Walmart Launches High-End 'Viathon' Bike Brand
#26
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This is a "Walmart brand" in a similar way that Rapha and Allied are "Walmart brands": all are controlled by the Walton brothers. Viathon is a bit different because it's owned directly by Walmart Stores rather than the Waltons' investment vehicle, but I'm certain the impetus to start the brand comes from the Waltons. These guys are true cycling fans and have plowed millions into cycling brands and infrastructure recently. The bikes look really competitive as well.
These guys are multi-billionaires, they understand cycling and they're at the head of the largest and most efficient supply chain management organization in the world. Over time, I think this has the potential to be truly disruptive.
These guys are multi-billionaires, they understand cycling and they're at the head of the largest and most efficient supply chain management organization in the world. Over time, I think this has the potential to be truly disruptive.
So the Waltons are big cycling fans? Maybe. Folks buy everything online nowadays, perhaps LBS can survive doing maintenance/repair for those bikes. Sears used to sell some decent Austrian bikes & farm repair work to local shops. ~5 years ago I was impressed to see that WalMart sold alu-frame MTB's with disc brakes. Not great quality I suppose but probably better than some of the junk sold by mass-marketers in the '70's.
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Do I get to claim Apple is owned by me just because I have some stock?
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I buy White Lightning chain lube at Walmart
#29
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OK, Mr. Snarky. It depends, do you have enough pull to have Apple relocate to your hometown as Allied did to Bentonville? I'd say they likely have a majority stake and likely have significant pull in management decisions. Not sure where you stand with Tim Cook.
#30
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Allied didn't relocate to Bentonville. They are opening a retail shop there. I ride past it on my regular ride. In a way the Walton's did help them move to Bentonville. They have pumped millions of $ into bike trails on and off road. Allied or any bike shop would want a local presence.
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I think they need to bring the price down if they really want to compete. I was looking at their gravel bike, but got a similar spec bike cheaper from my LBS. The whole draw of direct to consumer is supposed to be reduced cost. I don't see Viathon, or Canyon for that matter, really delivering on that (I really liked the Grail too, but couldn't justify spending more and still not having local support).
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Within the linked article. "The bikes are assembled to 98% using Carlsbad, California based company Lucidity to be ready for a home delivery requiring minimal final assembly."
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#34
Banned
doesn't bikes direct and canyon, 2 other warehouse to buyer schemes, do the same thing?
Do they discount the time spent stripping off all that packing material too?
....
Do they discount the time spent stripping off all that packing material too?
....
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I think they need to bring the price down if they really want to compete. I was looking at their gravel bike, but got a similar spec bike cheaper from my LBS. The whole draw of direct to consumer is supposed to be reduced cost. I don't see Viathon, or Canyon for that matter, really delivering on that (I really liked the Grail too, but couldn't justify spending more and still not having local support).
#36
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The name sounds fake like half the Fren-talian items on the Starbucks drink menu.
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#38
Senior Member
For those who shop WalMart, I don’t see them buying a bike of this caliber.
#39
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#40
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Allied didn't relocate to Bentonville. They are opening a retail shop there. I ride past it on my regular ride. In a way the Walton's did help them move to Bentonville. They have pumped millions of $ into bike trails on and off road. Allied or any bike shop would want a local presence.
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Because when you think high end bikes Walmart is certainly what comes to mind. Seems like a rather curious decision to me but maybe there's a market?
#43
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I don't think they ever intended to have the bikes have any relation with the actual stores of Walmart. They know this is not a match, they just get the relation because who they are.
Just a couple of guys with endless resources playing with their hobbies....
#44
Senior Member
the bike itself looks fine, but nothing special. It's virtually indistinguishable from the sea of other black carbon gravel bikes out there in terms of equipment and geometry. Most damming however is that the price point is exactly the same as every other black carbon gravel bike that's out there.
Point me to another $2300 gravel bike that has the following:
– Carbon frame that weights just barely over 1kg
– FULL 105 groupset
– Quality wheels – HEDs, wide, tubeless ready, and weighing less than 1700 grams
– Quality finishing kit – all Zipp
In addition, the Viathon also has:
– clearance for up to 51mm 700c wheels
– a threaded BSA BB
Most “105 spec” bikes out there either aren’t fully 105 (cheap crank, etc.) and/or they have 2kg boat anchors for wheels. And most of the big name carbon bikes have some version of a press-fit BB.
Also, the Viathon is currently on sale for under $2,000.
I’m not saying everyone, or even anyone should buy this bike but it’s not fair to say that it has no advantages over other bikes at the same price point.
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I agree, the Allied bikes in particular are quite expensive...made in America, OK, but still. Sporty bikes is a crowded market. I'd like to see Waltons use their resources to improve casual/commuter bikes for instance. Why not a mass-market belt-drive/IGH line? Avg casual rider doesn't do much if any maintenance, I could see these gaining popularity.
Last edited by rebel1916; 07-27-19 at 08:16 PM.
#47
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Of course they were. Whether or not you liked their bikes they were the American companies making in America the sort of bikes Walmart now sources from China. Walmart asked them to compete with near-slave labor. The only reason Walmart is now looking to make bikes in the USA is the tariffs.
I’m similarly bemused when Walmart, who doesn’t pay their people enough to keep them off food stamps and whose owners are now a dynasty of billionaires, asks me at the point of sale to donate to charity.
I’m similarly bemused when Walmart, who doesn’t pay their people enough to keep them off food stamps and whose owners are now a dynasty of billionaires, asks me at the point of sale to donate to charity.
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#49
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I'm just wondering where these will sell at. The article states they're known for selling $300-500 dollar bikes in the stores, but for the near decade of the Denali; never even seen a pro model in there, and that is a $400 bike. And my old Roadtech at $112(after tax) is the most expensive bike I ever seen. If they are so avid a cyclist, they should be having better stuff anyway, and they can certainly have better bikes in the stores and not personally lose too much money selling a high end bike at the cost of a Granite Peak. At the end of the day, all the hate outside employee wages is just stupid. It's a store, like Target and what Kmart was and what some Krogers arw becoming. Outside a few of their own brands of crap; which is just some foods and jeans, everything is name brand ****, whatever section you walk in. It's just a store. The only difference between it and Target; is the color scheme. Still... where are these bikes supposed to sell, just online?
#50
Banned
My apologies if this has been posted prior. I haven't seen it if so.
Initially only available on viathon.com with walmart.com in the future. What the future holds will be interesting to see.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/walmar...ike-brand.html
Initially only available on viathon.com with walmart.com in the future. What the future holds will be interesting to see.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/walmar...ike-brand.html