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.

sfrothingham@bicycleretailer.com
/twitter.com/#!/stevefroth

All articles by Steve Frothingham

Receivership will 'alleviate unsustainable costs' for Mavic, Regent partner says

May 11, 2020
Mavic's US operations unaffected by troubles in France, CEO says.

PARK CITY, Utah (BRAIN) — Mavic's U.S. operations are continuing as usual despite the brand's French wing being put into receivership, the CEO of MAVIC USA told BRAIN.

Posted in Industry News

Mavic put into receivership in France

May 7, 2020
Company had been managed by a turn-around firm since February. Regent, which announced it had bought the brand last March, has no comment.
Mavic's headquarters near Annecy, which it shared with the ski brand Salomon.

ANNECY, France (BRAIN) — Mavic has been put into receivership at the French commercial court in Grenoble, after being put under the management of a turnaround firm in February.

Posted in International

Pandemic check-in: Brooklyn Bicycle Company's Ryan Zagata

May 1, 2020
Ryan Zagata.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (BRAIN) — Recent "Pandemic Check-ins" have featured executives with large IBD suppliers in Wisconsin, California, and Minnesota. Today we check in with a smaller supplier based in the pandemic's epicenter and who is experiencing a major sales boom — with sales up 600% so far this year.

Posted in Industry News

Pandemic check-in: QBP's president, Rich Tauer

April 23, 2020
Rich Tauer.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — With a few exceptions, almost every bike retailer in the country has an account with Quality Bicycle Products, giving the Minnesota-based distributor a wide view of what's happening across the IBD nation.

Posted in Industry News

Pandemic check-in with Giant Bicycle's JT Thompson: Cycling will be more highly regarded

April 14, 2020
Thompson during a recent 60th birthday ride with colleagues.

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. (BRAIN) — BRAIN checked in with Giant Group's U.S. general manager, John "JT" Thompson, this week to get his view of how the U.S. industry is handling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Posted in Industry News

Will the 'mini Bike Boom' last?

April 10, 2020
Specialized founder Mike Sinyard: "I think it will stick."

NEW ORLEANS (BRAIN) — From Louisiana to Long Island, Portland to Orlando, many retailers are reporting stellar bike sales and service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted in Retail News

Pandemic check-in with Trek Bicycle's John Burke: The industry's best days are ahead

April 9, 2020
Burke says he's uncertain about a lot of things but optimistic about the bicycle's future. And he thinks we'll all know a lot more in a couple months.
John Burke

WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek president John Burke says "The big question for the industry is: What's going to happen as we exit this?"

Posted in Retail News

Trademark board sides with Ross family members, cancels trademark registration

April 2, 2020

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (BRAIN) — A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office board ruled that Century Sports, Inc. abandoned the Ross bicycle trademark, opening the door for Ross family members to register it and relaunch the brand.

Posted in Industry News

3T: We’re no longer a bike factory

March 26, 2020
The Italian manufacturer has converted its carbon factory to produce valves for ventilator masks during the pandemic.
Some of the 3D-printed valves by 3T.

BERGAMO, Italy (BRAIN) — 3T Cycling is the latest bike company to reveal that it has converted its factory to make devices for the medical industry. The Italian brand is running its 3D printer 24 hours a day to make a valve part for a ventilator mask.

Posted in Industry News

Business booms in New York, but COVID-19 restrictions could cool things down

March 18, 2020
Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Bike use in New York City is on the upswing due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and retailers are seeing the positive effects. However, they are bracing for a possible shelter-in-place order that could curtail retail shopping or even mandate store closures.

Posted in Retail News

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