Bike Europe is reporting that retailing monster Wal-Mart is now selling a $1900 all carbon Italian road bike through its local stores. And sure enough, you can find it listed online as well at Walmart.com.
"Assembled by the hands of skilled Italian mechanics," as the product description claims, the bike features carbon fiber frame and fork, and mostly Shimano components with Ultegra derailleurs, crankset and bottom bracket, and 105s for the cassette, chain and brakes.
This is an interesting strategy when you consider that Wal-Mart's top-selling bike is currently an $80 Huffy. Does this threaten the local bike shop? The article frets that this may be the case, but I doubt it. This is no different that the challenge already posed by online retailers. Wal-Mart will come up short in the same areas that the Internet sellers do: they can't match the personal service and on-going maintenance that only your LBS can offer.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Outdoor adventurers, weekend warriors and commuters alike can now take to the road on a choice of Columbia Sportswear(TM) branded bicycles. Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq:COLM) announced today that it has signed a license agreement with World Wide Cycle Supply, Inc. for the design, manufacture and marketing of a new line of outdoor bikes and bike accessories. The new Columbia collection will feature hardtail and dual suspension mountain bikes, comfort bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes, cruisers and youth style models. Select bike accessories including grips, saddles, bike pumps and water bottles will also complement the line. Global distribution for the Columbia collection will be managed by World Wide Cycle Supply, Inc. through sporting goods retailers and specialty bike shops. Initial availability is slated for spring 2006.
"This agreement is an exciting new opportunity for us," said Tim Boyle, President and CEO of Columbia Sportswear Company. "Licensing is an important part of our branding efforts and is one more way to enhance our mission to offer consumers quality products for a variety of outdoor activities. We are pleased to be working with such a credible industry leader on the introduction of this new line for outdoor biking enthusiasts."
"We are very excited about introducing our line of Columbia bicycles for 2006," said Stew Barnett, CEO of World Wide Cycle Supply. "The Columbia name is synonymous with great quality and value in the outdoor market, therefore this collection will reflect the same standards, great looking and functional bikes at a tremendous price. Most importantly, we look forward to great success and are pleased to be working alongside a proven outdoor leader like Columbia."
About World Wide Cycle Supply, Inc.
Headquartered in Long Island, New York, World Wide cycle Supply has built a solid industry reputation by combining innovative bicycle designs, aggressive pricing and the ability to design and build customized bike programs that meet customer's specific requirements.
Following pro-bike comments made by VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech, rumors are swirling that the German carmaker is considering a move into the motorcycle market. The latest speculation offers KTM as a possible partner, with the two firms collaborating on a range of VW-branded bikes and maybe even a trike.
Auto Express now claims that VW is in negotiations with KTM for a deal that would result in a range of Volkswagen bikes and possibly a production version of the GX-3 trike. That vehicle was originally rejected over liability concerns and other legal hurdles.
KTM already collaborated with VW on some of the engineering that went into the X-Bow sportscar.
It’s unclear to us what benefit such a deal would give to VW or KTM. Volkswagen is already one of the most diverse and successful carmakers while KTM, with fresh capital from Bajaj, is on target to become Europe’s largest bike maker by 2020. Its motorcycles already compete directly with BMW’s key models in the market that VW is rumored to be targeting. It seems more likely to us that VW would use KTM’s expertise with carbon fiber and small production runs to create the 1-liter ultra-high-mileage vehicle, investing in the Austrian company in the process.
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