Walmart now selling fixed gear bikes

Published on Tuesday 4/6/2010 @ 6:14 PM by the ALT REPORT Robot

Link: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13398142#ProductDetail

Fixed gear bikes are often associated with hipster / alt subculture. I think this is because they are mildly unfunctional or maybe even hyperfunctional or something. Apparently Wal Mart is now selling fixed gear bikes. Wal Mart is known as the master of moving low cost goods at low prices, so it makes sense that they would opt to carry a single gear bike instead of a multi-gear off roading bike. Poor people and minorities simply don’t have the budget or the rugged terrain that requires multiple gears + sick shock protection.

Wal Mart seems like it is really morphing into a ‘green company’ that really helps the environment by selling organic products + non-fossil-fuel-emitting vehicles. Wonder why there is such a backlash against Wal Mart. Feel like people who are capable of ‘backlashing’ are rich and white, so they are probably just taking out their hatred on poors and minorities when they rally against Wal Mart. Just wish Wal Mart and Whole Foods and an Outdoor Store would be purchased by the government and we could get everything we need for free.

Will WalMart start to carry Am Appy after having to ‘bail them out’ in 2k15, or will they stick with ‘the cheap shit’ from Asia?
Are fixed gear bikes good for the environment?
Is WalMart a chil place 2 shop?
Should I write an article about ‘hipsters are everywhere’ or ‘hipsters are dead’ based on this hipster meme?
Is Walmart the future of America?

Tags: alternative retailers, fixed gear bikes, WalMart

← Group of community college students make crappy video about the Hype Machine.

Hipster Puppies blog gets book deal, authored by Bitter Music Critic →

65 comments to “Walmart now selling fixed gear bikes”

Knobs
April 6th, 2010 at 6:25 pm

cheaper components yall

//////////Reply by chales
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 1:44 am

@Knobs, pretty much a pricey parts bike

shaker kid
April 6th, 2010 at 7:23 pm

second and about to be living the american dream!

Feels Empty
April 6th, 2010 at 7:32 pm

Turd. It feels empty though Carles. Even if I was first I would not care…

Benny
April 6th, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Walmart just pretends 2 be a ‘green’ company, whereas other companies are way more *actually* green than Walmart. It’s not just about ‘green.’ Walmart also mistreats its employees and all sorts of other unhip stuff.
Basically, Walmart is only doing it to attempt to cash in on a trend/make money/save money.
If anything, fixed gears are worse for the environment because they encourage bikers 2 speed, which stresses people out and makes bicyclists in general look bad 2 non-alts.

//////////Reply by notWalmart
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 8:33 pm

@Benny, yes they are attempting to cash in on the green (EVERY PUN INTENDED) but so is every other company on the face of this Earth. The fact of the matter is, is that Walmart is *less* evil than before. The amount of evil they’ve shed is up for debate, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Walmart is (very) slowly getting greener.

//////////Reply by teh
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 8:57 am

@notWalmart, they can be as green as they want but as long as they treat their employees like shit and build stores in communities that dont want them there, i wont shop there.

Cost != value

//////////Reply by letters2god
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 1:54 am

@Benny, because ‘green’ isn’t just a buzzword thrown around by companies hoping to attract consumers eager to assuage their guilt about having bought so much useless/CO2-producing shit; i believe that the word ‘green’ will save the world (via corporate america ‘gets’ our planet, and it’s safe to consume again, y’all)

//////////Reply by teh
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:01 am

@letters2god, it’s true, it’s just a word thrown around by status quo libtards and baby boomers that want to “ease their guilt”. they dont want to get rid of anything that would actually quantifiably help, oh no no no, because they too profit from the current system

//////////Reply by crayolabear
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:14 am

@Benny, because making bicyclists look bad is bad for the environment??

//////////Reply by Benny
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:40 am

@crayolabear, Yes. Bicycling is good for the environment. Therefore, making it look bad discourages mainstreamers from riding and also discourages them from supporting things like bike lanes on streets. So yes. Asshole cyclists who make other cyclists look bad are bad for the environment.

//////////Reply by crayolabear
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 10:18 am

@Benny, hate to break it to you, but hipsters aren’t the only people riding bikes unless you live in space.

//////////Reply by Benny
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 10:23 am

@crayolabear, Yes, but hipsters on fixed gears who weave in and out of traffic and push people out of the way, as opposed to regs dudes who ride their bikes to work and stay on the side of the road, are the reason that many mainstreamers lack respect for cycling.

//////////Reply by araptork
//////////Posted April 8th, 2010 at 11:26 am

@Benny, h8 u. feel like u take the hro commenting process ’2 seriously’

yvynyl bro
April 6th, 2010 at 8:02 pm

First UrbanOutie, now Wallyworld? What’s the world coming to?

//////////Reply by fb
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 8:53 pm

@yvynyl bro, but at which is it more authentic to buy a fixie?

//////////Reply by yvynyl bro
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 8:55 pm

@fb, probably your local bike shop, bro.

//////////Reply by Nipslip
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 9:32 pm

@yvynyl bro, feel like u ‘missed the point’ bro

bravestoner84
April 6th, 2010 at 8:56 pm

notice that the bike pictured only seems to come in a men’s model. oh u waltons

DS3M
April 6th, 2010 at 9:44 pm

I like the way the name of the Bike is “Cachet.”

//////////Reply by snacks
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

what’s your point – my best friend at school was named chacet. seems like a funny thing to bring up when the rest of us are looking for nipslip

//////////Reply by DS3M
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 2:15 pm

@snacks,
You went to School with JC Chacet?
(HyukHyukHyuk)
Main Entry: ca·chet
Pronunciation: \ka-ˈshā\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from cacher
Date: circa 1639

A mark or quality, as of distinction, individuality, or authenticity

1 a : a seal used especially as a mark of official approval b : an indication of approval carrying great prestige
2 a : a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige b : prestige
3. a sign or expression of approval, esp. from a person who has a great deal of prestige.
4.
superior status; prestige: The job has a certain cachet.
(From Multiple Sources)

//////////Reply by snacks
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 2:32 pm

thank you – i can appreciate what you’re trying to say and i will try to read the definition when i get time. i’ve learned so much through sharing. now – will you help us look for nipslip? he disappeared yesterday at 5pm eastern saying something about the futility of his efforts [via mortality] – look it up pretty vulnerable stuff

fake name
April 6th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

why were you shopping around on walmart.com?

//////////Reply by Oh snap!
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 6:54 pm

@fake name, OMG DISSSSS!!!

//////////Reply by amber
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:41 pm

@fake name, burn

genericaltbro
April 6th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

Carles: is walmart alt? is it hip 2 shop there 4 irony?

MEME HUNTER
April 6th, 2010 at 10:04 pm

bro walmart is already hella alt. they carried green label sound’s neon beverage line before they even advertised on p4k.

//////////Reply by chong
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

@MEME HUNTER, lol

shapes
April 6th, 2010 at 10:18 pm

fixies are gay

//////////Reply by shaker kid
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 10:51 pm

@shapes, by gay do you mean not cool or homosexual?

//////////Reply by shapes
//////////Posted April 6th, 2010 at 11:07 pm

@shaker kid, whatevs

//////////Reply by becka
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

@shapes, lol shapes i like u <3

ryan
April 7th, 2010 at 12:58 am

I actually just got this bike (shipped site to store) today. I’ve seen some negative comments and posts on other blogs in the past week and it’s silly. Like commenters on other sites have said, anything to get more people on a bike is not a bad thing. Don’t be a snob, just because you were able to go to an overpriced bike shop and/or order expensive parts (probably with your parents credit card). It’s a good bike, heavier than more expensive road/single speed bikes but still pretty light. Took off all the ugly stickers and it’s a nice looking simple look. I have no desire for 50 gears. That’s silly too. Speed is good, the tires are pretty decent, and definitely not bad on hills (44/18 ratio). They are selling them as “fixed speed”, it comes as a single speed, but you can flip the hub and turn it into a fixed gear. I think this is a great priced, good looking, efficient bike.

//////////Reply by Carlesfan420
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 7:50 am

@ryan, get fucked walmart employee

//////////Reply by ryan
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 8:11 am

@ryan, damnit i have to change my user name now. i didnt realize there were two ryans :(

//////////Reply by snacks
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 2:17 pm

two ryans? we don’t have time for this – you should be looking for nipslip

//////////Reply by scraperbike
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:04 am

@ryan, dude. you bought a WalMart bike. You are the enemy

fixed gear cycling enthusiast & creative professional
April 7th, 2010 at 1:11 am

DISGUSTING! If I saw one of these Wall Mart “fixed gear” bikers at Critical Mass I would knock ‘em over! I hope Transportation Alternatives and TIME’S UP! officially condemn this poseur bike.

I doubt you’ll ever see one of these in billyburg or at Critical Mass, no auth alt would dare been seen on one!

//////////Reply by fixed gear cycling professional & creative enthusiast
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 8:45 am

@fixed gear cycling enthusiast & creative professional, your first mistake was saying that u would be at Critical Mass. Those ppl are prob the first ones to get these if they weren’t sold at Walmart [via Urban Outfitties Republic bike]

//////////Reply by Video Date
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:31 am

@fixed gear cycling enthusiast & creative professional, yeah i wouldn’t be caught dead working as a supposed bike messenger / unemployed smelly dude for the rest of my life riding this cheap motha, i do identify with the mongoose brand however [via BMX racing as a tween]

//////////Reply by the freewheelin'
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 10:42 am

@Video Date, hear hear. mongoose menace via 1992 ftw. memorable, bro.

Chris Lien
April 7th, 2010 at 2:36 am

got my fixed gear bike. rly hard to go up hills i have to wlak it up

//////////Reply by amber
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 9:42 pm

@Chris Lien, lol

stringa
April 7th, 2010 at 4:04 am

you’re losing your touch in your old age, bro. this news is three internet years old.

also yo, @ryan you don’t want some bored high school kid/middle aged dead-end townie assembling this kind of thing. walmart ran a national ad with the fork on one of their bikes on backwards. if you want a cheap bike go to bikesdirect, they’re from the same factory and sheldon brown will learn you how to build it up real good.

//////////Reply by the freewheelin'
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 10:52 am

@stringa, white quillstem? believable knockoff deepVs? you could do wayyyy worse for 3 times the bux via Republic Bikes via UrbOutie. Esp if you don’t plan to ride it. however i do have concerns about the dropouts lol

and bro, eff Bikes Direct with their brandname-thieving taiwan Motobecanes.

//////////Reply by ryan
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 1:51 pm

@stringa, I assembled it myself, and it’s still cheaper than any of the rides on that site.

//////////Reply by ryan
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 3:32 pm

@stringa, but def thanks for the suggestion, may use in the future

scraperbike
April 7th, 2010 at 9:05 am

Support your local bike shop. By kewl fixies/fixie parts from there. Not from Wally World. WalMart is indeed NOT ‘ternative’

jordan
April 7th, 2010 at 12:49 pm

fixies are fucking stupid. in no situation should you trade the minimal weight loss for the funtionality. only if you are an idiot who cant understand how to fix the more compicated parts. also walmart is a decent company. they save low income families millions a year. and they are THE company that gives the most food to the homeless community. all companies are looking to make a profit. walmart is just an easy target.

hm
April 7th, 2010 at 1:45 pm

seriously, what is the point of multiple gears if you live in the city? my bike only has one gear and i bike every day. i have never had a prolem.

//////////Reply by ryan
//////////Posted April 7th, 2010 at 1:51 pm

@hm, RIGHT?!

ryan
April 7th, 2010 at 1:55 pm

you guys are all so ignorant and naive, it’s just walmart, don’t act like you don’t buy your deodorant there.

//////////Reply by araptork
//////////Posted April 8th, 2010 at 11:35 am

@ryan, feel like there are either 2 many ‘ryan’s or 2 many ‘tools’ commenting here

B
April 7th, 2010 at 8:45 pm

I had a fixed gear bike when I was like 5 so I was an ultra chill alt bro at a very young age, so now I am “over it”

amber
April 7th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

i lub walmart like a fat kid lubs cakes

fffffffff
April 7th, 2010 at 11:37 pm

not everyone who rides a fixed gear is doing it because it’s “alt.” i dont have money for a nice bike and i live in an area where bikes get stolen very frequently (kryptonite locks get sawed off bike posts in the middle of the day on busy streets)

my last bike was a fixed gear and i got it on craigslist for $40 and i rode it every day for three years never had a problem with it (until it got stolen 2 weeks ago .. browsing craigslist right now)

//////////Reply by Chris Lien
//////////Posted April 8th, 2010 at 12:35 am

@fffffffff, do u live in a place with lots of crime? or maybe just williamsburg

//////////Reply by fffffffff
//////////Posted April 8th, 2010 at 11:05 am

@Chris Lien, i live in providence. as a young woman, i don’t consider it to be a particularly dangerous or unsafe environment, but there is a high rate of crime regarding muggings/break-ins/theft due to the poor economy/high rate of unemployment/homelessness (outside the circle of wealthy brown students/east-siders/institutions built on slave money). but someone literally knocked over a street sign my bike was locked to and took of the sign itself in order to lift the bike of the post, which is actually kind of funny but sad considering it wasn’t even a nice bike.

also kinda took offense to the williamsburg assumption. not that i really have a problem with the area (aside from bad rep it gives 2 fixie riders via locals who ‘fucking hate’ williamsburg hipster community that perpetuates neg. stereotypes of itself anywayz), but as someone who can’t even afford to invest more $50 on my only mode of transportation, there’s no fucking way i’d be able to afford the high rent/high cost of living of williamsburg.

//////////Reply by araptork
//////////Posted April 8th, 2010 at 11:37 am

@fffffffff, y do u h8 evrythng/think wut u hav 2 say on an altreport comment ‘matters’

fffffffff
April 7th, 2010 at 11:41 pm

but $150 is really way too expensive for a crappy bike from walmart, $150 can get you a really nice bike from a local shop.

leviev
April 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am

walmart is evil stay out of my town!!!

krystal
April 8th, 2010 at 1:14 pm

just to broaden perspective a little – i just moved to switzerland from the US and almost everyone here has a fixed gear bike and everyone has baskets because everyone uses them for little errands. maybe the US can catch up with europe in promoting bike friendly roads, etc – this is definitely one of the best differences from the US.