. The RockShox SID RLC 120mm fork was a great choice, and I appreciated that Viathon opted for more travel in comparison to the S-Works Epics 100m fork. The XX1 bike is around 21.5 pounds for a size M. The weight is competitive with other hardtail cross-country bikes in the same price range, and the price isnt wildly low. Viathon Photo. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. And the bikes look good! The GRX 600 is a 211, with a 50/34T up front, and an 11-34T cassette Viathon offers the GRX 800, SRAM Force, and AXS builds in a 1x configuration. Having spent some time in the saddle, I have to agree. The stiffness of the Viathon G1 is where the bike feels like its ready to be more competitive as a gravel race bike, rather than something for adventure. Viathon Viathon bikes are currently 30 percent off at Walmart.
For the M.1 XX1 Eagle, Viathon dropped its original $6,000 price recently to $4,998. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head.. A Viathon representative told me that Walmart simply wanted the story to be more about the bikes than the company behind them. Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. The Viathon fulfillment center is in Carlsbad, California. The question is, what sets it apart from other high-end bikes at this pricepoint or higher, if anything? I was excited to try out the G1 to get a better taste of what Viathon as a whole has to offer. From SRAM drivetrains to Stans wheels, it has the look of a proper bike.
Walmart Slashes Prices on Viathon Bikes for Pre-Black Friday Sale Viathon was created to shift consumers thinking. Viathon Bikes Walmart's proprietary bicycle line offers high-quality road, mountain, and gravel bikes that have totally negated the cheap "Walmart Bike" stigma. 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 . Read more. [Eroc43] I also wanted all of my bikes to perform when pushed hard, said Spinhirne-Martin of the frames stiffness. 1600 Pearl St., Ste 300Boulder, CO 80302This website copyright 2023.
The cables just felt like they were being dragged through molasses, and the full-length housing runs meant there was a fair bit of compression leading to a mushy feel at the lever. Within each of these categories, there are a variety of builds to pick from all depending on how shiny you want the hardware to be. Theres nothing wild going on in the tubing no weird bends, or protrusions. So I have plenty of experience with frame geo and mechanics. And while its far from a silky-smooth ride (Ill come back to this), frame compliance was a design factor. You could, of course, upgrade your cockpit to achieve that svelte, hidden-cable look, but you wont get it with the stock model. You can bet that when the product managers behind Viathon called manufacturers and name-dropped Walmart, the pencil was sharpened to a dangerously pokey point.
Both the Stigmata and the G.1 feature 425 mm chainstays, while the reach and stack figures are also closely aligned. And yep, the frame can be setup with either 1x or 2x gearing. Marketing strategy comes out of Sun Valley, Idaho, with the CrankTank firm. The terrain varies from flowy cross-country trail to downhill-inspired gravity tracks. We tested the brands top-end M.1 Mountain Bike for 6 weeks to gain an understanding and some first-person perspective on singletrack trails. They enter the frame at the downtube, so this is an internally routed frame, but the handlebar and stem are fairly traditional in the sense that theres no internal routing to get rid of those round tube shapes at the front of the bike. RELATED: Walmart Launches Gear Site with Moosejaw. Here's the Viathon M.1 in action with some catchy tunes. Lets look at the numbers. The G.1 RED eTap AXS that is the subject of this review is Viathon's newest gravel model and will be available sometime in September. Are modern bicycles the end of DIY maintenance. The R.1 comes off a bit aloof. Theyll know youre copying them at a fraction of the price, and if theyre really savvy, theyll know their stuff is marginally better and the reasons why. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. and Zipp Service Course cockpit, the G.1 Rival gets down to business. But does it have enough soul and personality to compete with more established brands offering quality bikes at a similarly low price?". I will start by saying I am a long time bike industry employee. A couple weeks ago it seemed like they were blowing out all the bikes on the website, last week they all showed sold out, and today I noticed the Viathon site is gone (does not even show up on google if you search for it) They still have a landing page on Walmart site. Viathons product manager, Zach Spinhirne-Martin, openly admits to taking close inspiration from a race-inspired bike like the Santa Cruz Stigmata. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. At the GearJunkie office, we cut zip ties and packing tape. Some cyclists are extremely brand-loyal, willing to pay a premium for pride in heritage brands like Bianchi or Pinarello. It's a full carbon gravel bike with modern geometry, an understated look, and a price that's refreshingly affordable. Nope: while the bikes its offering look to be good quality and competitively priced, the reason that Viathons entry turned heads is whos behind it: Walmart. Something like these Spank Vibrocore gravel bars we tested would certainly take the edge off. I normally would not take the time to write this stuff, but I was really interested in a review of this bike. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. So how does this budget-friendly racer ride? Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. according to industry analyst Jay Townley. Fast as a road racer, rugged as a mountain bike, and priced beyond compare.. It confidently climbed over gravel, roots, and rocks. I am a professional mechanic, and have a hand built over 175 custom frames from steel or Ti. The Viathon G1 comes in five sizes ranging from 52cm to 60cm in 2cm increments. M.1 | XX1 Eagle AXS; M.1 | XX1 Eagle ; M.1 | X01 Eagle ; . Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Are bike shopsscary, elitist, and unwelcoming?
Walmart Black Friday Deals 2019 | Deals for Cyclists - Bicycling Quan was with Cervelo from 2004 to 2008. And they certainly didnt skimp out on components. MTB Podcast | The R.1 does feel responsive and supportive when you stand up to sprint. Last April, when we saw them at Sea Otter, they dropped the G1, R1, and M1 all at once, dipping their toes into the gravel, road, and mountain bike pool. Lets be honest. Our biggest issues were certainly related to the cabling. 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 only thing that caught my eye was the cable routing gathered around the head tube, which looks a little messy. Now that we know the 2023 IRONMAN WC is in Nice for men and Kona for women, reversed venues next year, which venue will you hope to qualify for?
Viathon Bikes On Sale | Best Walmart Bikes The R.1s trail figure measures 59.7mm, which is quite long for an all-around bike.
Viathon G.1 105 First Ride Review | Road Bike, Cycling Forums At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. Performance, comfort, speed, agility, and other characteristics require in-person evaluation, which is tough to prove for a brand like Viathon, which is available only online. Going uphill, the shifting is buttery smooth. Viathon takes pride that every model indeed, every finished bicycle is at the top of its class for weight, technology, and quality. The M.1 is among a small 2019 line that includes road and gravel models, as well as two additional high-end mountain bike builds specced lower and with prices starting at $1,998. These are just my opinions. Industry watchers may remember the last time Walmart tried to get into the carbon bike game, which as I recall was about ten years ago. Wealthy enthusiasts? But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. The seatstays are thin and dropped, and a 27.2 mm seatpost was supposedly picked for comfort reasons, too. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. The G1 gravel bike starts at $100 more than the M1. Slowtwitch approved IT Band rehab? Were partnering with the bike industry to deliver so we dont mess it up, said Spinhirne-Martin. Like books, we cannot judge a bicycle solely on its coverin this case the graphics and business connection. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. But if Viathon is going to have any real impact, its the next set of new bikes that will matter most. Heading out the door? Dont let the affordable price entice you if youre looking for a more well-rounded bike. The hardtail mountain bike is ideal for the days you want to do a long climb. Hip Labrum Repair - How long did yours last? Support Us | But given youd be in person with the bike store, theyd most likely have a better chance in getting the specifics absolutely dialled. The bikes will be available to order within weeks. Viathon expects stock on these bikes sometime this Fall. Releasing some fluid from the system remedied this, but we can only hope production bikes dont need the same treatment. Updated, 4/9. For the last update and a link to the introductions, Click Here. The Viathon G.1 is the gravel rig of the bunch. We are not focusing on the connection but not hiding it either, Spinhirne-Martin said. Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. Over the past several years, Canyon Bikes has gotten attention for its direct-to-consumer model that allows it to sell high-end bikes at competitive price points. Could use a few tweaks: If youd like to enjoy the climb up, swap that stock saddle ASAP. The spec matters a whole lot on a bike like this, and really, its a significant part of Viathons value proposition. Granted my personal bikes 150mm fork made it tough to have as much fun on the Viathons 120mm fork, I still felt unstable on the more technical parts of the trail with its steep 69.5-degree head tube angle. TGR Staff Writer and photographer. 1 - Walmart didn't buy Viathon. Spinhirne-Martin says Walmart is launching with the hardtail to fill in holes in what they already offer on the Walmart.com marketplace. Geometry is almost identical to a specialized crux. Kev has 43,000 subscribers. transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com. Is swimming safe? 100 competitor promo codes - Last used 11m ago. Managing editor Dean Yobbi told the story in BRAIN's May dead . But don't count the traditional players out yet, on either the supply or retail ends of the supply chain. In an interview last week at Sea Otter, a bicycling industry gathering in Monterey, Calif. I came to Walmart to grow the bike industry.
Walmart Viathon Bikes - New Walmart Bikes 2019 - Bicycling