windy7777

i do know pacific makes many store brand bikes .they even make canondale if i recall

I-Like-To-Bike

There will be one soon enough, perhaps even with a hint of snark about the OP's "goal" or identity, from one of the usual suspects, just like a broken record.

BoraxKid

Yup, too many people on here just keep virtue-signaling how "great" the almighty LBS is, as though bike shops are infallible. This happens despite the well-known fact that many, many local bike shops are run by condescending, patronizing scam artists that put a ridiculous mark-up on basic parts. The last time I went to a local bike shop, they were trying to charge $60 for a KMC chain. This was not some top-of-the-line chain, nor was it a gold-plated chain; it was a regular, KMC 10-speed chain. I basically stared the shop owner down as I ordered the chain for 60% less money from Amazon while using his free WiFi.

indyfabz

Ohhhhh the irony.

HerrKaLeun

All MTB have come with 1x11 or 1x12 for years by now. All ridden hard and shifted under heavy load in the mud. I'm sure we would have heard of those weak cogs breaking by now.

BoraxKid

I think we have heard plenty of people wearing out their cassettes faster, but I guess that doesn't count in your book? Also, OP said nothing about wanting a mountain bike, nor did they say anything at all that warranted advocating for a specialty drivetrain. It makes no sense to come in and just blurt out nonsense about front derailleurs, which is why I asked you about it. No need to get snippy.

windy7777

i just kind of want a basic simple bike. i love internal hub bikes

Pop N Wood

Tick tock tick tock boys. Only a matter of time now.

$2300 for a 105 equipped carbon framed gravel bike seems like a pretty good deal to me. My only complaint is for lower gearing.

https://www.viathonbicycles.com/coll...roducts/g1-105

Walmart is already probably one of the world's largest bike retailers. They are unquestionably one of the most forward thinking companies as well, look at the things they are doing with renewable energy and the way they are going all in with on line sales. Where I live Walmart delivers on line orders faster than Amazon.

If they start producing their own line of bikes they could flat take over.

Tick tock...

burritos

That was an awesome video.

c_m_shooter

Just simplicity, nothing more in this case. I actually don't like derailers at all, but since I don't live in the mountains, I need a few gears when I visit the mountains.

HerrKaLeun

You know MTB drivetrains also work on other bikes? Like ALL flatbar for example?
what actual experiences do you have with 1x drivetrains? I "heard" the world is flat.... Good 1x drivetrains have excellent life span. Obviously there is more wear on an MTB, but that also applies to 3x8. OP wanted simplicity, how much simpler than one shifter and sequential shifting can we get?

An FD can be good, if it is XTR quality, but that likely isn't the case on a big box store bike. they use cheap FD, so better not to have one. Same with suspension, don't expect good suspension, so better not to get suspension.

BoraxKid

Idk if Wal-Mart sells internally geared bikes, but I know Shimano makes some decent quality 3 & 7 speed hubs. You see them a lot on bikeshare bikes in a lot of cities. The last time I shopped around looking at internal gear hub bikes, they were all slightly more expensive than their derailleur-equipped equivalents. If you're on a tight budget, it might be best to look for a used bike if you want internal gears.

Reflector Guy

But don't let that stop you.

tpadul 

I actually just bought my wife a new bike from Walmart because she wanted it and I was surprised to see the Sturmey Archer 3 speed internal gear hub on the bike. It was the only adult bike on the floor. Has front Caliper brakes and a rear drum brake. It was $198

wphamilton

That popped up on my Google feed the other day and I wondered if Walmarts account got hacked.

I think it's pretty awesome and I'm curious to see if it gains any traction. Personally I don't go into Walmart looking for high-end anything - I'm there for the cheapest possible product that will work for right now. But who knows.

indyfabz

Note that those bikes are not sold at Walmart. The company was started by, and is owned by, Walmart. Tomorrow the makers of Thunderbird wine could launch a premium wine business selling wine that had no resemblance to cheap ass Thunderbird.

Phil_gretz

As always (the linked bike not withstanding), the discussion remains in the abstract. The practical question that the OP skirted is what he wants the bike to do; what his mechanical abilities, tools and parts reservoir are; and how much he is willing to spend. Without knowing a budget, it's difficult to say whether Wal-Mart offers the best value proposition.

At $120 for a child's bike, it's probably acceptable, but there are always pre-owned available on Craigslist.

At $250 for an adult bike, things remain grey. It's possible to find good used bikes at that point, but there will be parts and consumable wear.

At the $500 for a bike, there are definitely better pre-owned vintage and newer road bikes, and a few mountain bikes.

At the $1000 point, you get into a competition between direct-ship bikes and bike shop entry level road bikes. For MTBs, it's still better to go used at this dollar value.

And so on...

GlennR

I've found 3 different sized kids bike at the curb. All needed some minor attention, but none needed any parts. I have them saved for when my grandkids can ride them.

Troul 

what about boones farm or Bartles & Jaymes?

Phil_gretz

I get asked this a few times per year: "Can you find me a [nice] road bike within a $300 budget?" This is sometimes a recreational-level MTB request as well. Knowing my abilities and unwillingness to compromise, they ask because they know that I'll deliver. This involves scouring the opportunities and tapping into my spare parts bins. And it doesn't happen over night. I wouldn't be going to a retailer for this.

livedarklions

Just curious, have you actually ever purchased a bike at Walmart? You always get so heated on this topic, yet never seem to have anything to say other than to insult people who denigrate them.

Phil_gretz

Yup. I refurbished a give-away 24" wheeled 1x7 suspension bike to give from one neighbor to another. So many parts beat-in or bent, such soft steel. It is working now.

I still re-assemble 3 or 4 boxed kids bikes for neighbors, as I did this summer. Factory assembly isn't good, brakes not working, derailleur hangers or claws bent, uneven spoke tension, poorly welded seatpost clamp ears...

wphamilton

Online order only? That makes more sense then, but it's not really a Walmart bike then is it?

I wanted to buy a $99 fixed gear there once. I think it was called "Thruster", pretty well known. Cash in my pocket, all psyched up to pull the trigger, but when I got there and had a close look at it I just couldn't do it.

LV2TNDM

You'd be right if they were assembled by WalMart staff or one of their vendors. But they aren't. They're shipped direct to consumer after being fully assembled like what Bikes Direct does. This is a different approach WalMart is taking.

But it's still a WalMart bike because it was developed by people familiar with the mass merchant marketplace and with WalMart. WalMart works very closely with their vendors during product development. They have a very strong say in things. But it's still a different approach; this vendor is not like the "Pacifics" of the mass merchant world. Would I buy one? Not sure. I'd like to see how their carbon QA/QC is. If Leuscher Technik could buy ten random samples and test them, I'd LOVE to see the results!

Are WalMart bikes good? Depends on a lot. But in general, the average quality of a WalMart bike is very low. Poor assembly drops them down even further.

Milton Keynes

The link that was posted (https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...lmart-viathon/) says Walmart now has high end bikes.