ScottCommutes

I only drive out to Cabelas about once a year, so this might be old news.

Now you can buy a bike from somebody that was selling archery equipment, shoes, or worms the day before.

The bike section was small. The bikes were not of any brand that I recognized, and in outdoorsy colors. About half were e-bikes.

The parts/accessories aisle could have been lifted straight out of Walmart/Target item for item.

freeranger

Last time I was in Cabellas was around Christmas. Didn't go through the entire store, didn't see any bikes in the areas I went thru.

Troul 

if 7-11 or Quik Mart starts selling BSO's, I'd be more concerned.

tomato coupe

Shocking development.

Iride01 

They aren't the bikes I'd be interested in for me, but I won't knock people that try them out. They'll either ride the crap out of them and realize they need something better or they'll let them sit in the garage just like the Giant Cypress that my wife paid more than Cabella prices for back circa 2010.

https://www.cabelas.com/c/bikes-accessories

mstateglfr 

Ascend, Mongoose, and Huffy.

wheelreason

Yes, Cabelas (which is now owned by BPS) has been selling bikes for a couple of years. They sell e-bikes (which are becoming more and more popular with hunters each year) as well as some basic mnt, recreational, and kids bikes. They are actually decent, and they stand behind them. Don't expect "enthusiast" level bikes, but better than what is found in Wally World and Target.

urbanknight

Looking at their site, they sell Ascend, Mongoose, and Huffy. The latter two are common in big box stores (including Walmart), and I don't know anything about Ascend. Heck, it's another outdoor activity (and I could see hunters and fishers using a bike to get from the road to their spot), so why not?

apdogtown

those stores are massive, but i don't remember seeing a full bike section before.

squirtdad

Many many years ago I got my first geared, non coaster brake, bike, a columbia 3 speed at a super america gas station. we all also bought 500 round boxes of .22 ammo as I was in a junior rifle club

veganbikes

Never been to a Cabelas and have no intention to ever go there. I wouldn't doubt they are selling crap they seem like that sort of place most big box stores will sell BSOs or maybe some accessories and such. Why not try to make money.

Black wallnut 

You have such an amazing open mind! I am sure they will not miss your dollars or preconceived ideas about them.

wheelreason

Stick to bikes, Cabelas is (was) one of the oldest and most respected outfitters for outdoors. Of course they carry a $600 Shimano fishing reel, so that brand is know for junk, so there is that...

urbanknight

If only Campagnolo made fishing equipment.

wheelreason

That would be Fin-Nor. Legendary works of art, at prohibitive price points with a legion of fan boys and functionally inferior to the competition. Much like in cycling, now it's just a name that got bought out and brought to the masses, much like the Haro Masis did.

veganbikes

Shimano is known for junk they make Tourney and below Tourney, they also make nicer things. I won't get into a deep P&R about fishing but leave them alone let them live their own lives and you can live yours. Plenty of other great outdoor activities.

dedhed

Some of the best, most durable, longest lasting outdoor gear I own has been purchased at Cabelas. You've obviously never set foot in one as they sell many brand names and lots of high quality, high end outdoor gear. Typically very knowledgeable staff in any given department. Sure bikes are not their target market, but they see lots of customers and are often a "destination" stop for people who don't have one nearby. Actually really nice stores. The one by me has an awesome wildlife diorama, aquarium, and restaurant. they sell everything from boats to bullets, travel, taxidermy, gunsmithing, really full service outdoor company which donates to many outdoor conservation groups. Maybe they're just not for someone who only is into bikes.

veganbikes

I am into more than just bikes but violence towards others for silly reasons like sport don't impress me and groups calling themselves "conservation" groups that are just interested in doing the same and not really caring about the environment also don't impress. I do enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, backpacking, shooting sports (that don't involve harm to others)...

However maybe Cabela's is better than I had thought but selling junky bikes kinda of ruins it.

RCMoeur 

They probably need the bikes just to get from one side of the store to the other.

ScottCommutes

Remarkably, there is no rhyme or reason to what Cabelas chooses to stock. They have thousands of SKUs of top-quality name brand made in the USA kind of stuff next to thousands of SKUs of the cheapest foreign imitations. Probably half of their sales are from BS items - dresses, fudge, beef jerky, toys, gifts, candy, funny signs, decor, etc.

The in-store display only featured Ascend bikes - I would have recognized Mongoose or Huffy.

I think they are targeting the people that drive around the country in campers with bikes on a rack. Cabelas caters to that crowd. They legitimately need a place to buy their bike stuff.

Troul 

soon enough they'll fill prescriptions... "Proscriptions" ?

MarcusT

As usual, once the reply count goes past 10, the snarky comments start.

I remember a discussion here years back about Cabela's fat bikes

indyfabz

E-bikes are also becoming more popular with the RV crowd. I’ve seen a good deal of them while touring.

Steel Charlie

That's perilously close to MYOB ! Radical approach for BF

Slagging sports big box stores is particularly popular with some segments of the shooting community - until they become close to a unique source for some products

wheelreason

BPS/Cabelas does not need marketing advice from any of us, they make a lot of money by selling what sells, which is ultimatelly the goal. Johnny Morris is a very shrewd businessman.
Bikes is but a blip on their radar, but they can dabble in it with very little down side, so why not, besides bikes don't have the markups that a lot of the things they sell.