Shifting Gears: The Revolution of Viral Bikes

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.

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