So far from Walmart we’ve found fixed gear, fat bikes, kids fat bikes, and more fixed gear bikes. Now we can add 32″ wheeled cruiser bikes to the list for those that wanna go big.
Those massive, 48-spoked, alloy rimmed wheels roll on a “handcrafted” aluminum frame with seven speeds to help turn them over. Designed for folks taller than 5’7″, it has a rider weight limit of 300lbs. Retail? Just $229. Available in stores only, as, you know, assembly is required.
I was at a bike shop a few months ago and saw one of these w/ a flat. Walmart did not have tubes and of course the shop did not. Could not patch it since it was ripped. Also this one had steel rims (not alloy like the above bike). The spoke nipples were starting pulling through the rim. Spoke tension was super low because of this and looked like they could fold at any time. Bike looked like fun but not implemented very well. Maybe alloy is the trick and possibly they have tubes by now.
I have had several people approach me about doing a mountain bike based on these rims/tires (ie, buy the whole bike, then throw 90% of it away). Nobody has pulled the trigger yet, though. I’d love to ride one – it’s the “perfect tweener size” between 29″ and 36″! Think of the long-winded arguments we could have about rolling resistance and flickability!
-Walt
Do people really think that Bikerumor, a site dedicated to rumors for bike snobs, is pushing a W__M___ bike by posting a description of it on their site?
If anything, I look at this as something we should collectively look down our noses at and ridicule. Is this how the other half rides bikes? Talk about a wealth divide, poor bastards. Wake me when they make 32″ carbon clinchers.
It’s a nice bike for a large family man. I did around 1500 joyful miles on it this summer. Just replace bottom bracket, stem and rear nub for nexus 3 ( drilled it for 72 holes and laced 2 from 3 to make 48 spokes fit ) and you are golden. Strong wheels and long wheelbase make it really comfortable unlike other bikes designed by gnomes for tall people that grow frame up without really increasing wheelbase. Wish it had better tires as once I started to ride it down stairs tire cord started to break. Wheels seem real strong never went out of true despite all abuse.
I found the tubes and tires here:
http://bikeweenie.com/32-bike-tube-32×2-125-in-sv-fits-kent-genesis-32-in/
