I went into Walmart today, and found that tyhey were selling two flavours of
semi-recumbents called Quetzels
(http://www.mikadobicycles.ca/en/rand...bikes.asp?id=4). The bikes in
Walmart are branded CCM and come with the same quality of grouppo that most
department store bikes come with.

The small adult sized bent is called the Inca and comes with a 20"/16"
setup, plain V brakes and 18 gears. It has a comfortable seat, the steering
feels smooth and well balanced but it is a little short for anyone over
about 5'10" or 11". It looks like it's built out of mild steel tubing and
feels a little heavy, but no more so than a department mountain bike. Best
part is it's only $90 Cdn. Not great quality, but it would likely be more
than robust enough for the kind of bike rider that goes to Walmart to buy a
bike in the first place.

The kid's size bent (forget the name) is the same design as the Inca, but
has a 16"/12" setup with single speed and a coaster brake. Not sureon the
price of it, but obviously less than the Inca.

Again, not great quality, but a semi-bent is closer than an upright, and
maybe CCM is just using these as feelers to see if more would sell out of a
department store. They only had a couple of each right now. Hopefully, if
they sell fast enough, it might be a good thing for bents in general if the
majority of the sheople are ready for them. The price of a "real" bent
might be a bit of a shocker for the general populace though . . .