September 5, 2025 • 18 mins
What happens when you completely reimagine how a bicycle drivetrain should work? Steve Domahidy, founder of Viral Bikes, is betting that the future of cycling lies not with the 100-year-old derailleur technology we've all grown accustomed to, but with an internal gearbox system that promises to be virtually indestructible.
From his new headquarters in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas, Domahidy shares the fascinating evolution of Viral Bikes—a boutique titanium bike brand that's spent nine years perfecting its revolutionary approach to mountain bike design. At the core of every Viral bike is a 12-speed internal gearbox that eliminates traditional derailleurs, cassettes, and chains, replacing them with a sealed drivetrain and Gates belt drive system. The result? Bikes that require almost no maintenance (just a 30-second oil change every 6,000 miles), offer incredible stability with centralized weight and deliver unmatched durability for everything from technical trail riding to remote bikepacking adventures.
A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nat Ross (00:10):
Welcome to New American Town.
I'm your host, nat Ross.
Today we're sitting down withSteve Domohedy, the founder of
Viral Bikes.
It's a high-end boutiquemountain bike brand that's
turning heads with theirhigh-performance titanium frames
, progressive geometry andadvanced drivetrain technology.
Viral just celebrated theirgrand opening right here in
Bentonville earlier this monthin Shide Airship.
(00:32):
They're at the Pump House.
They make one of the mostunique spots to demo a bike,
purchase a bike, learn about thebikes while you grab a coffee
and check out their beautifulbikes.
We're going to talk about theirjourney and what makes Viral
Bikes unique and why Bentonvillewas the perfect place to set up
shop.
Well, without further ado, Iwould like to welcome Steve
(00:56):
Domohedy.
So, steve, for the listenersout there on the podcast of A
New American Town, some of themthis is their first intro to
viral bikes, so tell us aboutviral bikes and the brand yeah,
thanks, nat, uh, thanks forhaving me on, thanks for visit
bentonville, for um, for settingthis up.
Steve Domahidy (01:15):
This is a really amazing opportunity.
I love, uh, sharing the journeyof viral bikes, so I appreciate
it, thank you.
Um, viral bikes is, uh, we're asmall company, we're a niche
company.
Uh, we've been doing it fornine years.
Um, we've been making gearboxbikes, titanium gearbox bikes,
and by gearbox I mean basicallythat there's a 12-speed
(01:36):
drivetrain in in the middle ofthe frame, basically kind of
where an e-bike motor would be,but it's not an e-bike motor and
it eliminates the derailleurand the cassette and the chain.
We use belt drives, gates, beltdrives on all of our frames and
basically it becomes a virtuallyindestructible drivetrain.
You will never have to buyanother drivetrain.
(01:56):
It is indestructible in almostevery way.
It also has almost nomaintenance.
Basically, every 6,000 milesyou have to change the oil and,
uh, the the belts last aboutfour times as long as a chain
would.
There's no lube on the belt,it's totally dry.
So basically the external ofyour bike is is effectively
maintenance free.
(02:17):
I mean, some people do 6 000miles in a year, some people do
6 000 miles in five years, butbasically all you have to do is
change the oil.
It takes about 30 seconds.
Nat Ross (02:27):
So, steve, walk us through the conception of Viral,
because for you, cycling is abig passion of yours.
You've founded several brands,you've been in the mountain bike
space for a while and ViralBikes takes all those elements
of mountain biking but puts itinto the future.
So I know you briefly spokeabout kind of the gearbox, but
also why titanium, and then andthen also the Gates belt drive
(02:52):
like very intriguing, especiallyin Arkansas for a lot of folks
that continually the wear andtear.
So there's so many benefits towhat you're doing, but you're
also light years ahead a lot, of, a lot of the other brands well
, uh, I've, I've done.
Steve Domahidy (03:07):
I've been in the industry for 35 years and I've
been doing a lot of differentthings.
I worked for stram for a time.
I was a bike shop rat in the inthe beginning.
Uh, most people know me fromco-founding niner bikes, right,
so I'm not, uh, I'm, I'm.
I very much want to push theevolution of the industry
forward in ways that make sense,not just for different sake,
(03:30):
but different because it is thenext evolution of cycling.
The derailleur is a100-plus-year-old technology.
The patents go back to theearly 1900s for the derailleur,
right, and we have pushed thattechnology about as far as we
can.
Yes, you can make incrementalchanges a little bit better, and
certainly SRAM and Shimanocontinue to do that.
(03:52):
But at the end of the day, likethe 29-inch wheel was the next
evolution of mountain bikes, thegearbox, I believe, is the next
evolution of mountain bikes andit just makes sense on every
single level.
Uh, yes, I've been doing it fornine years with viral um.
In the beginning, uh, the firstseven years, say, I kept it as a
(04:13):
very niche, very small companybecause I knew that the
technology hadn't quite gottento the point where mass adoption
would be absolutely, like,likely right?
Yeah, the mechanical versionworked amazing, but the twist
shifter for the mechanicalversion was um divisive.
A lot of people just look atgrip shift and say I don't like
(04:33):
that, I don't want that.
Um and uh and basically youknow, through that evolution, um
Pinion, which is the leader ingearboxes, finally came out with
an electronic shifter thatallowed for a really incredible
user interface with a triggershifter for the straight bar or
(04:53):
working with TRP.
They have buttons for drop barson the drop bar levers that TRP
makes for the system.
So it suddenly became the nextevolution, suddenly became a lot
more viable.
Nat Ross (05:10):
Yeah, and Steve, I think you gave it the analogy of
the auto and that element.
But realistically, what you'redoing with gearbox is a
simplifying the equation for theuser, correct?
Steve Domahidy (05:20):
A lot of that, a lot of simplifying for the user
.
Definitely, low maintenance isone of the main things about the
gearbox.
That's pretty amazing, butthere are a lot of reasons why
the gearbox is better invirtually every single aspect of
mountain biking or adventure,gravel racing or riding.
Um and and the the low.
(05:42):
Having the weight centered andlow on the bike in the middle is
really uh, makes for anamazingly stable bike, both
jumping in the air or just onthe ground.
You know our drop bar gravelbike is basically a drop bar
mountain bike and it isaggressive in terms of its uh,
stability and ability to handlereally uh, aggressive terrain.
(06:05):
It's got a very slack head tubeangle and a very long front
center, so it's really stable atspeeds.
It's stable packed out we havea lot of customers that do bike
packing.
So because you know thedrivetrain again, you don't want
to be in the middle of nowheretrying to fix a derailleur
hanger that you bent or tryingto, you know, get a derailleur
(06:25):
to function properly because itgot smacked by a rock or because
the electronics died or thebattery died or something
happened to the system and nowit's suddenly not shifting.
Um, you know, people want tomake sure that when they are in
the middle of nowhere, thattheir drive train is the last
thing they have to think of.
So so we have a lot of peoplewho do you're definitely
safeguarding them there.
Nat Ross (06:46):
So I think the the one piece that is intriguing for a
lot of folks now is where canthey demo one of your bikes or
test ride a bike?
Where do they find you?
Um, if we say airship, a lot offolks are familiar, but where
are you located within the pumphouse, man?
Steve Domahidy (07:01):
we are.
Yeah, we're at the pump houselocation, which is on Northwest
A, so 802 Northwest A Street isthe address for the Pump House.
We are in the walkout basement,so around back we have a door
that basically opens up to theSlaughterpen Trails, literally
out the backyard.
The Slaughterpen Trails startone of the starting places for
(07:23):
Slaughterpen, and we haveseveral different bikes.
We have several straight barbikes, several drop bar bikes in
different sizes that people cancome in and demo.
Um, get a, get a chance to ridea gearbox.
Most people have not ridden thegearbox, and so our brand will
be their first opportunity toreally sort of understand what
the system is, how it's awesome,and get to ride one for
(07:48):
themselves.
Nat Ross (07:49):
Well, and you mentioned your current lineup,
so for sure the SlaughterpinchTrail is like literally, you
open your door and you have theflow and you're on to
All-American in no time.
So what about the gravel andyour drop bar, gravel frame?
What's that demo experiencelike?
Or someone wants to test ride?
And what um in in your redesignof the bike and the evolution?
(08:11):
Um, because you kind of lookinto the future of a lot of
these things, what do you seethe success with folks that are
coming into town for big sugarclassic um this fall, or anyone
wanting to ride some gravel ormountain bike?
Um, can you kind of walkthrough the lineup of what they
can um talk to you about orlearn about and then perhaps get
on a test ride with?
Steve Domahidy (08:32):
yeah, well, like you said, the uh, the viral
derive is our mountain bike andthat's our straight bar mountain
bike.
That is, uh, it's a two up to a2.6 inch tire, uh, 29 inch
front and front and back, and,um, we have several sizes of
those to demo and that's, uh,it's a titanium hardtail um
built around a 120 travel fork,but it can still take a rigid
(08:53):
fork for those who are clearlyjust doing, um, you know,
adventure touring and want tohave a capable bike but a
straight bar bike and and havethe pneumatic suspension.
The 2.6 inch tires are reallygreat for, uh, adding comfort to
a to a bike packing bike.
So, um, that's the derived.
The drop bar bike is called theviral wanderer and, uh, it is a
(09:16):
drop bar mountain bike, so italso is built to wander uh,
quite specifically, and, um, youknow, it fits up to a 2.4 inch
tire, uh, which is pretty crazyfor a drop bar bike.
Uh, it's also built aroundmountain bike standards so you
can run, again, a rigid fork onthe front or 100 mil travel like
(09:37):
a sid or a fox, 32 step cast umand you can kind of switch back
and forth.
A lot of, depending on theterrain they're riding will get
two forks and switch it back andforth, my wife among them.
So in Bentonville in theNorthwest Arkansas area, we have
an amazing series called Ruleof Three, which is gravel, road
(10:00):
and single track in a singlerace, and the Wanderer is
absolutely the best bike in theworld for that.
That ride, that kind of ridingwhere you can rail the single
track as comfortably and asadeptly as you could on a
mountain bike but you can stillhave, you know, the drop bar
(10:21):
positioning for, uh, the roadand gravel sections um, and you
know, get a slightly slicker uhtire.
You know a gravel specific tirethat can do um, that has like a
center strip that's a littlebit more, more better for the
road and gravel um portions ofthat ride.
So yeah, the wanderer is kindof a do-everything bike.
(10:41):
My wife and I just took uh twoof them to england and did a
six-day bike backing trip fromScotland to England.
It was really amazing.
Nat Ross (10:49):
Well, I'm sure you turned some heads there, but
also even at Leadville this yearthe Leadville 100 mountain bike
race had a lot of drop barbikes like the Wanderer.
So for sure you're on the righttrack with what the people want
and they can come toBentonville and ride it.
So why did you choose themountain bike capital of the
world to kind of launch viralout of?
(11:10):
And then, what's it been likesetting up at Airship?
I know you just had your grandopening, but it's still a little
bit hot in Arkansas.
You don't have the destinationriders till this fall coming in.
How's the grand opening beenand what's it looking like that
you're influencing the riders inthe community now that you're
established?
Steve Domahidy (11:31):
yeah, um, a great question.
Um, bentonville is an amazingtown.
Um, and I don't think people,if you've never visited the city
of Bentonville, then you justyou just simply can't wrap your
head around it.
Early on, you know, I hadtalked to my wife about
Bentonville and, and you know,we were looking for places, you
(11:53):
know, throughout the country,even including Canada, because
my wife is Canadian to move andit just wasn't on the top of her
list and it and and neither ofus had actually been here before
.
And about two years ago, inSeptember, we visited
Bentonville for the first timeand just were blown away by the
(12:14):
city, by the walkability, by theartwork by Crystal Bridges Art
Museum, by the work the WaltonFamily Foundation has done in
this city, by Runway Group andBlue Crane and all these
organizations the um waltonfamily foundation has done in
this city, by, you know, runawaygroup and blue crane and all
these organizations that arebasically making the quality of
life here in bentonville amazing.
(12:34):
And so, within two weeks ofgoing back to our home, my wife
was like I think we should moveto bentonville and I was like,
yes, let's do that.
So we sold our house and wemoved here.
Uh, literally within the spanof months, um, and it's been an
amazing experience, I think oneof the biggest um lessons.
(12:55):
That really wasn't even whatdrew us here originally, but one
of the things that my wife andI quickly found out was how much
bike industry and bike advocacyis happening here in
Bentonville and it just made ithome so much quicker.
We've found like-minded peoplea lot faster.
(13:15):
We've found really greatfriends a lot faster.
We've found groups to ride withway, way easier and way better
and we just like.
It's amazing how theenvironment here just sucks you
in and makes you part of the uhon goings uh, without hardly
(13:36):
even trying like it's.
It's really ingratiating.
The people here are incrediblynice and the bike community
itself is just really fantastic.
So Viral couldn't be happier tobe in a place that is that
welcoming and that open to theindustry and to bike riders of
all types and just simply awonderful community to be
(13:58):
involved with.
Nat Ross (14:00):
I can tell you that the community here is really
excited to have Viral on boardand around.
It's completely authentic and Ithink one of the questions that
a lot of the folks aroundNorthwest Arkansas are wondering
is do you find, steve, thatthis is a great testing ground
for you, or is it helping withthe design for your future
(14:21):
concepts?
Are you getting good feedback,like from the test tracks or for
where you work, um, when you'reout testing your bikes and
working into the future?
I don't want to give away tradesecrets for the what you're
doing down the pipeline, but, um, in general, has this been a
good test ground for you forviral?
Steve Domahidy (14:40):
yeah, I mean honestly the location and uh
variability of trails that areso close to now that our
downtown location, umheadquarters, is really unheard
of unless you're living in amountain town.
You know, if you're in, ifyou're in like copper, if you
(15:02):
live in copper or crested butteor you know, uh, breckenridge or
something like that, then maybeaccess is that easy.
But most bike companies do nothave access to testing grounds
that are as good as the oneshere and with the trail um,
diversity here is really prettyamazing.
(15:24):
So I can test in a single day.
I can take my gravel bike out,test, ride that on on really
chunky, gnarly gravel roads andthen come back, grab the
mountain bike and go.
Do you know 15 foot drops atkohler, um, and kind of in the
same day at the same place, atalmost the same place.
You know we're able to likeloop anything we want for any
(15:47):
kind of bike we want.
I mean, I I would say if I weretesting downhill bikes, maybe
this isn't the right location,but viral isn't isn't doing
downhill bikes just yet.
So we are working on a fullsuspension bike, we are working
on an e-bike, an e-gravel bike,um, and of course, uh have our
eyes on the future, for everyother kind of bike that we can
(16:07):
integrate with a drivetrain likethe one we're currently using.
So for sure, bentonville is anamazing place to test and verify
designs and technologies prettyquickly and easily.
Nat Ross (16:23):
It's pretty awesome technologies pretty quickly and
easily.
It's pretty awesome.
Well, steve, I think a lot offolks are really intrigued now
and they're on their way toViral HQ, but in the meantime,
where can they follow you,either on social media or check
out your bikes online, beforethey make their site to Viral HQ
and visit you?
Steve Domahidy (16:43):
Yeah, and, by the way, just for anybody who's
listening out there, if you wantto come by and check out the
bikes or you want to do a testride, please reach out to us at
info at viralbike.
Um, we can set you up.
We definitely want to knowahead of time if you're coming
in and and and want to take abike out.
We can set it up ahead of timeand make sure we have the right
size for you and whatnot.
(17:03):
So our website is viralbike, soreally easy thing to remember.
Viralbike and Instagram handleis viral underscore bikes.
I believe that's our Instagramhandle.
I should have known that comingin, but I think that's it.
We're pretty easy to find.
But, yeah, just make sure we'rehere and willing and able to
(17:29):
get you a bike out the door.
It would be lovely to to hearfrom you all and and um, come by
and check out our stuff.
Nat Ross (17:37):
Well, Steve Domaheity, founder of Viral Bikes Viral HQ
in downtown Bentonville atAirship, Very stoked that you
were able to join the newAmerican town podcast with us
and Bentonville and thecommunity in Northwest Arkansas
Super excited that you guys haveset up shop and we can't wait
to be a part of your journey andride.
Steve Domahidy (17:57):
Thanks, nat was amazing opportunity to come on
the show and I appreciate.
I appreciate your time.
Nat Ross (18:03):
We love you and can't wait to send you more business.
And as Viral Bikes grows, theBentonville community it's one
in the same.
So thanks for being part of ourgreat community here.
Visit Bentonvillecom.
Backslash bike is where you canlearn more about all the
upcoming events.
That is everything from thisfall.
This is a new American town.
(18:24):
Again, I'm your host, nat Ross,and that was Steve Domohedy
with Viral Bikes.
Welcome to New American Town.
I'm your host, nat Ross.
Today we're sitting down withSteve Domohedy, the founder of
Viral Bikes.
It's a high-end boutiquemountain bike brand that's
turning heads with theirhigh-performance titanium frames
, progressive geometry andadvanced drivetrain technology.
Viral just celebrated theirgrand opening right here in
Bentonville earlier this monthin Shide Airship.
(00:32):
They're at the Pump House.
They make one of the mostunique spots to demo a bike,
purchase a bike, learn about thebikes while you grab a coffee
and check out their beautifulbikes.
We're going to talk about theirjourney and what makes Viral
Bikes unique and why Bentonvillewas the perfect place to set up
shop.
Well, without further ado, Iwould like to welcome Steve
(00:56):
Domohedy.
So, steve, for the listenersout there on the podcast of A
New American Town, some of themthis is their first intro to
viral bikes, so tell us aboutviral bikes and the brand yeah,
thanks, nat, uh, thanks forhaving me on, thanks for visit
bentonville, for um, for settingthis up.
Steve Domahidy (01:15):
This is a really amazing opportunity.
I love, uh, sharing the journeyof viral bikes, so I appreciate
it, thank you.
Um, viral bikes is, uh, we're asmall company, we're a niche
company.
Uh, we've been doing it fornine years.
Um, we've been making gearboxbikes, titanium gearbox bikes,
and by gearbox I mean basicallythat there's a 12-speed
(01:36):
drivetrain in in the middle ofthe frame, basically kind of
where an e-bike motor would be,but it's not an e-bike motor and
it eliminates the derailleurand the cassette and the chain.
We use belt drives, gates, beltdrives on all of our frames and
basically it becomes a virtuallyindestructible drivetrain.
You will never have to buyanother drivetrain.
(01:56):
It is indestructible in almostevery way.
It also has almost nomaintenance.
Basically, every 6,000 milesyou have to change the oil and,
uh, the the belts last aboutfour times as long as a chain
would.
There's no lube on the belt,it's totally dry.
So basically the external ofyour bike is is effectively
maintenance free.
(02:17):
I mean, some people do 6 000miles in a year, some people do
6 000 miles in five years, butbasically all you have to do is
change the oil.
It takes about 30 seconds.
Nat Ross (02:27):
So, steve, walk us through the conception of Viral,
because for you, cycling is abig passion of yours.
You've founded several brands,you've been in the mountain bike
space for a while and ViralBikes takes all those elements
of mountain biking but puts itinto the future.
So I know you briefly spokeabout kind of the gearbox, but
also why titanium, and then andthen also the Gates belt drive
(02:52):
like very intriguing, especiallyin Arkansas for a lot of folks
that continually the wear andtear.
So there's so many benefits towhat you're doing, but you're
also light years ahead a lot, of, a lot of the other brands well
, uh, I've, I've done.
Steve Domahidy (03:07):
I've been in the industry for 35 years and I've
been doing a lot of differentthings.
I worked for stram for a time.
I was a bike shop rat in the inthe beginning.
Uh, most people know me fromco-founding niner bikes, right,
so I'm not, uh, I'm, I'm.
I very much want to push theevolution of the industry
forward in ways that make sense,not just for different sake,
(03:30):
but different because it is thenext evolution of cycling.
The derailleur is a100-plus-year-old technology.
The patents go back to theearly 1900s for the derailleur,
right, and we have pushed thattechnology about as far as we
can.
Yes, you can make incrementalchanges a little bit better, and
certainly SRAM and Shimanocontinue to do that.
(03:52):
But at the end of the day, likethe 29-inch wheel was the next
evolution of mountain bikes, thegearbox, I believe, is the next
evolution of mountain bikes andit just makes sense on every
single level.
Uh, yes, I've been doing it fornine years with viral um.
In the beginning, uh, the firstseven years, say, I kept it as a
(04:13):
very niche, very small companybecause I knew that the
technology hadn't quite gottento the point where mass adoption
would be absolutely, like,likely right?
Yeah, the mechanical versionworked amazing, but the twist
shifter for the mechanicalversion was um divisive.
A lot of people just look atgrip shift and say I don't like
(04:33):
that, I don't want that.
Um and uh and basically youknow, through that evolution, um
Pinion, which is the leader ingearboxes, finally came out with
an electronic shifter thatallowed for a really incredible
user interface with a triggershifter for the straight bar or
(04:53):
working with TRP.
They have buttons for drop barson the drop bar levers that TRP
makes for the system.
So it suddenly became the nextevolution, suddenly became a lot
more viable.
Nat Ross (05:10):
Yeah, and Steve, I think you gave it the analogy of
the auto and that element.
But realistically, what you'redoing with gearbox is a
simplifying the equation for theuser, correct?
Steve Domahidy (05:20):
A lot of that, a lot of simplifying for the user
.
Definitely, low maintenance isone of the main things about the
gearbox.
That's pretty amazing, butthere are a lot of reasons why
the gearbox is better invirtually every single aspect of
mountain biking or adventure,gravel racing or riding.
Um and and the the low.
(05:42):
Having the weight centered andlow on the bike in the middle is
really uh, makes for anamazingly stable bike, both
jumping in the air or just onthe ground.
You know our drop bar gravelbike is basically a drop bar
mountain bike and it isaggressive in terms of its uh,
stability and ability to handlereally uh, aggressive terrain.
(06:05):
It's got a very slack head tubeangle and a very long front
center, so it's really stable atspeeds.
It's stable packed out we havea lot of customers that do bike
packing.
So because you know thedrivetrain again, you don't want
to be in the middle of nowheretrying to fix a derailleur
hanger that you bent or tryingto, you know, get a derailleur
(06:25):
to function properly because itgot smacked by a rock or because
the electronics died or thebattery died or something
happened to the system and nowit's suddenly not shifting.
Um, you know, people want tomake sure that when they are in
the middle of nowhere, thattheir drive train is the last
thing they have to think of.
So so we have a lot of peoplewho do you're definitely
safeguarding them there.
Nat Ross (06:46):
So I think the the one piece that is intriguing for a
lot of folks now is where canthey demo one of your bikes or
test ride a bike?
Where do they find you?
Um, if we say airship, a lot offolks are familiar, but where
are you located within the pumphouse, man?
Steve Domahidy (07:01):
we are.
Yeah, we're at the pump houselocation, which is on Northwest
A, so 802 Northwest A Street isthe address for the Pump House.
We are in the walkout basement,so around back we have a door
that basically opens up to theSlaughterpen Trails, literally
out the backyard.
The Slaughterpen Trails startone of the starting places for
(07:23):
Slaughterpen, and we haveseveral different bikes.
We have several straight barbikes, several drop bar bikes in
different sizes that people cancome in and demo.
Um, get a, get a chance to ridea gearbox.
Most people have not ridden thegearbox, and so our brand will
be their first opportunity toreally sort of understand what
the system is, how it's awesome,and get to ride one for
(07:48):
themselves.
Nat Ross (07:49):
Well, and you mentioned your current lineup,
so for sure the SlaughterpinchTrail is like literally, you
open your door and you have theflow and you're on to
All-American in no time.
So what about the gravel andyour drop bar, gravel frame?
What's that demo experiencelike?
Or someone wants to test ride?
And what um in in your redesignof the bike and the evolution?
(08:11):
Um, because you kind of lookinto the future of a lot of
these things, what do you seethe success with folks that are
coming into town for big sugarclassic um this fall, or anyone
wanting to ride some gravel ormountain bike?
Um, can you kind of walkthrough the lineup of what they
can um talk to you about orlearn about and then perhaps get
on a test ride with?
Steve Domahidy (08:32):
yeah, well, like you said, the uh, the viral
derive is our mountain bike andthat's our straight bar mountain
bike.
That is, uh, it's a two up to a2.6 inch tire, uh, 29 inch
front and front and back, and,um, we have several sizes of
those to demo and that's, uh,it's a titanium hardtail um
built around a 120 travel fork,but it can still take a rigid
(08:53):
fork for those who are clearlyjust doing, um, you know,
adventure touring and want tohave a capable bike but a
straight bar bike and and havethe pneumatic suspension.
The 2.6 inch tires are reallygreat for, uh, adding comfort to
a to a bike packing bike.
So, um, that's the derived.
The drop bar bike is called theviral wanderer and, uh, it is a
(09:16):
drop bar mountain bike, so italso is built to wander uh,
quite specifically, and, um, youknow, it fits up to a 2.4 inch
tire, uh, which is pretty crazyfor a drop bar bike.
Uh, it's also built aroundmountain bike standards so you
can run, again, a rigid fork onthe front or 100 mil travel like
(09:37):
a sid or a fox, 32 step cast umand you can kind of switch back
and forth.
A lot of, depending on theterrain they're riding will get
two forks and switch it back andforth, my wife among them.
So in Bentonville in theNorthwest Arkansas area, we have
an amazing series called Ruleof Three, which is gravel, road
(10:00):
and single track in a singlerace, and the Wanderer is
absolutely the best bike in theworld for that.
That ride, that kind of ridingwhere you can rail the single
track as comfortably and asadeptly as you could on a
mountain bike but you can stillhave, you know, the drop bar
(10:21):
positioning for, uh, the roadand gravel sections um, and you
know, get a slightly slicker uhtire.
You know a gravel specific tirethat can do um, that has like a
center strip that's a littlebit more, more better for the
road and gravel um portions ofthat ride.
So yeah, the wanderer is kindof a do-everything bike.
(10:41):
My wife and I just took uh twoof them to england and did a
six-day bike backing trip fromScotland to England.
It was really amazing.
Nat Ross (10:49):
Well, I'm sure you turned some heads there, but
also even at Leadville this yearthe Leadville 100 mountain bike
race had a lot of drop barbikes like the Wanderer.
So for sure you're on the righttrack with what the people want
and they can come toBentonville and ride it.
So why did you choose themountain bike capital of the
world to kind of launch viralout of?
(11:10):
And then, what's it been likesetting up at Airship?
I know you just had your grandopening, but it's still a little
bit hot in Arkansas.
You don't have the destinationriders till this fall coming in.
How's the grand opening beenand what's it looking like that
you're influencing the riders inthe community now that you're
established?
Steve Domahidy (11:31):
yeah, um, a great question.
Um, bentonville is an amazingtown.
Um, and I don't think people,if you've never visited the city
of Bentonville, then you justyou just simply can't wrap your
head around it.
Early on, you know, I hadtalked to my wife about
Bentonville and, and you know,we were looking for places, you
(11:53):
know, throughout the country,even including Canada, because
my wife is Canadian to move andit just wasn't on the top of her
list and it and and neither ofus had actually been here before
.
And about two years ago, inSeptember, we visited
Bentonville for the first timeand just were blown away by the
(12:14):
city, by the walkability, by theartwork by Crystal Bridges Art
Museum, by the work the WaltonFamily Foundation has done in
this city, by Runway Group andBlue Crane and all these
organizations the um waltonfamily foundation has done in
this city, by, you know, runawaygroup and blue crane and all
these organizations that arebasically making the quality of
life here in bentonville amazing.
(12:34):
And so, within two weeks ofgoing back to our home, my wife
was like I think we should moveto bentonville and I was like,
yes, let's do that.
So we sold our house and wemoved here.
Uh, literally within the spanof months, um, and it's been an
amazing experience, I think oneof the biggest um lessons.
(12:55):
That really wasn't even whatdrew us here originally, but one
of the things that my wife andI quickly found out was how much
bike industry and bike advocacyis happening here in
Bentonville and it just made ithome so much quicker.
We've found like-minded peoplea lot faster.
(13:15):
We've found really greatfriends a lot faster.
We've found groups to ride withway, way easier and way better
and we just like.
It's amazing how theenvironment here just sucks you
in and makes you part of the uhon goings uh, without hardly
(13:36):
even trying like it's.
It's really ingratiating.
The people here are incrediblynice and the bike community
itself is just really fantastic.
So Viral couldn't be happier tobe in a place that is that
welcoming and that open to theindustry and to bike riders of
all types and just simply awonderful community to be
(13:58):
involved with.
Nat Ross (14:00):
I can tell you that the community here is really
excited to have Viral on boardand around.
It's completely authentic and Ithink one of the questions that
a lot of the folks aroundNorthwest Arkansas are wondering
is do you find, steve, thatthis is a great testing ground
for you, or is it helping withthe design for your future
(14:21):
concepts?
Are you getting good feedback,like from the test tracks or for
where you work, um, when you'reout testing your bikes and
working into the future?
I don't want to give away tradesecrets for the what you're
doing down the pipeline, but, um, in general, has this been a
good test ground for you forviral?
Steve Domahidy (14:40):
yeah, I mean honestly the location and uh
variability of trails that areso close to now that our
downtown location, umheadquarters, is really unheard
of unless you're living in amountain town.
You know, if you're in, ifyou're in like copper, if you
(15:02):
live in copper or crested butteor you know, uh, breckenridge or
something like that, then maybeaccess is that easy.
But most bike companies do nothave access to testing grounds
that are as good as the oneshere and with the trail um,
diversity here is really prettyamazing.
(15:24):
So I can test in a single day.
I can take my gravel bike out,test, ride that on on really
chunky, gnarly gravel roads andthen come back, grab the
mountain bike and go.
Do you know 15 foot drops atkohler, um, and kind of in the
same day at the same place, atalmost the same place.
You know we're able to likeloop anything we want for any
(15:47):
kind of bike we want.
I mean, I I would say if I weretesting downhill bikes, maybe
this isn't the right location,but viral isn't isn't doing
downhill bikes just yet.
So we are working on a fullsuspension bike, we are working
on an e-bike, an e-gravel bike,um, and of course, uh have our
eyes on the future, for everyother kind of bike that we can
(16:07):
integrate with a drivetrain likethe one we're currently using.
So for sure, bentonville is anamazing place to test and verify
designs and technologies prettyquickly and easily.
Nat Ross (16:23):
It's pretty awesome technologies pretty quickly and
easily.
It's pretty awesome.
Well, steve, I think a lot offolks are really intrigued now
and they're on their way toViral HQ, but in the meantime,
where can they follow you,either on social media or check
out your bikes online, beforethey make their site to Viral HQ
and visit you?
Steve Domahidy (16:43):
Yeah, and, by the way, just for anybody who's
listening out there, if you wantto come by and check out the
bikes or you want to do a testride, please reach out to us at
info at viralbike.
Um, we can set you up.
We definitely want to knowahead of time if you're coming
in and and and want to take abike out.
We can set it up ahead of timeand make sure we have the right
size for you and whatnot.
(17:03):
So our website is viralbike, soreally easy thing to remember.
Viralbike and Instagram handleis viral underscore bikes.
I believe that's our Instagramhandle.
I should have known that comingin, but I think that's it.
We're pretty easy to find.
But, yeah, just make sure we'rehere and willing and able to
(17:29):
get you a bike out the door.
It would be lovely to to hearfrom you all and and um, come by
and check out our stuff.
Nat Ross (17:37):
Well, Steve Domaheity, founder of Viral Bikes Viral HQ
in downtown Bentonville atAirship, Very stoked that you
were able to join the newAmerican town podcast with us
and Bentonville and thecommunity in Northwest Arkansas
Super excited that you guys haveset up shop and we can't wait
to be a part of your journey andride.
Steve Domahidy (17:57):
Thanks, nat was amazing opportunity to come on
the show and I appreciate.
I appreciate your time.
Nat Ross (18:03):
We love you and can't wait to send you more business.
And as Viral Bikes grows, theBentonville community it's one
in the same.
So thanks for being part of ourgreat community here.
Visit Bentonvillecom.
Backslash bike is where you canlearn more about all the
upcoming events.
That is everything from thisfall.
This is a new American town.
(18:24):
Again, I'm your host, nat Ross,and that was Steve Domohedy
with Viral Bikes.
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