Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Terms | Privacy. 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. Hip Labrum Repair - How long did yours last? Walmart isnt currently targeting the kind of customer who wants the latest carbon layup or the greatest new geometry, nor is it targeting customers who self-identify as cyclists. I set up the G1 with a quick home fit, and away I went. 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. Another new direct-to-consumer brand, Remot, alsolaunched this week with far less buzz, despite being owned by American Bicycle Group, the holding company for established high-end brands Litespeed and Quintana Roo. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. This bike has character, like all bikes do. Now it has a toe in the high-end market and the chance to show that itscapable of making quality stuff. For Spinhirne-Martin, creating the brandwas about making high-end bikes more accessible to the general public, and Viathon hopes to do that through their price point. Thats not to say this bike is cheap. Look for Viathon bikes online at ViathonBicycles.com in mid-May, and soon after at Walmart.com. But what was remarkable about Viathon was the identity of the brand's owner: Walmart. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! The frames are engineered and designed in partnership with Kevin Quan, a longtime designer whos responsible for well-known bikes from well-known brands like Cervelo, Parlee, and Pivot. In an interview last week at Sea Otter, a bicycling industry gathering in Monterey, Calif. I came to Walmart to grow the bike industry. For the last update and a link to the introductions, Click Here. Personally, given the sporty nature of this ride, Id have preferred to see the larger 48-31T chainring combo used. The company cited industry data. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. It will be an uphill battle for a brand that could use a bit more personality. A Viathon representative told me that Walmart simply wanted the story to be more about the bikes than the company behind them. And that really summarises the G.1 quite nicely. NAHBS photos: Show winners and their bikes, Cervlo S5 review: A truly exhilarating superbike, Technical FAQ: Mips vs. loose helmet strap, bike weight, hydraulic brakes at altitude, Di2 mix/match. I asked how it was all going and how many bikes have been sold. Copper Harbor grants massive descents on rocky hills. TGR Staff Writer and photographer. [trail] Download the app. A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine I also wanted all of my bikes to perform when pushed hard, said Spinhirne-Martin of the frames stiffness. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. Viathon G.1 Gravel Bike | Viathon Bikes by Walmart 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. Specialized's highest-end hardtailthe S-Works Epiccomes in at a whopping $8,520, whereas Viathon's most expensive model starts at $6,000. The Viathon fulfillment center is in Carlsbad, California. 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. But don't count the traditional players out yet, on either the supply or retail ends of the supply chain. This stood out on the mostly black bike and feels like one of those small details that wouldnt be overlooked by more established brands. Though a cross-country bike, the Viathon gave confidence and control through almost every session on the U.P. Change your default forum handle here! Theres the usual tapered steerer fork, 12 mm thru-axles, flat mount brake mounts, internal cable routing (using full-length cable housing), and asymmetrical chainstays to increase tyre clearance. 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. On its own, Viathon strikes me as a modestly interesting enthusiast brand with some solid, value-oriented bikes that feature industry-standard design and technology. Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. 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. Without the curiousness of the Walmart link, I wouldnt even be writing about Viathon. 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. Now on to the final word on this carbon fiber crushed rock roller. The Fizik Tundra M3 saddle was not comfortable in the slightestespecially on longer climbs. While so many of the established brands offer anything from a five-year to lifetime warranty on their frames, Viathons come with just two years of coverage. So I have plenty of experience with frame geo and mechanics. Our sample had no foam liner to silence it, but again, Viathon assured us production bikes do. New MTB Brand Hudski Bikes Launches with 3 bikes, all Based on a Single Frame, 15 Products to Make Riding Gravel Less of a Grind, Moots Updates the Routt Gravel Bike for 2021, Focus Atlas Alloy Gravel Bike Looks Equally Affordable and Well-Equipped for Adventure, Knolly Cache is the Gravel Bike Made by Mountain Bikers [Review]. The flipside of that is a frame that pounces forward when you ask it to do so. He employs six engineers and designers at his Toronto-based studio. Sadly the provided stem length and seatpost setback werent an ideal fit for the bike, or us. Well, its a lot like the Santa Cruz Stigmata it was modelled after, just not quite as refined. It will be back soon. Here's the Viathon M.1 in action with some catchy tunes. 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. Its a bike that in so many ways aligns closely to what the premium Santa Cruz Stigmata is, however, the Viathon adds a little more versatility through additional mounting options. The impetus for Viathon didnt come from Tom and Steuart Walton, avid riders, Walmart heirs responsible for the trail network in Bentonville, Ark., and investors in Rapha and Allied Cycle Works. The geometry, however, told a different story than what Viathon portrayed as the M1s intent, and it felt much more like an XC race bike, than an everyday trail bike. 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The brand is starting with three. I normally would not take the time to write this stuff, but I was really interested in a review of this bike. We have incredible traffic on our site. Certainly Viathon's not to that point yet, but time will tell. Its also worth noting that Viathon designs their own frames, as opposed to using open molds. The Viathon G1 is one of the more affordable carbon, gravel bikes that's well suited to riding sketchy roads. 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. I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. 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. So whats not to like? Said to be a pre-production photo sample, our tester came equipped with a long 110 mm stem, wide 440 mm bars, and 20 mm setback seatpost. In reality, thats probably enough to realise any manufacturer defects, and Viathon does also offer a crash replacement policy, but its something to consider nonetheless. In some cases the customers know exactly what they want, but if they dont then the service agent can help determine whats best by running through a few questions about the rider and desired riding position.. The bike has a bit of a disjointed ride feel due to the stout front fork which is stiff in contrast to the forgiveness exhibited by the rear stays. And its partnering with shops, mobile shops, and more, as well as creating an online fit calculator. There are rack and fender mounts on the G1 frame, internal routing, and mounts for up to three water bottles, so it is possible to get pretty far from base camp on the G1, and theres frame clearance for bags and all that. All of this is in line with long-standing issues of buying bikes online. $$$ Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company Privacy Policy Photos See all Videos See all 0:11 The cable routing itself was fairly basic, too. Garmin Garmin Edge 1030 Bundle. Lets be honest. The bikes launched last April, and when word got out that Walmart was quietly supporting the brand, it caused quite the stir. So how does this high-value racer ride? The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers like Fizik, Hed, and Zipp, and the pricing is competitive with a number of brands. August. Viathon is for riders who appreciate uncontrived quality, demand craftsmanship but recognize value, who pedal for health yet savor the ride. All rights reserved. So were considering lateral stiffness, vertical compliance, weight, ride feel, cornering stability, and even the finish. For starters, despite its slim tube shape and dropped seat stays, the R.1 is definitely less compliant than expected. Battle of the frames: Felt IA 10 vs IA 1? Marketing strategy comes out of Sun Valley, Idaho, with the CrankTank firm. And while Walmarts involvement with the cycling world has traditionally been one of mass-market and low-cost bikes bought in-store, Viathons entry signals a new age. Viathon: Walmart's $6,000 Mountain Bike Put to Test He noted, Ive ridden and owned basically everything they sell over that time: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Ventana, Pivot, Open, Pinarello, Wilier, Cervelo, Ridley.. It appears the newswas first mentioned in a Pinkbike story. This is a workhorse groupset that simply adds better ergonomics and a more suitable gearing range to what was the most popular road groupset on the market. But that lack of local shop support is a risk of buying a bike through direct channels. But the collaboration shouldnt come as a surprise. Viathon Launches New Direct-to-Consumer G1 Carbon Gravel Bike I like my bikes to jump when I stand up and crank down on the pedals. 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! The Shimano Dura-Ace R9120 groupset, with mechanical shifters and hydraulic disc brakes, is the same youd get on many high-end bikes out there, which means youre judging this bike based on the frame and fork, and how those two components interact with the build. The question is, does a bikes soul matter more than its value and performance? 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. Additionally, two of Walmarts heirs, Tom and Steuart Walton, are cycling fanatics. I just noticed that as well (website pretty much gone). And if you did want a different saddle or bartape, then they could probably arrange that, too (at a cost). Is swimming safe? Canyons Exceed CF is $6,500 and has a comparable spec. Like books, we cannot judge a bicycle solely on its coverin this case the graphics and business connection. With a feathery weight, effective geometry, and componentry to rival the best bikes on the market, theM.1 is a relevant consideration for serious riders with a cross-country bent. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. And failing. 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. Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Cyclocross Magazine Viathon G1 Bike: Getting Rolling - Riding Gravel Pretty, pretty, good . The bikes will be available to order within weeks. Calf muscle pull or tear? When assessing the new Viathon R.1 road bike, I first chose to judge the proverbial book by its cover. These are just my opinions. Walmart are best known for their $300-$500 bikes that. | Its also not the Bike Utility Vehicle that you get out of a Salsa or even the Santa Cruz Stigmata, with their functional braze-ons intended to extend time away from home base. If nothing else, we've been surviving in this business for decades and we know the "easiest way to make a small fortune" in it a lesson which even the best-heeled outsiders have yet to learn. The history of the bicycle business is, in one sense, a history of powerful outsiders coming in to teach us dumb yokels how things are done in the Big Leagues. A. The answer? Walmart Black Friday Deals 2019 | Deals for Cyclists - Bicycling Viathon Viathon bikes are currently 30 percent off at Walmart. While thats a noble notion, is the Viathon bike really that groundbreaking? It's October - go swim (monthly fish thread), For the Fish: Ankle Flexibility and Kick Free vs Back. 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. View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. Viathon R.1 Road Bike For speed demons, Viathon's high-end R.1 Dura Ace road bike runs $5,850. "We're trying to build a culture, building an education," Jordan said at the introduction. Its marketed as one of the lightest, fastest mountain race machines that money can buy, and that claim seemed hard to dispute by the end of my first week. 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. I didnt expect much from the Bokens, but they were predictable on dirt with a fast rolling speed. Check Out Continue Shopping. The Viathon G.1 Family. Either way, its there as an intended feature. Speaking of rocks, the Viathons ride quality is certainly on the stiffer end of things, and those thin seatstays werent able to tame as much as the Salsa Warbird or even the Stigmata. MTB Podcast | Geometry on the G1, like the M1, is fairly conservative. The G1 itself, judging by its cover, looks like a tailored gravel race bike, where carbon matters in terms of stiffness and power transfer, and a more racy geometry means better aerodynamics, and less playing around. Hed been with the online retailer for 10 years. So how does this budget-friendly racer ride? MAYBE pick a test person that is more XC based, as it is an XC bike. 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. The brand also released a blog outlining the six reasons to get a hardtail. But does it ride like one? America's low price leader served up a single no-name (and possibly open-mold) model with full mechanical Ultegra group, complete with wheelset, at a very low price point. & Spinhirne-Martin tells me to look around the Laguna Seca Raceway, which is teeming with fans, baggy shorts-wearing bros, and Lycra-clad racers with rippling muscles. With a trendy 25 mm internal width, the welded alloy rims are wider than they are deep. Meanwhile, the rear brake hose, which sits loose inside the down tube, had a tendency to rattle against the frame. They tasked a few well known bike designers with creating a new brand. Viathon Photo. And other direct-to-consumer brands like Canyon have a big head start on Viathon in terms of reputation. Thats one of the wonderful things about this bike: You get reliable bike with a great build for less money. Walmart isnt a brand most turn to for upgrading their bike, but Viathon could change that perception. And in this case, all of these added up to make the bike feel like it was a size or two larger than expected. The head tube feels firmly connected to the bottom bracket, and that to the rear axle. However, like the Stigmata, it too lacks Bento bag mounts on the top tube. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. From its sleek frame on up, the M.1 cuts few corners: Stans Crest CB7 carbon wheels, FSA carbon cockpit, Fizik saddle, Ergon grips, and a RockShox dropper post. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with up to 51mm tires. None of the standard specs were an issue for me in terms of fit, and even the Selle Italia saddle wasnt problematic for me at any point. New bike brands come and go, but its rare that one makes as big of a splash with its debut as Viathon, a new direct-to-consumer marquee that launched this week. Lets look at the numbers. The writer, Sarah Moore, found the connection when looking up the trademark on the name, which isregistered to Walmart. Managing editor Dean Yobbi told the story in BRAIN's May dead-trees issue and online as well. They seem to offer a solid value for a full carbon bike. Aint nothing wrong with that! Heres what it felt like to interact with the R.1. In so many ways, the Viathon is like the middle manager whos tried to mimic their boss style on a tight budget. As it happens, I prefer this kind of steering, which youll commonly find on aero bikes and endurance bikes with longer trail figures. For those people, being able to buy a high-quality bike online means they dont have to go into a potentially scary, elitist, unwelcoming bike shop where theyll be uncomfortable and possibly judged.. So, at a quick glance, the Viathon seems like a steal. Considering the Walmart shopper and what bike theyre on now, the answer is probably yes. Company The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. 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.

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