Steve Frothingham

Location

Boulder, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps
US

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 Boulder, Colorado, and is an enthusiastic (and slow) gravel, mountain bike and cyclocross rider, and plans to try more bikepacking this year.

sfrothingham@outsideinc.com

All articles by Steve Frothingham

Shimano warns of 1% price increase

July 28, 2026

TOKYO (BRAIN) — Shimano says soaring raw material costs due the Middle East war may force it to slightly raise prices on bicycle components next month.

Posted in International

Bikes hit by new Section 301 tariffs taking the place of expiring Section 122 tariffs

July 23, 2026
UPDATE: With more details on the "net of MFN" exceptions.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The Trump administration on Thursday announced new Section 301 tariffs of 10% and 12.5% that apply to 99.4% of all imports, including those from the major bike-producing nations of Taiwan, China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. 

Posted in Industry News

Startup takes new approach to cycling shoes

July 23, 2026

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — As a graduate student at the University of Colorado, Tripp Hurt co-authored two scientific papers on cycling shoe stiffness, examining how that stiffness affected sprint performance. The conclusion of both studies: It doesn’t.

Posted in Product/Tech

Retailers: Please take our first-half survey

July 2, 2026

With the first half of 2026 complete, we are conducting a survey of bicycle retailers to better understand the current state of the industry. Your feedback will be featured in upcoming articles both in print and online.

Posted in Retail News

Cardinal offering OE carbon frame and component manufacturing at TIME factory

June 15, 2026

GAJARY, Slovakia (BRAIN) — Cardinal Cycling Group, the U.S.-based company that owns TIME, is now offering OE manufacturing at its Carboprax factory in Slovakia, using the factory's trademark Resin Transfer Molding production method.

Posted in Industry News

Kona 3.1: The search for ‘a new irreverence’

June 2, 2026
Charles Russell at the BC Bike Race last week.

FERNDALE, Wash. (BRAIN) — When Kona Bike’s founders re-acquired the brand from the private equity group that had bought it in 2022, they called the re-launch "Kona 3.0." This month, the brand might be entering the Kona 3.1 era as co-founders, Jake Heilbron and Dan Gerhard step out of their day-to-day roles and join the board. Charles Russell replaces Heilbron as President and CEO.

Posted in Industry News

KHS distribution business closing for good this week

May 28, 2026
Wayne D Gray

RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — The KHS U.S. distribution business is closing down for good this week, seven months after the company announced it would close unless it found a buyer.

Posted in Industry News

Judge declines to enforce settlement in Specialized ‘over-run’ case

May 28, 2026
A 2022 Specialized Turbo Levo. Pinkbike photo.

SEATTLE, Wash. (BRAIN) — The judge in a product liability case over a Specialized e-MTB’s alleged “over-run” refused to enforce a proposed $175,000 settlement, which fell apart when Specialized demanded the return of the bike.

Posted in Industry News

SRAM wins appeal against UCI gearing rule

May 21, 2026

BRUSSELS (BRAIN) — Belgium’s Market Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down the UCI’s rule limiting the maximum gear in pro road races to a 54 x 11 ratio.

SRAM CEO Ken Lousberg called the decision “groundbreaking.”

Posted in International

Portland's Firsthand Framebuilding buys Paragon Machine Works

May 21, 2026
Firsthand's catalog cover.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) – Firsthand Framebuilding, a Portland framebuilding supply and education company, has purchased the assets of Paragon Machine Works, the California framebuilding supply company that announced in March that it was closing after 43 years in business.

Posted in Industry News

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