Steve Frothingham

Steve is in his second stint at BRAIN. He was here at the beginning in 1992 while still working for a bike shop in Santa Fe, N.M. He wrote several articles for BRAIN's first issue and later joined the staff, eventually becoming managing editor and then executive editor.

After leaving BRAIN in 1997 he worked for several news organizations including The Associated Press and VeloNews before rejoining BRAIN as web editor in 2011.

He is based in Longmont, Colorado, and is an enthusiastic (and slow) road, mountain bike and cyclocross rider.

All articles by Steve Frothingham

February 5, 2021
Obligatory Getty container ship image.

While sales and demand were exceptional in 2020, the full-year import figures are not.

Posted in Studies/Reports
February 5, 2021
Photo courtesy of Georgia Cycling Association/Darius Farrokhi

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Two of the longest-standing high school mountain bike racing leagues in the country have decided to go it alone, withdrawing from the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

Posted in Industry News
January 26, 2021
Mike Olson

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) - Trek has agreed to buy at least a dozen of Mike Olson's bike shops, including the six Trek Bicycle Superstore locations in the San Diego area and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one Nytro Multisport store in Encinitas, California, and the six-store Bike Gallery chain in the Portland area.

Posted in Retail News
January 8, 2021

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (BRAIN) — SmartEtailing is suing a Massachusetts bike store, CrimsonBikes, LLC. The website developer is charging that CrimsonBikes fraudulently told customers to ask their credit card company for refunds for undelivered bikes. A payment service is holding SmartEtailing liable for $400,000 in chargebacks.

Posted in Retail News
December 22, 2020

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (BRAIN) — A former Specialized Bicycle graphic designer is charging that she was terminated in violation of federal and state civil rights and employment laws.

Posted in Industry News
December 18, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — This time last year, Hill Abell was contemplating some big changes at his five Austin stores. Drastic changes.

Posted in Retail News
December 17, 2020
Some retailers say this was the year to quit while they were ahead. Some are getting some help from Trek Bicycle.

FLOWER MOUND, Texas (BRAIN) — This year's bike boom left many retailers with empty shelves, bulging bank accounts, and greatly reduced debt. It also left many exhausted. More than a few have decided this was the perfect time to get out of the retail grind, one way or another.

Posted in Retail News
December 9, 2020
Stanfill and Kallista at CABDA in 2018

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — James Stanfill is stepping down as president of the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Assocation, a group he helped form in 2016.

Posted in Retail News
December 4, 2020
The bike business was bolstered by about $135 million in (mostly forgivable) loans this year.
Revolution Bicycle Repair (from the store's Facebook page).

JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. (BRAIN) — Revolution Bicycle Repair, the smallest shop in this Boston neighborhood, received one of the smallest Paycheck Protection Program loans made to a bike company this year: just $1,700.

Posted in Industry News
November 18, 2020
Photo courtesy NICA.

VICTOR, Idaho (BRAIN) — New research suggests youth cycling will continue to be a bright spot post-pandemic.

Posted in Industry News

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