Wal-Mart Italian Road Bike for $1198

[SMS]

While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.

"http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"

Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
the bike department?

 

[[email protected]]

On May 1, 7:58 pm, SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
> Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
> the bike department?

Says right there in your linked page: "This bike was assembled by the
hands of skilled Italian
mechanics to be tuned up and ready to ride right out of the box."

Then contradicts itself: "Minimal assembly is required for this
premium bicycle."

I'm glad it assures us that they are 'skilled Italian mechanics', not
dumbass Italian mechanics.

ABS

 

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
| making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
| Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
|
| "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
|
| Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
| Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
| the bike department?

I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything, not
just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

 

[[email protected]]

On May 2, 4:58 am, SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
> making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
> Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>
> "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>
> Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
> Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
> the bike department?

So they buy some commodity asian bikes from an Italian company. There
is NO WAY there is a "Fatta in Italia" sticker on the frame.

Joseph

 

[Harry Brogan]

On Thu, 1 May 2008 23:48:02 -0700, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>| While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
>| making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
>| Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>|
>| "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>|
>| Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
>| Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
>| the bike department?
>
>I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything, not
>just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
>floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!
>
>--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>


Your forgot one...the sizing of XXXXXL for quite a few of the Wally
World shoppers!!!!!


__o | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
_`\(,_ | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) | ---H.G. Wells---

 

[DougC]

SMS wrote:
> While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
> making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
> Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>
> "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>
> Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
> Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
> the bike department?

The bikes are assembled in the Orient, as are most larger companies'
bikes. As I read somewhere, most of the time they are packed in a box
with only the handlebars turned sideways and the front wheel removed.
Anything else is not the kid at Wal-Mart's fault.
~

 

[Chalo]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>
> I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything, not
> just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
> floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!

Too bad so many of LBS-market manufacturers, even ones who make
expensive bikes, now also subscribe to that kind of sizing.

One significant implication is that very large and very small frames
have mostly vanished from the scene.

Chalo

 

[SMS]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

> I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything, not
> just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
> floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!

I see some bicycles in bike shops that also come in that kind of sizing,
though they sometimes have XS, and XL as well.

 

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
|
| > I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything,
not
| > just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
| > floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!
|
| I see some bicycles in bike shops that also come in that kind of sizing,
| though they sometimes have XS, and XL as well.

Which isn't great, but it's a retreat from Giant's original idea that,
indeed, you could fit everybody with a very small number of sizes. I don't
know if there's a magic number, it bit seems that, with 13 different sizes
for many of my bikes (8 men's, 5 women's), if I can't fit someone, I need to
find a new business. Trust me, I can understand the desire to tame
inventory! However, the desire to properly fit people so they really enjoy
riding is more important.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

 

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

| One significant implication is that very large and very small frames
| have mostly vanished from the scene.

Very small sizes have been a consumer "problem" for years. Customers shorter
than, say, 5'2 or so, may very well benefit from having 650c wheels instead
of 700c. But such bikes sit & rot on the floor, because they don't look
"normal" or because some ill-advised friend says you don't want 650c wheels
because you won't be able to get tires & tubes easily.

But for the larger sizes, there is some hope. Completely out of the blue,
Trek decided to build a 64cm Madone this year. We sell quite a few of them.
For years, 62cm was the largest, so those over 6'3 were either difficult or
impossible to fit. We have now successfully fit someone 6'7 to a
high-quality road bike. Something we couldn't even think about doing before.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Chalo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
| >
| > I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything,
not
| > just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
| > floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!
|
| Too bad so many of LBS-market manufacturers, even ones who make
| expensive bikes, now also subscribe to that kind of sizing.
|
| One significant implication is that very large and very small frames
| have mostly vanished from the scene.
|
| Chalo

 

[DennisTheBald]

On May 1, 9:58 pm, SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
> making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
> Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>

An Italian bike with Japanese components? go figure.

 

[SMS]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

> But for the larger sizes, there is some hope. Completely out of the blue,
> Trek decided to build a 64cm Madone this year.

Thank g-d there is some hope! All those tall riders were sitting at home
watching television and eating junk food, waiting for Trek to give them
hope. Actually, believe it or not, there was hope even before Trek, as
hard as that is to believe.

There were several good quality 64cm road bicycles before the Madone,
I.e. the Douglas Fusion Ultegra SL, made by Litespeed, for Colorado
Cyclist is available in 64cm and is popular for taller riders. A good
deal at $1499 too. "http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/DXXAASU1".

Carbon frames that large tend to have problems of too much flex, which
is what the reviews of the 64cm Madone found. Colnago seems to have
solved this problem in their carbon fiber frames and they go up to 65 cm.

 

[ZBicyclist]

Harry Brogan wrote:
> On Thu, 1 May 2008 23:48:02 -0700, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at
>>> least
>>> making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105
>>> equipped Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays
>>> for
>>> around $1200.
>>>
>>> "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>>>
>>> Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
>>> Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school
>>> kid in the bike department?
>>
>> I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked
>> everything, not just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of
>> how
>> much better use of floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in
>> S/M/L sizing!
>>
>> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>>
>
>
> Your forgot one...the sizing of XXXXXL for quite a few of the
> Wally
> World shoppers!!!!!

Yes, "Size 3" in the women's section is XXXL, "Size 5" is XXXXXL,
etc.

You don't have to be morbidly obese to shop at Wal-mart, but it
helps.

 

[Larry Farrell]

Harry Brogan wrote:
> On Thu, 1 May 2008 23:48:02 -0700, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> | While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
>> | making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
>> | Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>> |
>> | "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>> |
>> | Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
>> | Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
>> | the bike department?
>>
>> I'll bet WalMart could save a lot of SKUs if they stocked everything, not
>> just higher-end bikes, in S/M/L sizing. Think of how much better use of
>> floorspace you'd have if apparel only came in S/M/L sizing!
>>
>> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>>
>
>
> Your forgot one...the sizing of XXXXXL for quite a few of the Wally
> World shoppers!!!!!
>

Not needed. Those XXXXXL customers won't be shopping for bikes or any
other exercise equipment!
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

 

[SMS]

Harry Brogan wrote:

> Your forgot one...the sizing of XXXXXL for quite a few of the Wally
> World shoppers!!!!!

Bicycle sizing is more by inseam, height, and arm length than by weight.

 

[SMS]

landotter wrote:
> On May 1, 9:58 pm, SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
>> While it's no great deal, at least Wal-Mart appears to be at least
>> making an effort to move up-market with their offering of a 105 equipped
>> Italian-made road bike with carbon fork and seat stays for around $1200.
>>
>> "http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751045"
>
>
> Darn, I was hoping to see a big cardboard plate in the front wheel
> that said "700c!"

Amusingly, the "26" Men's Kent GMC Denali Road Bike" has 700C wheels.

"http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3663046"

 

[Rex Kerr]

SMS wrote:
> Now we just have to figure out who's buying $1200 road bikes at
> Wal-Mart. Are these professionally assembled by that high school kid in
> the bike department?

Why settle for the cheap one?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5751048

--
Work and recreation are not often effected at the same time.
One using a bicycle in business makes an exception to the rule.
- Dr. Edgar H. Earl, Rochester. (~1892)

 

[Tom Sherman]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> [...]
> But for the larger sizes, there is some hope. Completely out of the blue,
> Trek decided to build a 64cm Madone this year. We sell quite a few of them.[...]

Was it really "completely out of the blue" or did people like you (Trek
dealers) ask for the larger size?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Tom Sherman]

SMS aka Steven M. Scharf wrote:
> [...]
> Carbon frames that large tend to have problems of too much flex, which
> is what the reviews of the 64cm Madone found. Colnago seems to have
> solved this problem in their carbon fiber frames and they go up to 65 cm.
>
The larger CFRP frames being too flexible is just poor engineering, and
has nothing to do with the inherent properties of CFRP.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Cathy Kearns]

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>| One significant implication is that very large and very small frames
> | have mostly vanished from the scene.
>
> Very small sizes have been a consumer "problem" for years. Customers
> shorter
> than, say, 5'2 or so, may very well benefit from having 650c wheels
> instead
> of 700c. But such bikes sit & rot on the floor, because they don't look
> "normal" or because some ill-advised friend says you don't want 650c
> wheels
> because you won't be able to get tires & tubes easily.

So I can find blue tires for my 650c wheels? Where? (Your brother's store
is close....)

I have a women's geometry 5000 trek from a few years back. I remember test
riding a slightly larger 5000, which we determined was too large. And a
different model women's trek the size of my bike. Both had 700c wheels. I
ordered the my bike, and didn't ask if it would have smaller wheels, since
the neither of those I test road had the smaller wheels. Yes, they
certainly look precious, but the bike does fit me.

However, the guys and girls on my rides all have 700c tires. When someone
has an extremely bad day, and goes through their stash of tubes, the others
can loan them tires. If I have an extremely bad day I'm getting a ride
home. (But with the cute little wheels the bike will fit in any car.) My
husband and I needed two different stashes of tubes at home. I have 650c
wheels, and I can tell you, you don't want 650c wheels.