viathon bikes out of business

The Viathon is best suited for XC terrain unless youve got some real moxie to take it down some gnar. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. So how does this budget-friendly racer ride? Terms of Use [, 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. With a network of green-rated trails down the street from my house, the G1 came into my hands at the right time. Does a rising tide lift all boats? I lifted the bike from its box, the staff leaning in for a first look. And winner winner: theres a threaded bottom bracket shell. Take YouTuber KevCentral, for example, whose channel reviews bikes available at Walmart and Walmart.com and how to upgrade them. 20% Off. Now on to the final word on this carbon fiber crushed rock roller. I pitched the idea to my management as a way to more quickly enter the market and change our perception, he said. 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. Going uphill, the shifting is buttery smooth. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmart's current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiast business. 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. Company 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. A famous trail, Eh Line, swooped on dirt banks and over gaps. 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. Except none of that happened. Viathon "believes that great bikes make riding more fun. A 69.5-degree head angle and 73.6-degree seat tube angle are what many brands had a few years ago. Heading out the door? Theres nothing wild going on in the tubing no weird bends, or protrusions. [, Re: Did Wal Mart pull the plug on Viathon? But don't count the traditional players out yet, on either the supply or retail ends of the supply chain. Walmart is also the largest grocer in America and possibly the world. The brand also released a blog outlining the six reasons to get a hardtail. The average person is a Walmart shopper, he says. Mountain - M.1. Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowskis view. Its for someone who wants to ride the whole mountain, up, down, and everything in between., The new face of a Walmart bike? Members get 15+ publications right in your pocket. Its also worth noting that Viathon designs their own frames, as opposed to using open molds. But Quan is the only person mentioned in a team of top bicycle industry veterans with decades of collective experience. The only other real face behind Viathon is brand manager Zach Spinhirne-Martin, who spent nine years with the online retailer Competitive Cyclist before joining Walmart as its bike category manager. Aint nothing wrong with that! Their $18 million investment went a long way for the areas trail infrastructure, making it an unsuspecting cycling mecca nestled into the Ozark Mountains. The answer? The same, except a 2 mm shorter offset fork (50 vs 48 mm) results in an ever-so-slightly-slower 68 mm trail figure. It lacks some of that impossible-to-define character that makes a climbing bike inspirational, especially when youre toiling away on a tough climb. 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. I am a professional mechanic, and have a hand built over 175 custom frames from steel or Ti. The Shimano Dura Ace build with hydraulic disc brakes costs $5,850, and the Ultegra disc brake model is $3,575. While this might be true for the climb up, it would be a stretch for going downhill. 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. The Fizik Tundra M3 saddle was not comfortable in the slightestespecially on longer climbs. Amazon Pick: Up to 20% Viathon Bicycles Products and Competing Brands at Amazon.com. We are not focusing on the [Walmart] connection but not hiding it either, Spinhirne-Martin said.Spinhirne-Martin said he came up with this bike while living in Park City, Utah, between 2011 and 2017: The bench-cut trails with tons of climbing lent themselves to a light, efficient climber with a bit more up front to smooth out the fast downhills.. It's been just about four months since a line of consumer-direct carbon road, gravel and mountain bikes premiered from a new brand called Viathon, emerging out of the bright Sea Otter sunshine like the goddess Athena springing full-formed from the forehead of Zeus. Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Cyclocross Magazine August. The only thing that caught my eye was the cable routing gathered around the head tube, which looks a little messy. Launched earlier this year, its line blows the image of a "Walmart bike" out of the water. 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. Gravel as a discipline also seems to be a little more straightforward than mountain biking, where there are countless sub-genres of bikes. Not a whole lot. Something like these Spank Vibrocore gravel bars we tested would certainly take the edge off. At the beginning of the pandemic, governments and mountain bike organizations made it clear to all of us that we should be sticking close to home, and refraining from unnecessary risks. The dropper post was pretty finicky as well. But the move that really set the cat among the industry pigeons was the Viathon sales strategy, which at least strongly hinted at distribution via Walmart.com. Passers-by wont be able to spot the difference between the two, but those that own the high-end stuff will know. Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. For the M.1 XX1 Eagle, Viathon dropped its original $6,000 price recently to $4,998. 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. Certainly, Walmart has the resources to overcome that, if it chooses, and it also has a reach like few other companiesWalmart sells more bicycles in North America than any other retailer, according to industry analyst Jay Townley. Home; Shop. Fast as a road racer, rugged as a mountain bike, and priced beyond compare.. I have a few issue with this review. Download the app. 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. A few months later in June, we got to take the M1 hardtail for a spin in Idaho. 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. It's been just about four months since a line of consumer-direct carbon road, gravel and mountain bikes premiered from a new brand called Viathon, emerging out of the bright Sea Otter sunshine like the goddess Athena springing full-formed from the forehead of Zeus. The Viathon M.1, a carbon hardtail with 29-inch wheels, chatters over roots then sluices through a berm. And failing. 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? "Of course, there was some backlash with the Walmart connection,'' said Mark Jordan, whose CrankTank marketing group staged the Viathon launch and was quoted in Yobbi's original article. All throughout the ride, I found the Rockshox Reverb Stealth pretty slow to react, which is, unfortunately, a notorious problem for this dropper (the most current version promises to fix this). 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. I wondered, who is the target audience for Viathon bikes? For one, the retailer is already selling high-end bike parts on their outdoor website Moosejaw. And if you did want a different saddle or bartape, then they could probably arrange that, too (at a cost). The 70mm stem felt a bit squirrely, and any minor movement was transferred into the handlebars going downhill. Thats a challenge. Plan to post in the forums? They are a close second to full-suspension in terms of dollars, but hardtail mountain bikes make for a significantly larger share in terms of units sold. Thats not to say this bike is cheap. 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. Read more. Crickets. In many ways, this is exactly what a good bike store would do for you when buying a bike. Online, Viathon has three offerings to choose from: hardtail, gravel, and a road bike. . Though a cross-country bike, the Viathon gave confidence and control through almost every session on the U.P. 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 Viathon G.1 is the gravel rig of the bunch. Currently, the bikes are not available in other markets. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Walmarts top-of-the-line M.1 hardtail mountain bike has 120mm travel with RockShox components, Stans wheels, Level Ultimate brakes, and Continental tires. 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. and Zipp Service Course cockpit, the G.1 Rival gets down to business. 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. MTB Podcast | Marketing strategy comes out of Sun Valley, Idaho, with the CrankTank firm. Thats one of the wonderful things about this bike: You get reliable bike with a great build for less money. Viathon Bicycles - Home | Facebook Partner of USATODAY Lifestyle/Action Sports, A First Look at Viathon, Walmarts new Mountain Bike, shaping their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas into a mountain biking haven. Slowtwitch approved IT Band rehab? Lets be honest. 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. The IRC Boken tires and Mercury wheels were a good match for the Viathon as well. It's a full carbon gravel bike with modern geometry, an understated look, and a price that's refreshingly affordable. Additionally, two of Walmarts heirs, Tom and Steuart Walton, are cycling fanatics. $200 Off. go tubeless they said it will be fun they said. With the tire clearance limited to a 40c wide tire though, the G1 reminds me again that its intentions rest on dirt roads. View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. 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. 3 for online traffic after Google and Amazon. Did Viathon offer some bold new technology,jaw-dropping value, or an irresistible brand story? So how does this high-value racer ride? The Viathon G1 has been ridden a couple of months now by Andy T, and so we are ready to give the final verdict on this Walmart distributed bike. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. The other risk is the warranty. Copper Harbor grants massive descents on rocky hills. A RockShox 120mm fork and speedy Continental tires respectively absorb and grip the ground. The newly created small Viathon team was then tasked with developing a simple performance range that could appeal to a wide range of cyclists. The bikes look fine. Perfect Portable Power Station: EcoFlow River 2 Pro Review, Watch Aldo Leopolds Passion for Conservation Take Root in Serve the Land, Best Overland Water Storage Containers for Long-Distance Travel, AI Hiking Bears Fascinate Internet, Scramble Human Brains, Civivi Conspirator Nitro-V Review: The Budget-Friendly Super Steel Youve Never Heard Of, Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Review: Mojave Road Overland Adventure, The Benchmade Narrows Resets the Engineering Bar, A Scope That Performs Without Breaking the Bank: Maven CRS.2 Review, The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2023, The Best Camping Mattresses and Sleeping Pads of 2023, From a Reclining Camp Chair to Kickass Layers: Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Moms, Best Gifts for Dad: Great Gear for Your Old Man, Best Fitness Gifts: 10 Must-Haves for the Outdoor Athlete. That frame (which is also sold separately at US$1,498) is no open-mould cookie-cutter thing either. For many consumers, budget concerns are only part of the equation. 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. My first takeaway on the G1 was how light and stiff the frame is. Viathon aims to find out, and its got a good product to perform that experiment. The GRX 600 build also has Mercury G3 wheels, with a 25mm internal width, and IRC Boken 700x40c tires, for a setup that should provide a wide footprint. And failing. 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. But the company has connections to the industry, including the support of trail networks notably, the network around Bentonville, Arkansas, near Walmart headquarters. Viathon M.1 mountain bike The bike arrives 98 percent pre-assembled the customer has to tighten on pedals, install the front wheel, and attach the front face plate over the handlebar. Get This Deal. Who makes Viathon frames? On top of the frame features, the G1 comes with a pretty respectable build kit. Viathon G.1 105 Highlights. A 54 cm Stigmata offers a 71.5-degree head angle, 74-degree seat tube angle and trail figure of 66 mm (measured with 700 x 40 mm tyres). The R.1 does feel responsive and supportive when you stand up to sprint. The Viathon G1 Gravel Bike: Fast and Affordable, with a Little Room for 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. When spending upwards of $5,000 on a bike, a decision matrix includes variables from aesthetics to brand affinity. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with up to 51mm tires. 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 will start by saying I am a long time bike industry employee. Is swimming safe? That also translates to some good pep when youre climbing out of the saddle. Here's the Viathon M.1 in action with some catchy tunes. And that buying power is often used to competitive advantage: Walmart commonly cuts out the middlemen, and then out-prices and out-supplies its competitors across many industries. Filter bikes by year, weight, components, price, and performance. Others are concerned about how this will undercut bike shops. Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. I have been swapping parts around and will finally get to ride it today. 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. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head. 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. But given youd be in person with the bike store, theyd most likely have a better chance in getting the specifics absolutely dialled. Viathon-via-FB wrote: Hello, we are not out of business, our website is down due to some technical issues and while it is down we are taking the opportunity to make some changes. Companies like Raleigh and DiamondBack have also embraced the model. With that in mind, it seems appropriate that Walmart is finally sinking its teeth into producing a line of proper bikes. A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine I weighed the M.1 later with a handheld scale. Not surprisingly, its something we got along with well on the Santa Cruz. For $2,300 (at Walmart.com), the G1 has a new Shimano GRX 600 groupset, an entry-level, gravel-specific drivetrain, with a hydraulic brake set. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. This stood out on the mostly black bike and feels like one of those small details that wouldnt be overlooked by more established brands. 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. Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. The weird stem length, set-back seatpost and bar width dont matter. 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. A Viathon representative told me that Walmart simply wanted the story to be more about the bikes than the company behind them. A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. Mimicking the Stigmata, the G.1 sits more toward the road end of the gravel spectrum with angles which are closer to that of an endurance road bike than a hardtail mountain bike of a decade past. Viathon Bicycles | Find Your Way It confidently climbed over gravel, roots, and rocks. Read more. 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. 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 . For starters, despite its slim tube shape and dropped seat stays, the R.1 is definitely less compliant than expected. Shop Nitrous Shop Cyclosys QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE Since 1994 these are the words that continue to resonate within us. Those interested in this bike should also take a close look at the Canyon. Its a bike that uses the exact same full-carbon frame as the more expensive Viathon G.1s in the range theres no tweak to the carbon lay-up, or cheapening of the fork for the various price points. In so many ways, the Viathon is like the middle manager whos tried to mimic their boss style on a tight budget. He employs six engineers and designers at his Toronto-based studio. Viathon G.1 GRX 800 review - VeloNews.com 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. Usually, they can change the bar width, stem length, and crank length, but Viathon hasnt been able to do this during the pandemic because of supply chain issues, and its not clear yet when theyll be able to offer this option again. I loved how this bike rides, said Spinhirne-Martin about the previous generation Stigmata. 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 terrain varies from flowy cross-country trail to downhill-inspired gravity tracks. Dont let the affordable price entice you if youre looking for a more well-rounded bike. The graphics leave much to be desired, and the brand name lacks some enthusiasm. We tested the brand's top-end M.1 Mountain Bike for 6 weeks to gain an. The M1 carbon hardtail, with a SRAM GX Ealge driveterain comes in at a bargain price of $2,200, with the top-level SRAM AXS electronic drivetrain equipped model hitting $6,500. "We're trying to build a culture, building an education," Jordan said at the introduction. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. Question: When Will Viathon Bikes Go On Sale - BikeHike That wont set it apart in a highly competitive market or bring high-end tech to a new market of people. However, what cant be argued with is that the law of diminishing returns certainly plays a large role in premium products, and Viathon has done a damn good job of showing that. 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. 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. A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine The cables rub the head tube (BYO protective frame stickers! I only wished it had a bit more tire clearance, [and more] bottle and rack capability.. The cable routing itself was fairly basic, too. Viathon is Walmart's latest upscale, digitally native, house brand Preventing Iliac Artery Endofibrosis - Cycling Overuse Injuries. Its possible that was done on purpose to appeal more to a wider swath of riders namely, non-racers. 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. Thats a fine goal, but lets not kid ourselves: $2,300 is both a lot of money and also not appreciably cheaper than the pricing offered by a number of other brands. Walmart.com brings on bike brand called Viathon that is - Reddit Further, a hardtail is a great entry point for a new rider looking for high-quality performance, Spinhirne-Martin said. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). With both, you get two great carbon bikes, that differ when you break down the components. And 2 years ago, the company hired Zach Spinhirne-Martin, a senior buyer at CompetitiveCyclist.com. 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. Viathon expects stock on these bikes sometime this Fall. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head.. 2023 All rights reserved. That's a lot to love. 2 - You can't buy these bikes at a Walmart. Read more. Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. Our biggest issues were certainly related to the cabling. The Rival G1 is spec'ed with a 111 Rival drive train, Mercury G3 wheels, and Zipp Service Course cockpit. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. I asked about the response to the brand launch from customers and the bike industry. Viathon offers customers choices when it comes to fit. 100 competitor promo codes - Last used 11m ago. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. 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. He noted, Ive ridden and owned basically everything they sell over that time: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Ventana, Pivot, Open, Pinarello, Wilier, Cervelo, Ridley.. | 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. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. The S-Works Epic only comes with an 11-speed groupsetthe Shimano XTR Di2so the Viathon wins in our books with the snazzy eagle. You could, of course, upgrade your cockpit to achieve that svelte, hidden-cable look, but you wont get it with the stock model. A year later, the bikes closed out for about $1,000 apiece, and I read at the time on various online consumer groups that sharp-eyed cyclists were snapping them up as preassembled build kits and flogging the framesets online for maybe a hundred bucks a copy. While everyone seems to be hung up about the Walmart partnership, its a bit of a superficial distraction to the companys larger goal. Even more interesting was Jordan's underlying premise that at least some of those hundreds of millions of Walmart customers would for reasons unknown and perhaps unknowable leap at the opportunity to purchase a full-dress carbon bike with a price tag northward of $3,000 precisely because they didn't have to go into a brick-and-mortar bike shop to purchase it. Viathon is for riders who appreciate uncontrived quality, demand craftsmanship but recognize value, who pedal for health yet savor the ride. He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. Of all the GRX bikes on test, this one shifted with the worst lever feel. However, theres also an element of simplicity we quite like. [, Re: Did Wal Mart pull the plug on Viathon? But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. Members get 15+ publications right in your pocket. Some bikes immediately bear their souls to its rider. The bikes will be available to order within weeks. When everyones selling a $3,500-ish Shimano Ultegra disc-equipped carbon gravel bike with an oversize headtube, asymmetric rear triangle, and scads of tire clearance, its a little hard to stand apart from the crowdeven when there are real differences. That would really skew the handling. Join Outside+ to get complete access to exclusive content on VeloNews, training plans for road and gravel, and more. Viathon's G.1 carbon gravel bike is Walmart's attempt to capture some of the high-end, direct-to-consumer bicycle market. Viathon was created to shift consumers thinking. Review: Viathon R.1 Road Bike - VeloNews.com $6,000 Walmart Bike: Box Store Launches Premium 'Viathon' Cycles Also the statement of light as a feather.is that compared to your Enduro bike? 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. Viathon G.1 105 First Ride Review | Road Bike, Cycling Forums

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