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. The graphics leave much to be desired, and the brand name lacks some enthusiasm. but no links to product pages. Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. The Viathon G.1 Family. As I mentioned above, customers might be able to swap out the bars for something wider that will flex more, but the narrow 430mm bars clobbered my hands going over rough terrain. In Marquette, a trail network overlays the infrastructure of a mining town, with outsize pipes and brick walls crumbling in the trees. Viathon Viathon bikes are currently 30 percent off at Walmart. Updated, 4/9. Walmart.com, of course, is an internet behemoth with hundreds of millions of visitor sessions each month with peak holiday traffic topping half a billion, according to analyses by industry research firms SimilarWeb and Statista. He noted, Ive ridden and owned basically everything they sell over that time: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Ventana, Pivot, Open, Pinarello, Wilier, Cervelo, Ridley.. 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. All rights reserved. Hardtail mountain bikes with front suspension, Viathon notes, are the second-largest category, according to NPD. "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. We are not focusing on the connection but not hiding it either, Spinhirne-Martin said. Im in GearJunkies Minneapolis office, a small blade in hand, ready to unbox a bike. However, there were a few things that stood out to me while cruising through a pretty punchy section of Sun Valley singletrack. Companies like Raleigh and DiamondBack have also embraced the model. And every single article, including this one, focuses on the Walmart ownership. And while the bikes may be sold on Walmarts website at some point, theres no mention ofselling in stores, which would put the bikes in front of a broader audience. So how does this budget-friendly racer ride? The Viathon G.1? Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Cyclocross Magazine Right now, Viathon sits on the value end of the spectrum, alongside other house brands like Scattante or the now-closed Foundry: perfectly fine, but not particularly compelling. Theres a complete Shimano GRX 600 211 group on this bike, right down to the Ultegra-level Center Lock brake rotors and Shimano threaded bottom bracket. Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. 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. 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. He proposed a private-label project, and hes bringing it to fruition. Additionally, two of Walmarts heirs, Tom and Steuart Walton, are cycling fanatics. Having spent some time in the saddle, I have to agree. All rights reserved. Look for Viathon bikes online at ViathonBicycles.com in mid-May, and soon after at Walmart.com. The Viathon is best suited for XC terrain unless youve got some real moxie to take it down some gnar. To be fair, that latter element is fairly common on a number of high-end bikes and isnt much of an issue, but it does point to a simpler frame construction. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with up to 51mm tires. Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. I normally would not take the time to write this stuff, but I was really interested in a review of this bike. For one, the retailer is already selling high-end bike parts on their outdoor website Moosejaw. 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. But what was remarkable about Viathon was the identity of the brand's owner: Walmart. 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. Certainly, there are many Walmart shoppers among us, though likely few who have bought a bike there. When spending upwards of $5,000 on a bike, a decision matrix includes variables from aesthetics to brand affinity. 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]. Should brick-and-mortar or other online retailers worry? The Viathon fulfillment center is in Carlsbad, California. It will be an uphill battle for a brand that could use a bit more personality. A famous trail, Eh Line, swooped on dirt banks and over gaps. A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine Viathon M.1 GX Eagle Mountain Bike Review - YouTube [natethomas] I also grabbed a G1. I ride over ladder bridges and into dense trees. The new BMC URS is one of the most innovative and progressive gravel bikes on the market. Im guessing thatwithout the connection to the largest retailer in the world, Viathon wouldnt be getting nearly this level of attention. The frame features are exactly what youd expect of a modern frame. And the company currently sells more bicycles in the United States than any other retailer. One, the fact the writer states that his review is skewed because he is an enduro rider. Of course, this all depends on your height, and those five available frame sizes only start at 52 cm. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. 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). Viathon Bicycles - Home | Facebook During Sun Valleys Outerbike event I had the chance to pick Viathon founder Zach Spinhirne-Martins brain about the genesis of the brand. 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. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. 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. Gravel bikes can generally be ridden from home at a lower risk level than mountain bikes. The cables rub the head tube (BYO protective frame stickers! Passers-by wont be able to spot the difference between the two, but those that own the high-end stuff will know. Calf muscle pull or tear? Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. And yep, the frame can be setup with either 1x or 2x gearing. [, 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. Viathon "believes that great bikes make riding more fun. Official Giant Trinity Advanced Owners Thread, New Giant Trinity Advanced Hydration and Bento, 2016 Giant Trinity Advanced Pro Cable Issues, Official 12th Annual 2018/19 Slowtwitch 100/100 Run Challenge Thread, 2018/19 100 Runs in 100 Days Airing of the Grievances Thread, 100 Runs 100 Days 2017-2018 Challenge Thread: Dec 15-Mar 23. MSRP on the G1 with SRAM Rival 1 is $2498.00 USD. Viathon swears its the latter. Preventing Iliac Artery Endofibrosis - Cycling Overuse Injuries. Review: Viathon R.1 Road Bike - VeloNews.com I have a few issue with this review. These are just my opinions. The brand is starting with three. Noting the stiffness, and feathery weight of the G1 again, its an excellent climber, and the Shimano GRX 600 worked flawlessly for me. My 54cm test bike has 382.8mm of reach, coupled with a 110mm stem. This bike has character, like all bikes do. 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). And the two price points for Dura Ace and Ultegra place the Viathon alongside some of the budget-friendly racing bikes from Canyon that feature equally impressive component specs. Viathon Is Walmart's New High-End Bike Brand - Outside Online Its certainly not severe, and despite riding the G.1 in some rocky, tight, and twisty terrain, it rarely presented itself as an issue. Viathon's G.1 carbon gravel bike is Walmart's attempt to capture some of the high-end, direct-to-consumer bicycle market. They seem to offer a solid value for a full carbon bike. But theres nuance to this ride, so if youre more discerning than that and are after more than just a good bike at a decent price, read on. This is courtesy of the SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain and its golden chain. 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. Viathon R.1 Red eTap AXS review: Great performance, but with Walmart So Viathon designed & engineered three bikes - the R.1, G.1 & M.1 - each new carbon frames unique to the brand (designs owned by Viathon, ie. Im not mad, just disappointed. That tyre clearance is far, far more generous than the 700 x 40 mm (or 650B x 53 mm) wide numbers that Viathon claim. And then theres the fact that the established brands the Giants, Treks, Specializeds and Cannondales of this world typically supply the bikes with components that are already damn close to being right for each respective size to begin with.