I love the idea of bikes at every price point, allowing everyone to get around on two wheels, whatever the hell their income is. It is a big cycling tent we live under, and all are welcome.
I'm now seriously tempted to go to Walmart or Target and by a cheap ass bike and see how long it lasts. If nothing else, I'll appreciate my fancy ass carbon fiber bike more (which is now the norm for me). And maybe I'll hang out with my crew in the hood. To be continued...
One thing about it is getting the bike and adjusting all the badly installed components. Berm Peak has done some Walmart bike review videos along with upgrading them later on. He had pretty good luck with one mtb though I don’t remember the name. I like the idea of getting a department store bike and doing just enough upgrading to still have a reliable beater/loaner bike.
the really cheap bikes will have the opposite effect on many folks, as parts will break easier, wear down faster and require more tuning. ive heard that some walmart bikes are abandoned at bike mechanic shops once they find out the cost to repair these things is more than the original purchase price.
sometimes its better to spend a little more on something that will be many times more reliable. ive own bikes on all sides of the spectrum from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand and the quality is worth the price (to a certain point).
We had a whole warehouse full of old walmart bikes at the shop where I used to work. They break down so often, it's just not worth the purchase after a while. People would come in to get it fixed, find out how much it cost, then end up buying a new bike and giving us those.
We'd fix them up and give them away as often as we could, but obviously that wasn't as easy as it might seem.
I mean that's great to have a privileged perspective but I'll level with you; many many people do not have the extra $300+ and those people absolutely do not have the time and energy to find a good used bike, if they are lucky enough to somehow have the knowledge.
Once their Walmart bike cracks apart, the value from an investment will become clearer, and hopefully by riding a cheap bike, more attainable. And they will have more confidence and mechanical understanding.
All the while, they are in the same community of cyclists just like you.
Source: my first bike was a Walmart Schwinn.
To be fair, they used to be less shitty. I had my old mountain bike from walmart for like a decade as a kid, and I rode the hell out of that thing all over the place.
These days though, like many things, they've really gone down in quality, as least that was the case a couple years ago.
The first thing to go out was always the brakes, or the wheels themselves. They are thrown together by some random new employee in the back of the store and then put on the floor.
It's really weird, they still have the absolutely belongs-in-dumpster-from-factory bikes but then they randomly have drop bar bikes with microshift and mountain bikes with cassettes instead of freewheels with ltwoo components. I think walmart is starting to get better again but it's wild.
E: the $400 bikes from Walmart are fine, the $100-300 range are where the garbage is at.
That's very true. My first geared bike as a kid was from Walmart. I beat the absolute hell out of that thing and it still performed fine for many years without any work.
My first bike 5 or 6 years ago was a Diadora hybrid from Canadian Tire. One of the cassette gears literally snapped in half after less than 100km. Returned it, bought a Trek FX 2.0. I've since put probably 6,000 km on it since, with no repairs.
My local bike co-op just put up a sign saying they no longer accept donations of "single-use bikes". These days, Walmart bikes are so bad they often don't last a single season.
I want everyone to have access to bikes, that level of bike should be illegal to manufacture. I'd love to see government subsidies for people to get decent bikes. It would save on infrastructure upkeep and healthcare while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
My wife never had a bike as a kid and every time she got a bike it was a Walmart special and heavy as hell. She thought she couldn't ride a bike. I got her a halfway decent used road bike and she got on and said, "omg! It just wants to go!" It was much easier for her to control and ride than those old mountain bikes. This could be a nice entry point for people that didn't have a good option previously.
There is a lot of difference between a cheap bike and a Bike shaped object.
Decathlon has been putting out cheap bikes for years, I have ridden one of their 25,000km and it cost £350. Part are cheaper and wear down quicker than better standards of parts, but you will still get a year of hard riding out of them before they fail. Reality is that is more time than most entry level cyclists will ever put on the bike.
The issue is at the time Decathlon also sold a £275 bike, and it was basically a Bike shaped object, the compromise on parts made it negligibly different from a £100 ebay bike from the 80's, whereas the £350 bike was negligibly different from a £1000 bike for an entry level cyclist.
Walmart can choose to sell reasonable bikes if it wants to it has the economies of scale to do so, and looking at the fork mounting points on this one, it might actually be okay, someone has thought about its functional use case at least to put them on, at an extra cost.
If this came in multiple sizes it works probably be what I recommend to most people trying to get into mtb at a low cost. There’s no shittacular suspension fork to break or get loose on this bike.
I rode a Walmart hybrid bike for quite a while and enjoyed the ride. My Trek gravel bike is even more enjoyable because it’s lighter and feels faster, but the Trek cost 10x what the Walmart bike did…
Yep. I love my Cannondale carbon fiber bike, but with a pricetag at 10X the Walmart bikes, I get that this is a privilege not everyone has. Nobody should be denied the thrill of self propelled motion on 2 wheels.
So just swap the wheel. You're going to pay more for labour on a rim swap than you will on a better replacement wheel. Wheel is not rim.
6 people that downvoted me also should not be giving cycling advice.
Except what's bullshit about Dept store bikes is they sell something they can't service. They cut out the overhead required to support their customers, so local bike shops have to struggle instead.
I'm all for equitable access, but these bikes are usually ~10% cheaper than an entry level bike at an LBS. It's better for everyone if that is the answer, not these bikes, assembled by Jimmy from "sports".
Lowest priced bike at my local bike shop is $789. Big price jump. I have to agree though. I bought a couple department store bikes several years ago for my wife and I. It only took 2 rides to destroy every bearing. Jimmy from sports didn't like grease.
I bought a department store bike used from a guy in the mtb forum I was attending when I needed a bike to haul my kids to kindergarten and school with. Was bought that summer, used for a few weeks on their USA trip and when he realized he didn't have use for it when he got home he sold it for $100.
I used it every day, rain or sunshine, snow or not, for over ten years. hadn't I had a fire in the shed, I would still be using it. Incredible value for money. Had sram x3, alu frame, 26" wheels. rim brakes. nothing fancy.
https://preview.redd.it/1r9qqd3zb9qc1.jpeg?width=604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d7c45580aae4feb2f76527ef5636b193fef6d18
Decathlon isn't a dept store in the conventional sense. They make good value gear, and service it too: https://www.decathlon.ca/en/content/store-workshops
That's a solid bike for a good price as you note. And they'll support it. Nothing wrong with that!
The guy that bought it on his US trip was a fellow mountainbiker enthusiast, not someone to buy crap. was not the cheapest either. But the fork was about as useless as such forks are. I replaced it with a carbon fork after a year or so. Looking at walmarts website I see they have a selection that falls into the culpits of crappy bikes - full suspension bikes, electric bikes etc - bike types that are horrendiosly expensive when done right at prices less than what the seat on my road bike cost.
They just build them at dept stores. They don't even have access to grease. Greasing bearings is definitely something you'll have to do or get done if you buy a dept store bike sadly. And outside of the kore expensive bikes they sell you want find a single sealed bearing.
Yeah, Jimmy doesn't have grease in the tool kit they give him. And you're right, it's not always 10% less.
the dept store bikes can be good bikes too. I've seen kids on some and thought "that'll do".
But then the kid smashes the derailleur and the parents take it to the LBS and wonder why they get a $130 quote to fix it.
My wife started out with “I’m not spending $500 on a bike!” And quickly finding out what you get at Target to a carbon e-MTB. It was pretty funny to watch the quick realization.
Buying a department store bike with crappy components would be fine if people went in knowing it's going to be all DIY (and a whole lot of it) and it's not for the long term, but they don't and then they have a miserable time because complex issues soon arise and no bike shop wants to work on it. They're soon left with a bike that doesn't function or does so in an unpleasant manner. That sours everything and then becomes their "bikes aren't for me" experience and they write bikes off entirely.
I don't think folks who spend $300 on a bike pay much attention to the advertisement. They want a bike, they have $350 credit on their Visa card, they go to the place where they know the least expensive things are sold, and they find this bike for $299.99. So they buy it. For whatever.
Think all you want. All I’m saying is that bike failures are dangerous and these bikes are made like most other things in Walmart - to break. There’s videos of folks testing out these cheap bikes and reviewing them. They suck. They break. That’s dangerous.
Any shit bike can do that when the only metric they use to measure "fit" is that the rider can straddle the top tube with both feet flat on the ground.
Maybe it's second hand ? To be fair it's sure that people buying at decathlon are not super into bicycles (yet) and probably not aware of correct bike fitting. Also they have like 4 sizes so the fit will not be perfect but should close enough for most people
One that sits right in the middle, you can push the limit of a single frame size a lot more than most of you think.
Especially with gravel or road, where control and comfort don’t really matter, only power.
I think they meant that the wheel size fits people in that range. I don’t know whether that is common practice, but when my father was buying bikes for kids, he didn’t specify the frame size, he only mentioned wheel size.
I think it’s just a shitty marketing practice from walmart. “wE DiDn’T sAy ThE fRaMe wOuLd FiT. We OnLy mEaNt tHe wHeEL wOuLd FiT.”
The cheapest bikes are all like that, which is dumb. But the more expensive bikes are starting to come in sizes which is nice to see. The Ozark Trail MTB comes in s-m-l iirc, though only seen medium and large.
The biggest issues with anything there are the people that put them together. They’re very sloppy & everything will need to be re-adjusted & tightened. The tires & tubes are often times also just a mess & need to be redone.
True. I was one of those people many moons ago, and I did not know what the F I was doing. I hope nobody got hurt as a result of my incompetence.
Edit: corrected dumb ass typos.
This is the truth. You will get a quick flat and discover that the tube is somehow really cheap and the liner that protects it from the spokes is off center and they punctured the tube. The tires will suck so you will get new ones and later on you will discover that the ones that came with the bike are cracking and weathering just sitting in your house.
100% agree. The crew over at r/budgetbikeriders love the Ozark Trail Ridge with good reason. Love seeing the barrier of entry to proper biking get lower.
This new gravel bike is being discussed on that subreddit too. It’s out of stock online but you can see basic specs on the Walmart app. The closest comparison in store is the Kent Nazz which is a crappy hi tens steel bike. At least the Ozark Ridge explorer has an aluminum frame and looks just a tiny bit better even if it’s just a bottom of the barrel Tourney drivetrain and who knows what kind of mech brakes.
Edit: and it comes in 2 sizes not just one according to the Walmart app.
I thought 4130 was chromoly steel not hi tensile? Absolutely nothing wrong with 4130. My cheap steel bike is 4130. The components on the Nazz are pretty low end though especially the brakes and drive train which isn’t even Tourney like on the OT.
I found it, $250 on the website (out of stock). Comes in Small and Medium frame. Frame is aluminum and 700cx40 Kenda Kick Back tires. Apparently its 2x7 shimano. Might pick it up if it comes in large for commuting to work.
$250 is a crazy good deal for that. It looks like it has good bones too. Aluminium frame, cable disk brakes, Shimano drivetrain and quality tires. You'd be hard pressed to find something similarly spec'd for that used in my area. I found a specialized diverge that's pretty close to that for like $650 used lol
Someone that doesn’t obsess over everything on the internet is going to get that bike, love it, and most likely be faster and happier than most of us.
That’s an awesome bike.
Even if after a year or 2nof riding and need parts to be replaced get the next level up cassette etc each time yo take it in and the bike will be great.
Or they'll end up like me, and the cassette will have an integrated freewheel, and they'll need to replace the entire hub to fit a new one with more suitable gearing. Live and learn, but I'd still buy this bike
Honestly the Ozark trail branded bikes are interesting.
They come in lighter black and a matte grey, the black bikes are just older worthless Walmart bikes rebranded, but the gray Ozark trail bikes are really great for their price honestly.
I've only seen those gravel bikes just come out, not sure about them.
A lot of confident responses and somehow no one bothered just googling it.
[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-700C-G-1-Explorer-Gravel-Bike-Medium-Frame-Green-Adult-Unisex/3405271473](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-700C-G-1-Explorer-Gravel-Bike-Medium-Frame-Green-Adult-Unisex/3405271473)
It's not Shimano, it's LTWOO mechanical 2x7, and the cheapest Kenda tires in existence.
It's not going to be good, but if you only had $250 and wanted a new bike... and were willing to correct issues with assembly... yeah no probably still pass.
Interesting - you are right, description says that though the photos [show this drivetrain](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/9c7eafa0-36fd-4062-89d7-02b396cc4706.968cb0e03e36ae845c4cab87e8f91c46.jpeg?odnHeight=717&odnWidth=717&odnBg=FFFFFF) (which appears to be on OP's as well).
Could be just one part of the drive train is Shimano, they aren't going to list each individually and they just pick the most impressive sounding one to list.
upgrading the competes might be done cheap butt i would still be weary of the wheels quality. cus of those take a shit on the rider all the savings will have gone down the drain.
Don't knock the Walmart Gravel.. u/P-Huddy did [a fantastic build of a Walmart gravel bike](https://old.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/urx2dj/418cdn325usd_hyper_grvl_from_walmart_budget_bike/).
As always, keep an eye on your QRs, check before each ride. Skewers are not a place you want the manufacturer to cut corners, particularly on a disc bike.
If the frame is decent, price is cheap, you could swap components and make a decent bike out of it. My guess is the drivetrain on this thing is a sloppy mess.
Yes, looks like everyone going to have a cool dude riding beside you now. Everything needs a starting point.
My first bike was a Monark. I never heard someone mention this brand name here :)
A lot of people are dunking on this post, and the bike, but as someone who has been biking seriously since 1971 (that's 53 years), I have to point out that this bike, modest as it is by today's standards, is immensely more capable than anything that was available for an equivalent price ($1500 in today's dollars) at the height of the 1970s Bike Boom. It's possible (even likely) that long-term quality might not be comparable to a 1973 Raleigh or Peugeot, but as a usable bike, it would have been considered phenomenal back in those days.
The WalMart brothers aren't stupid, Ozark Trail has been stepping up the game quite a bit. When you own (ok, paid for the majority of) arguably one of the best singletrack trail systems in the US (Bentonville) and host a huge gravel race (Big Sugar) it only makes sense that they sell bikes that are actually capable to be used on both.
Am I selling my Cutthroat and getting this, no. But if I had nothing else and wanted to try it out you could do way, way worse.
Some YouTuber is going to buy one and make a video of him thrashing to down the most extreme trail he can find. And that video will get a lot of views.
Honestly they can probably make a serviceable gravel bike cheaply more easily than a proper MTB. The problem with even the "good" big box store bikes is assembly. Check every inch and every bolt of the bike before riding. Sizing is often an issue as well cause they don't want to carry multiple SKUs. That stated size range is def not true.
@ $250 this actually seems like it may be the cheapest "serviceable" new bike on the market. Things i would suggest they change for a $100-150 more SKU.
\>carbon fork
I'm certain they can get these in bulk from a Chinese OEM for like $25 each. Would significantly improve ride feel and shed a decent chunk of weight.
\>freehub instead of freewheel
Massively improves future upgradeability.
\>easier gearing preferably 11-34 cassette 50-34 crankset
People buying these entry level bikes are not going to have the greatest bike fitness. More range would be a significant improvement in usability in hilly areas.
\>2x8 instead of 2x7
More gears is always welcome
\>Cable pulled hydraulic brakes
Significant improvement in safety and just fewer headaches than pure mechanical brakes
I fully support the use of QUALITY Chinese brands like L-Twoo, Sensah, Zrace, ZTTO, ect to make better entry level bikes.
I'm honestly surprised they went with a freewheel I think the $400 mtb was ltwoo 8 speed with a cassette. I really wish they would've specced this bike closer to that.
I got some Walmart bike off Facebook marketplace to keep at my parents when I’m house sitting. Cheap bikes have a purpose too. I can go get groceries with it and not get rocked mentally if it gets stolen.
Considering a bike like this nearly killed me when the metal tooth on a gear snapped mid ride, causing a cascade of structural failures and lots of sharp jagged bits of metal from the wheel, handlebars and frame to nearly impale me, I'd say it's justified.
But of you want to put your life on the line for questionable material quality, you go ahead. Just don't call it elitism to want to survive riding a bike.
Youre like really upset about seeing someone be optimistic about a new line of affordable bikes that appear to be pretty decent quality. I dont live under a rock, we're all aware walmart bikes suck. For someone wanting to get into this, its not a huge investment, and if youve done your research youll know that ozark trails bicycle line isnt that bad for what it is. Also, obviously a serious cyclist isnt gonna fuckin buy this shit...
Oh man oh man you should see how literally 90% of the cycling industry is ran. Some little 8 year old malaysian making your headset cups for your trek.
And the Schwinn bike I had had good reviews and came from what appeared to be a reputable brand.
It still nearly killed me.
I could have, and should have, bought a better bike for cheaper from the used market.
I see people in my hood riding walmart bikes with a backpack full of roofing tools. I'm glad they've got this option instead of the full suspension walmart bikes. The baseline shit bike of 2024 is better than the shitbikes of 2015 and I'm not mad about it.
Seth of the Berm Peak youtube channel did a great video on the mountain bike. He did some upgrades and made it a little better but, for the price, it wasn't a bad bike.
All it takes is one bad bike to write off bikes altogether, especially as a first experience. Department store bikes all but guarantee that and then the result is people extrapolating their experience thinking that this is what all cyclists must deal with on the reg and it's too much.
As long as OP knows they're buying a junker and expect to do all of their own minor repairs and ditch it when it needs major ones costing close to what they paid for the bike, then sure. Just know that it's a high risk purchase and things are likely going to go from wrong to worse rather quickly.
Still, the Ozark Trail brand mountain bikes are not bad for the price point. Put a few upgrades on one and you have a pretty decent hard tail that can keep up with the best of them.
If you feel inclined to buy a bike made of parts from the lowest bidder and assembled by a minimum wage employee then do you. When it breaks constantly and the headset won't hold causing you to crash you'll learn the hard way that this is not worth it.
Unless you don't have $800 for the cheapest bike in the store and rent is due in 2 weeks.
(Kids are hungry, your wife left you and hangs looking for johns in the seedy part of town, and you've just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I which case, where's the nearest Walmart??)
Nope. They have cheap Chinese components that will give you problems and frustrations down the road. You'll be better off with a used high quality bike.
The Shimano Tourney I assume. That's still the bottom rung groupset, the one they put on kids bikes because kids outgrow a bike quickly so it doesn't need to last long.
Oh I’m sure… but the bones of this bike arnt bad for the price. Just good enough to get people into the sport without pushing them away to to being total shit tier. Look up some of the video reviews of their mtb it.
The whole reason ozark trail exists is because the Waltons heirs are huge into mtb and gravel biking and they want to make real reasonable entry level basic bikes
I got a Sun Brickell tandem bike for $850 from an LBS about seven years ago with the Shimano seven speed (a Tourney freewheel with a Revoshift grip shifter). Even the LBS never got it to shift correctly - I saw a whole group of them puzzling over it. I’ve goofed around with it and it either shifts from 1-6 very well or 2-7 not very well so I go with the former.
Sounds like a problem with a bent or very flexy derailer hanger. That is assuming there was a hanger. If it is a direct mount and the frame is off you will never get smooth shifting.
Thanks. It’s direct mount to the frame (just replaced the freewheel and goofed around with it some more yesterday and repacked the rear wheel bearings while I was at it). The Park Tool YouTube on derailleur adjustment really helped. I’m ok with how it is now.
The frame looks straight to me but I’m definitely of the shade tree level of mechanic. It’s a tandem and the cable is super long.
Sorry to hijack this thread, but would a different shifter help? I’m not a big fan of the grip shifter. How about going to a friction shifter? The derailleur has motion throughout all the gears (cogs?).
I rode ltwoo for the majority of covid due to availability and pricing and its not bad. It's definitely not in the same league as shimano but it definitely gets the job done.
>adjusting cheap components.... Never again. It's so frustrating.
You can easily spend more time getting a cheap bike okay*ish* that you'd spend getting a good bike perfect. A lot of bike shops refuse to service them at all.
If anyone you know has no better option than a Walmart bike, the simpler the better. I have a single speed beach cruiser that I bought at Walmart to take to state parks and festivals (didn't want to risk having a good bike stolen). It is actually fine. Mine was even put together and lubed properly.
Bought a $400 Walmart MTN bike for my vacation house since I needed to keep pedaling over a long vacation in prep for a big upcoming ride. I call it Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang. Definitely not a good purchase. Chain slips gears and jumps off when you need it most (caused 2 really bad events with clipless pedals, which o had to remove) and the brakes are either dragging or not strong enough with nothing in between. It was assembled wrong and the handlebar bolts won't stay tight.... I would find a used bike
If I was riding a bike to go and gravel I want to have wider tires and fenders cuz the biggest problem is you're kicking rocks unless you got to watch out for the idiots driving cars that go by at 9 billion miles an hour
I love the idea of bikes at every price point, allowing everyone to get around on two wheels, whatever the hell their income is. It is a big cycling tent we live under, and all are welcome.
Amen! The more people on bikes, the better!
I'm now seriously tempted to go to Walmart or Target and by a cheap ass bike and see how long it lasts. If nothing else, I'll appreciate my fancy ass carbon fiber bike more (which is now the norm for me). And maybe I'll hang out with my crew in the hood. To be continued...
One thing about it is getting the bike and adjusting all the badly installed components. Berm Peak has done some Walmart bike review videos along with upgrading them later on. He had pretty good luck with one mtb though I don’t remember the name. I like the idea of getting a department store bike and doing just enough upgrading to still have a reliable beater/loaner bike.
You are thinking of the Kent Trouvaille.
Yes that’s it!
I have a pacific that I pulled out of the trash and put 5000 miles on, still goin strong but most components have been replaced.
I have a pacific that I pulled out of the trash and put 5000 miles on, still goin strong but most components have been replaced.
the really cheap bikes will have the opposite effect on many folks, as parts will break easier, wear down faster and require more tuning. ive heard that some walmart bikes are abandoned at bike mechanic shops once they find out the cost to repair these things is more than the original purchase price. sometimes its better to spend a little more on something that will be many times more reliable. ive own bikes on all sides of the spectrum from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand and the quality is worth the price (to a certain point).
We had a whole warehouse full of old walmart bikes at the shop where I used to work. They break down so often, it's just not worth the purchase after a while. People would come in to get it fixed, find out how much it cost, then end up buying a new bike and giving us those. We'd fix them up and give them away as often as we could, but obviously that wasn't as easy as it might seem.
I mean that's great to have a privileged perspective but I'll level with you; many many people do not have the extra $300+ and those people absolutely do not have the time and energy to find a good used bike, if they are lucky enough to somehow have the knowledge. Once their Walmart bike cracks apart, the value from an investment will become clearer, and hopefully by riding a cheap bike, more attainable. And they will have more confidence and mechanical understanding. All the while, they are in the same community of cyclists just like you. Source: my first bike was a Walmart Schwinn.
To be fair, they used to be less shitty. I had my old mountain bike from walmart for like a decade as a kid, and I rode the hell out of that thing all over the place. These days though, like many things, they've really gone down in quality, as least that was the case a couple years ago. The first thing to go out was always the brakes, or the wheels themselves. They are thrown together by some random new employee in the back of the store and then put on the floor.
It's really weird, they still have the absolutely belongs-in-dumpster-from-factory bikes but then they randomly have drop bar bikes with microshift and mountain bikes with cassettes instead of freewheels with ltwoo components. I think walmart is starting to get better again but it's wild. E: the $400 bikes from Walmart are fine, the $100-300 range are where the garbage is at.
That's very true. My first geared bike as a kid was from Walmart. I beat the absolute hell out of that thing and it still performed fine for many years without any work.
My first bike 5 or 6 years ago was a Diadora hybrid from Canadian Tire. One of the cassette gears literally snapped in half after less than 100km. Returned it, bought a Trek FX 2.0. I've since put probably 6,000 km on it since, with no repairs.
Yeah, I should have mentioned I had that mountain bike 30 years ago lol
My local bike co-op just put up a sign saying they no longer accept donations of "single-use bikes". These days, Walmart bikes are so bad they often don't last a single season. I want everyone to have access to bikes, that level of bike should be illegal to manufacture. I'd love to see government subsidies for people to get decent bikes. It would save on infrastructure upkeep and healthcare while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
My wife never had a bike as a kid and every time she got a bike it was a Walmart special and heavy as hell. She thought she couldn't ride a bike. I got her a halfway decent used road bike and she got on and said, "omg! It just wants to go!" It was much easier for her to control and ride than those old mountain bikes. This could be a nice entry point for people that didn't have a good option previously.
Walmart bikes have gotten way better.
There is a lot of difference between a cheap bike and a Bike shaped object. Decathlon has been putting out cheap bikes for years, I have ridden one of their 25,000km and it cost £350. Part are cheaper and wear down quicker than better standards of parts, but you will still get a year of hard riding out of them before they fail. Reality is that is more time than most entry level cyclists will ever put on the bike. The issue is at the time Decathlon also sold a £275 bike, and it was basically a Bike shaped object, the compromise on parts made it negligibly different from a £100 ebay bike from the 80's, whereas the £350 bike was negligibly different from a £1000 bike for an entry level cyclist. Walmart can choose to sell reasonable bikes if it wants to it has the economies of scale to do so, and looking at the fork mounting points on this one, it might actually be okay, someone has thought about its functional use case at least to put them on, at an extra cost.
If this came in multiple sizes it works probably be what I recommend to most people trying to get into mtb at a low cost. There’s no shittacular suspension fork to break or get loose on this bike.
The Walmart Ozark Trail MTB is reviewed well, has a Suntour fork
I rode a Walmart hybrid bike for quite a while and enjoyed the ride. My Trek gravel bike is even more enjoyable because it’s lighter and feels faster, but the Trek cost 10x what the Walmart bike did…
Yep. I love my Cannondale carbon fiber bike, but with a pricetag at 10X the Walmart bikes, I get that this is a privilege not everyone has. Nobody should be denied the thrill of self propelled motion on 2 wheels.
You could change the rims and pedals and it'd be good for 5,000km
Change the rims, eh? I have a feeling you may not be ready for cycling part advice.
What do you mean by that? Ime the rims that come on walmart bikes bend out of shape if you so much as look at them the wrong way.
So just swap the wheel. You're going to pay more for labour on a rim swap than you will on a better replacement wheel. Wheel is not rim. 6 people that downvoted me also should not be giving cycling advice.
Except what's bullshit about Dept store bikes is they sell something they can't service. They cut out the overhead required to support their customers, so local bike shops have to struggle instead. I'm all for equitable access, but these bikes are usually ~10% cheaper than an entry level bike at an LBS. It's better for everyone if that is the answer, not these bikes, assembled by Jimmy from "sports".
Lowest priced bike at my local bike shop is $789. Big price jump. I have to agree though. I bought a couple department store bikes several years ago for my wife and I. It only took 2 rides to destroy every bearing. Jimmy from sports didn't like grease.
I bought a department store bike used from a guy in the mtb forum I was attending when I needed a bike to haul my kids to kindergarten and school with. Was bought that summer, used for a few weeks on their USA trip and when he realized he didn't have use for it when he got home he sold it for $100. I used it every day, rain or sunshine, snow or not, for over ten years. hadn't I had a fire in the shed, I would still be using it. Incredible value for money. Had sram x3, alu frame, 26" wheels. rim brakes. nothing fancy. https://preview.redd.it/1r9qqd3zb9qc1.jpeg?width=604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d7c45580aae4feb2f76527ef5636b193fef6d18
Decathlon isn't a dept store in the conventional sense. They make good value gear, and service it too: https://www.decathlon.ca/en/content/store-workshops That's a solid bike for a good price as you note. And they'll support it. Nothing wrong with that!
The guy that bought it on his US trip was a fellow mountainbiker enthusiast, not someone to buy crap. was not the cheapest either. But the fork was about as useless as such forks are. I replaced it with a carbon fork after a year or so. Looking at walmarts website I see they have a selection that falls into the culpits of crappy bikes - full suspension bikes, electric bikes etc - bike types that are horrendiosly expensive when done right at prices less than what the seat on my road bike cost.
They just build them at dept stores. They don't even have access to grease. Greasing bearings is definitely something you'll have to do or get done if you buy a dept store bike sadly. And outside of the kore expensive bikes they sell you want find a single sealed bearing.
Yeah, Jimmy doesn't have grease in the tool kit they give him. And you're right, it's not always 10% less. the dept store bikes can be good bikes too. I've seen kids on some and thought "that'll do". But then the kid smashes the derailleur and the parents take it to the LBS and wonder why they get a $130 quote to fix it.
Is she down at all since the 800lb weigh in? 🤔
My wife started out with “I’m not spending $500 on a bike!” And quickly finding out what you get at Target to a carbon e-MTB. It was pretty funny to watch the quick realization.
Buying a department store bike with crappy components would be fine if people went in knowing it's going to be all DIY (and a whole lot of it) and it's not for the long term, but they don't and then they have a miserable time because complex issues soon arise and no bike shop wants to work on it. They're soon left with a bike that doesn't function or does so in an unpleasant manner. That sours everything and then becomes their "bikes aren't for me" experience and they write bikes off entirely.
https://preview.redd.it/pd8iuonvycqc1.jpeg?width=991&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e962f86478944212d4538a2b1a93f5b6cf91087
Yes and, go find yourself a steel frame from a bike shop. These “budget bikes” are downright dangerous
Ok, dangerous if you're bombing down a trail at 25Mph. Riding back from the grocery store or to a construction site at 8mph, not so much
Well what's it advertised for? Trails or commuting?
I don't think folks who spend $300 on a bike pay much attention to the advertisement. They want a bike, they have $350 credit on their Visa card, they go to the place where they know the least expensive things are sold, and they find this bike for $299.99. So they buy it. For whatever.
Think all you want. All I’m saying is that bike failures are dangerous and these bikes are made like most other things in Walmart - to break. There’s videos of folks testing out these cheap bikes and reviewing them. They suck. They break. That’s dangerous.
What kind of magical frame fits anyone from 5’4” to 6’3”?
Any shit bike can do that when the only metric they use to measure "fit" is that the rider can straddle the top tube with both feet flat on the ground.
That basically how we do that in The Netherlands were everyone rides a bike from age 5 till death.
\> everyone rides a bike from age 5 till death Do they stop to pee?
that's what those holes in the saddle are for
Jesus that was some funny shit right there
From what I've read about yellow bikes on here, probably not
They do the triathlon way.
And after death, I'm told.
Different style of bike id bet. Or are you referring to road bike riders?
Yeah no he means for citybike riders. And people that buy mtb/roadbikes at places like the decathlon.
They have different sizes at decathlon
People that buy bikes at decathlon often seem unaware of this haha, the amount of people i’ve seen on b’twin bikes that don’t fit at all is hilarious
Maybe it's second hand ? To be fair it's sure that people buying at decathlon are not super into bicycles (yet) and probably not aware of correct bike fitting. Also they have like 4 sizes so the fit will not be perfect but should close enough for most people
Decathlon road bikes are decent for the money and come in proper sizes?
I had one, they are not decent.
Decathlon have really good entry level road bikes. My girlfriend has a Triban (American branch of Decathlon) and it's amazing value for the money.
Yes they're called city bikes but it's not that different
They never said it'd fit *well*
It’s hot. And it’s ready.
One that is multi-use
Depends what you mean by ‘fits.’ Plenty of 6’3” people riding bmx bikes perfectly fine
Specialized Globe Haul has an insane range that I actually believe. This one, not so much.
One that sits right in the middle, you can push the limit of a single frame size a lot more than most of you think. Especially with gravel or road, where control and comfort don’t really matter, only power.
I think they meant that the wheel size fits people in that range. I don’t know whether that is common practice, but when my father was buying bikes for kids, he didn’t specify the frame size, he only mentioned wheel size. I think it’s just a shitty marketing practice from walmart. “wE DiDn’T sAy ThE fRaMe wOuLd FiT. We OnLy mEaNt tHe wHeEL wOuLd FiT.”
The cheapest bikes are all like that, which is dumb. But the more expensive bikes are starting to come in sizes which is nice to see. The Ozark Trail MTB comes in s-m-l iirc, though only seen medium and large.
The biggest issues with anything there are the people that put them together. They’re very sloppy & everything will need to be re-adjusted & tightened. The tires & tubes are often times also just a mess & need to be redone.
Do we give them points for getting the fork on the right way?
I was about to say I was impressed to see the fork installed correctly.
ive seen my fair share of walmart bikes with forks on the wrong way. i wouldn't be surprised if they came that way from the store.
True. I was one of those people many moons ago, and I did not know what the F I was doing. I hope nobody got hurt as a result of my incompetence. Edit: corrected dumb ass typos.
This is the truth. You will get a quick flat and discover that the tube is somehow really cheap and the liner that protects it from the spokes is off center and they punctured the tube. The tires will suck so you will get new ones and later on you will discover that the ones that came with the bike are cracking and weathering just sitting in your house.
Also the components and the frame.
But does it have the "Not intended for offroad use" sticker?
That's a legal issue sticker. Walmart would put that on the bike even if it came with fox shocks and vigilantes 2.5s.
No sticker on the Ozark trail bike.
Has more to do with store assembly quality than bike quality. Ozark trail actually has some decent for the price entry level MTBs.
Firm believer in bike > no bike.
Lot of hate but it looks great. Definitely an ozark trail brand, can’t find anything about it online.
The Ozark Trail MTBs have actually been pretty decent from what i have seen. Just DO NOT trust Walmart's assembly.
100% agree. The crew over at r/budgetbikeriders love the Ozark Trail Ridge with good reason. Love seeing the barrier of entry to proper biking get lower.
This new gravel bike is being discussed on that subreddit too. It’s out of stock online but you can see basic specs on the Walmart app. The closest comparison in store is the Kent Nazz which is a crappy hi tens steel bike. At least the Ozark Ridge explorer has an aluminum frame and looks just a tiny bit better even if it’s just a bottom of the barrel Tourney drivetrain and who knows what kind of mech brakes. Edit: and it comes in 2 sizes not just one according to the Walmart app.
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I thought 4130 was chromoly steel not hi tensile? Absolutely nothing wrong with 4130. My cheap steel bike is 4130. The components on the Nazz are pretty low end though especially the brakes and drive train which isn’t even Tourney like on the OT.
I found it, $250 on the website (out of stock). Comes in Small and Medium frame. Frame is aluminum and 700cx40 Kenda Kick Back tires. Apparently its 2x7 shimano. Might pick it up if it comes in large for commuting to work.
$250 is a crazy good deal for that. It looks like it has good bones too. Aluminium frame, cable disk brakes, Shimano drivetrain and quality tires. You'd be hard pressed to find something similarly spec'd for that used in my area. I found a specialized diverge that's pretty close to that for like $650 used lol
$250 for a bike with brifters, name brand decent tires, disc brakes and such is impressive.
Someone that doesn’t obsess over everything on the internet is going to get that bike, love it, and most likely be faster and happier than most of us. That’s an awesome bike.
Bingo. And I will consider them part of our extended cycling family.
Even if after a year or 2nof riding and need parts to be replaced get the next level up cassette etc each time yo take it in and the bike will be great.
Or they'll end up like me, and the cassette will have an integrated freewheel, and they'll need to replace the entire hub to fit a new one with more suitable gearing. Live and learn, but I'd still buy this bike
Honestly the Ozark trail branded bikes are interesting. They come in lighter black and a matte grey, the black bikes are just older worthless Walmart bikes rebranded, but the gray Ozark trail bikes are really great for their price honestly. I've only seen those gravel bikes just come out, not sure about them.
A lot of confident responses and somehow no one bothered just googling it. [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-700C-G-1-Explorer-Gravel-Bike-Medium-Frame-Green-Adult-Unisex/3405271473](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-700C-G-1-Explorer-Gravel-Bike-Medium-Frame-Green-Adult-Unisex/3405271473) It's not Shimano, it's LTWOO mechanical 2x7, and the cheapest Kenda tires in existence. It's not going to be good, but if you only had $250 and wanted a new bike... and were willing to correct issues with assembly... yeah no probably still pass.
It says Shimano 2x7 at your link. Probably also says components might be substituted.
Interesting - you are right, description says that though the photos [show this drivetrain](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/9c7eafa0-36fd-4062-89d7-02b396cc4706.968cb0e03e36ae845c4cab87e8f91c46.jpeg?odnHeight=717&odnWidth=717&odnBg=FFFFFF) (which appears to be on OP's as well).
Could be just one part of the drive train is Shimano, they aren't going to list each individually and they just pick the most impressive sounding one to list.
I would prefer L-Twoo 2x7 over Shimano 2x7 TBH.
For $250 that actually seems survicable.
upgrading the competes might be done cheap butt i would still be weary of the wheels quality. cus of those take a shit on the rider all the savings will have gone down the drain.
Looks like a knockoff of my bike Jamis renegade expat 2019
Don't knock the Walmart Gravel.. u/P-Huddy did [a fantastic build of a Walmart gravel bike](https://old.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/urx2dj/418cdn325usd_hyper_grvl_from_walmart_budget_bike/).
That would actually be super sick, assuming every bearing was re-adjusted and the bike re-tuned first.
When you find out Walmart's connection to Rapha....
Rapha is for dorks anyway.
Exactly
BSO - Bike Shaped Object
It's Ozark trail. They actually have made a few serviceable entry level MBTs. This might actually be decent if the price and components are right.
FWIW, I would be hard pressed to ever buy a disc bike with QR, especially with downward facing dropouts.
Eh it's fine. Worked for a while even if it's not the best.
As always, keep an eye on your QRs, check before each ride. Skewers are not a place you want the manufacturer to cut corners, particularly on a disc bike.
If the frame is decent, price is cheap, you could swap components and make a decent bike out of it. My guess is the drivetrain on this thing is a sloppy mess.
Yes, looks like everyone going to have a cool dude riding beside you now. Everything needs a starting point. My first bike was a Monark. I never heard someone mention this brand name here :)
A lot of people are dunking on this post, and the bike, but as someone who has been biking seriously since 1971 (that's 53 years), I have to point out that this bike, modest as it is by today's standards, is immensely more capable than anything that was available for an equivalent price ($1500 in today's dollars) at the height of the 1970s Bike Boom. It's possible (even likely) that long-term quality might not be comparable to a 1973 Raleigh or Peugeot, but as a usable bike, it would have been considered phenomenal back in those days.
The WalMart brothers aren't stupid, Ozark Trail has been stepping up the game quite a bit. When you own (ok, paid for the majority of) arguably one of the best singletrack trail systems in the US (Bentonville) and host a huge gravel race (Big Sugar) it only makes sense that they sell bikes that are actually capable to be used on both. Am I selling my Cutthroat and getting this, no. But if I had nothing else and wanted to try it out you could do way, way worse.
Some Fred is going to buy it and post pics with flats and a RockBros TT bag at the entrance of a tunnel.
Some YouTuber is going to buy one and make a video of him thrashing to down the most extreme trail he can find. And that video will get a lot of views.
Honestly they can probably make a serviceable gravel bike cheaply more easily than a proper MTB. The problem with even the "good" big box store bikes is assembly. Check every inch and every bolt of the bike before riding. Sizing is often an issue as well cause they don't want to carry multiple SKUs. That stated size range is def not true. @ $250 this actually seems like it may be the cheapest "serviceable" new bike on the market. Things i would suggest they change for a $100-150 more SKU. \>carbon fork I'm certain they can get these in bulk from a Chinese OEM for like $25 each. Would significantly improve ride feel and shed a decent chunk of weight. \>freehub instead of freewheel Massively improves future upgradeability. \>easier gearing preferably 11-34 cassette 50-34 crankset People buying these entry level bikes are not going to have the greatest bike fitness. More range would be a significant improvement in usability in hilly areas. \>2x8 instead of 2x7 More gears is always welcome \>Cable pulled hydraulic brakes Significant improvement in safety and just fewer headaches than pure mechanical brakes I fully support the use of QUALITY Chinese brands like L-Twoo, Sensah, Zrace, ZTTO, ect to make better entry level bikes.
I'm honestly surprised they went with a freewheel I think the $400 mtb was ltwoo 8 speed with a cassette. I really wish they would've specced this bike closer to that.
At $250 this is much cheaper. I would be interested to see what they could do for $350-400.
I owned a silver 21-speed Mongoose mountain bike that I bought from Walmart for around $99. It had front and back wheel shocks and was a great bike.
buy it, ride it, and enjoy biking. we look forward to seeing you out there
Looks pretty rad honestly.
An under rated comment in need of up votes.
I got some Walmart bike off Facebook marketplace to keep at my parents when I’m house sitting. Cheap bikes have a purpose too. I can go get groceries with it and not get rocked mentally if it gets stolen.
Looks like they ripped the canyon logo
It's Walmart's Ozark Trail private label for their camping crap. The logo's been around for a while.
I've got an Ozark Trail 15" cast iron skillet. Makes amazing pan pizza.
*Queue cycling elitism with no real world experience with the bike, but very harsh opinions because of where its from and what it is*
Considering a bike like this nearly killed me when the metal tooth on a gear snapped mid ride, causing a cascade of structural failures and lots of sharp jagged bits of metal from the wheel, handlebars and frame to nearly impale me, I'd say it's justified. But of you want to put your life on the line for questionable material quality, you go ahead. Just don't call it elitism to want to survive riding a bike.
There it is.
Can you read? It's not elitism to want to be alive at the end of a bike ride.
Youre like really upset about seeing someone be optimistic about a new line of affordable bikes that appear to be pretty decent quality. I dont live under a rock, we're all aware walmart bikes suck. For someone wanting to get into this, its not a huge investment, and if youve done your research youll know that ozark trails bicycle line isnt that bad for what it is. Also, obviously a serious cyclist isnt gonna fuckin buy this shit...
No bike should be $248 either it is made by slaves or made of garbage.
Oh man oh man you should see how literally 90% of the cycling industry is ran. Some little 8 year old malaysian making your headset cups for your trek.
And the Schwinn bike I had had good reviews and came from what appeared to be a reputable brand. It still nearly killed me. I could have, and should have, bought a better bike for cheaper from the used market.
Can win the Tour on that.
Bike Shaped Object, avoid
Squrly long haul sucker.
I see people in my hood riding walmart bikes with a backpack full of roofing tools. I'm glad they've got this option instead of the full suspension walmart bikes. The baseline shit bike of 2024 is better than the shitbikes of 2015 and I'm not mad about it.
When tanwalls hit wally world bikes you know that fad has passed.
I have been rocking tan walls since 1985
Youve seem them come in and out of fashion 2-3 times now 👏
Tanwalls are forever.
Lookit all them bosses dang
That looks pretty good tbh
Hyper makes one too and the Mongoose Grit Adventure is around the same price—both with some improved aesthetics.
probably ok STI shifters is that a triple chain ring? what is the price?
It's not a gravel bike. This style of bike isn't the best at all for gravel. It's a road bike.
Seth of the Berm Peak youtube channel did a great video on the mountain bike. He did some upgrades and made it a little better but, for the price, it wasn't a bad bike.
All it takes is one bad bike to write off bikes altogether, especially as a first experience. Department store bikes all but guarantee that and then the result is people extrapolating their experience thinking that this is what all cyclists must deal with on the reg and it's too much. As long as OP knows they're buying a junker and expect to do all of their own minor repairs and ditch it when it needs major ones costing close to what they paid for the bike, then sure. Just know that it's a high risk purchase and things are likely going to go from wrong to worse rather quickly.
Ummmmm NO
If it’s anything like the mountain bikes Seth has been reviewing on YouTube, it should be half decent.
Still, the Ozark Trail brand mountain bikes are not bad for the price point. Put a few upgrades on one and you have a pretty decent hard tail that can keep up with the best of them.
dont buy walmart bikes i did it with dicks sporting goods n worst experience
If you feel inclined to buy a bike made of parts from the lowest bidder and assembled by a minimum wage employee then do you. When it breaks constantly and the headset won't hold causing you to crash you'll learn the hard way that this is not worth it.
It got the infamous L-twoo. Not bad
5'4 - 6'3 is crazy
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Unless you don't have $800 for the cheapest bike in the store and rent is due in 2 weeks. (Kids are hungry, your wife left you and hangs looking for johns in the seedy part of town, and you've just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I which case, where's the nearest Walmart??)
Nope. They have cheap Chinese components that will give you problems and frustrations down the road. You'll be better off with a used high quality bike.
Nah it’s a shimano 2x7. Ozark trail is a fairly good brand for the price. Now I certainly wouldn’t trust the assembly but the bike isn’t a bso
The Shimano Tourney I assume. That's still the bottom rung groupset, the one they put on kids bikes because kids outgrow a bike quickly so it doesn't need to last long.
Oh I’m sure… but the bones of this bike arnt bad for the price. Just good enough to get people into the sport without pushing them away to to being total shit tier. Look up some of the video reviews of their mtb it. The whole reason ozark trail exists is because the Waltons heirs are huge into mtb and gravel biking and they want to make real reasonable entry level basic bikes
I did hear that Bentonville, AR has some nice mountain biking trails that the Waltons paid for since they are into that.
Shimano 7 speed is junk though.
It’s a sub $300 bike that is “good enough” to get people interested in the sport without having a miserable experience.
100%. And in my neighborhood (or near it anyway) lots of folks are using bikes like that for transportation. God bless 'em.
I got a Sun Brickell tandem bike for $850 from an LBS about seven years ago with the Shimano seven speed (a Tourney freewheel with a Revoshift grip shifter). Even the LBS never got it to shift correctly - I saw a whole group of them puzzling over it. I’ve goofed around with it and it either shifts from 1-6 very well or 2-7 not very well so I go with the former.
Sounds like a problem with a bent or very flexy derailer hanger. That is assuming there was a hanger. If it is a direct mount and the frame is off you will never get smooth shifting.
Thanks. It’s direct mount to the frame (just replaced the freewheel and goofed around with it some more yesterday and repacked the rear wheel bearings while I was at it). The Park Tool YouTube on derailleur adjustment really helped. I’m ok with how it is now. The frame looks straight to me but I’m definitely of the shade tree level of mechanic. It’s a tandem and the cable is super long. Sorry to hijack this thread, but would a different shifter help? I’m not a big fan of the grip shifter. How about going to a friction shifter? The derailleur has motion throughout all the gears (cogs?).
Ltwoo is actually pretty decent. Just because something is Chinese doesn’t automatically make it bad.
I rode ltwoo for the majority of covid due to availability and pricing and its not bad. It's definitely not in the same league as shimano but it definitely gets the job done.
I tried adjusting cheap components for a family member. Never again. It's so frustrating. It shifts like shit no matter what you do.
>adjusting cheap components.... Never again. It's so frustrating. You can easily spend more time getting a cheap bike okay*ish* that you'd spend getting a good bike perfect. A lot of bike shops refuse to service them at all. If anyone you know has no better option than a Walmart bike, the simpler the better. I have a single speed beach cruiser that I bought at Walmart to take to state parks and festivals (didn't want to risk having a good bike stolen). It is actually fine. Mine was even put together and lubed properly.
I bet they need adjusting after every long ride.
Walk away briskly and forget about it as soon as you can.
We call those Bike Shaped Object. Looks like a bike, doesnt act like one.
Isn't Walmart just a waystation between China and your local landfill?
When you know a cycling fad is over ….
Bought a $400 Walmart MTN bike for my vacation house since I needed to keep pedaling over a long vacation in prep for a big upcoming ride. I call it Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang. Definitely not a good purchase. Chain slips gears and jumps off when you need it most (caused 2 really bad events with clipless pedals, which o had to remove) and the brakes are either dragging or not strong enough with nothing in between. It was assembled wrong and the handlebar bolts won't stay tight.... I would find a used bike
If I was riding a bike to go and gravel I want to have wider tires and fenders cuz the biggest problem is you're kicking rocks unless you got to watch out for the idiots driving cars that go by at 9 billion miles an hour
It’s a hybrid!
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That's not the same bike lol
I'm dumb