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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Bikes WalMart <3s Fixed Gears

Posted by Sarah Mirk on Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 2:01 PM

WalMarts fixed speed Mongoose
  • WalMart's "fixed speed" Mongoose
Cry your eyes out, fixsters. Fixed gears have gone worse than mainstream. They've gone to WalMart. Tipster Amanda G. sent along a Treehugger article about the recent arrival of fixies on WalMart shelves.

The $149 Mongoose is not actually a fixed gear, but what WalMart calls a "fixed speed" bike... which I think is a made-up term smooshing together "single speed" and "fixed gear" into a true knock-off.

I called our local WalMart to see if one could acquire a fixed speed in Portland. Alas, the clerk on hand reported there were none in the store. Though it took a while to track down the right clerk because it turns out that WalMart keeps bikes in the "toys" section.

Though I couldn't snag a bike, BikeSnob got a Mongoose online (before they were backordered) and has a characteristically devastating review.

 

Comments (10) RSS

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1
FYI, the Mongoose Cachet has a flip-flop rear hub with only a free wheel installed. But as far as I know BSNYC is the first person to actually get one in the wild.
Posted by Graham on April 8, 2010 at 2:33 PM · Report
2
Where else would they keep them?
Posted by Reymont on April 8, 2010 at 2:41 PM · Report
3
I hear they'll also start selling the fixie rider uniform of tight stretchy jeans, dirty v-neck t-shirts and knit caps made to hang ever so precariously from the back of the head.
I wonder when the Wal-Mart ironic tattoo emporium is going to open.
Posted by Beer Batter on April 8, 2010 at 3:12 PM · Report
4
@Reymont Sporting goods?
Posted by Jinx on April 8, 2010 at 3:16 PM · Report
5
@Jinx - Nah, they're toys.
Posted by Reymont on April 8, 2010 at 3:51 PM · Report
6
wow. First Urban Outfitters (http://bikes.urbanoutfitters.com/), now the Walmarts. Where can't you get a fixie!?
Posted by McAngryPants on April 8, 2010 at 3:53 PM · Report
7
@beer batter-epic win for you
Posted by The Showstopper on April 8, 2010 at 4:38 PM · Report
8
I kind of want the urban outfitters bike though.
Posted by kiala on April 8, 2010 at 5:40 PM · Report
9
I'll settle for one mode of transportation that doesn't break on me just ONE FUCKING DAY THIS WEEK!

...sorry, long week, overheating car, busting bike chain, etc.
Posted by tk. on April 8, 2010 at 5:56 PM · Report
10
I think the key words in this article were "NOT actually a fixed gear"
But that is beside the point.
more bikes= more fresh air to breath, easier streets to cross and less people dead/maimed by autos
ps that's a good thing
Posted by ntrecek on April 9, 2010 at 1:38 AM · Report

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