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

NBDA sees growth with associate memberships

October 7, 2021
Dealer association sees growth in associate membership

IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — The National Bicycle Dealers Association is finding membership growth coming from around the industry as more brands, distributors and other industry members have been joining the association as associate members.

Posted in Retail News

Specialized buys McLain Cycle & Fitness, other purchases rumored

September 23, 2021
McLain, based in Traverse City, Michigan, has three stores.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (BRAIN) — After 44 years in business, Bob and Kris McLain have sold McLain Cycle & Fitness to Specialized Bicycle Components. Specialized has not confirmed the purchase and has declined to comment on this or other recent retail acquisitions.

Posted in Retail News

UPDATED: Bay Area retail powerhouse Mike's Bikes sold to Pon Group, the owner of Santa Cruz and Cervelo

August 18, 2021

NOVATO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Mike's Bikes, the 12-store Northern California chain, has been purchased by Pon, the Dutch parent of Santa Cruz, Cervelo and other bike, mobility, and auto brands. Mike's former partners will remain with the business and said the stores will continue to carry non-Pon bike brands such as Specialized.

Posted in Retail News

Director of cycling investment fund arrested, charged with securities fraud

July 27, 2021
The Denver-based fund planned to acquire De Rosa, De Marchi and Limar.

DENVER (BRAIN) — Samuel J. Mancini, the managing director of a Denver-based fund that had plans to invest in cycling companies, was arrested in Denver last week and faces federal securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Posted in Industry News

Court appoints trustee in CrimsonBikes bankruptcy case

July 16, 2021
SmartEtailing and other creditors petitioned to put the Massachusetts retailer into involuntary bankruptcy, later converted to a Chapter 11.

BOSTON (BRAIN) — CrimsonBikes is now in the hands of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee after creditors including SmartEtailing and Giant Bicycle said store owner Charles James was mismanaging it and appeared to be shuffling assets between several companies he owns.

Posted in Retail News

How e-bike brand Rad Power shortened its supply chain by more than 50 days

July 13, 2021
The MV Eemslift Nadine arriving at the Port of Everett on Monday. Photo: Leland Dart

EVERETT, Wash. (BRAIN) — Like all bike companies, Rad Power has struggled to deliver enough bikes to meet demand for the last year and a half. But the Seattle-based consumer-direct powerhouse recently trimmed weeks off the transit time for its e-bikes by using an alternative seaport.

Posted in Industry News

Bike brands say ExpertVoice can drive sales through shops

June 28, 2021
But some retailers take a dim view of the pro-deal platform.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — After an outdoor industry retail group came out against the ExpertVoice pro purchase platform last week, some bike brands are defending the platform.

Posted in Retail News

Intense selling new 951 series bikes through Costco.com and other channels

June 14, 2021
The Intense 951.

TEMECULA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Intense Cycles is launching a new series of bikes that is being sold through multiple channels, including consumer-direct, IBD, and through Costco.com. 

Posted in Industry News

Shimano forced to shut Malaysia component factory in latest blow to the supply chain

June 10, 2021
Kent Bicycle's factory in Malaysia is also closed.
2007 BRAIN photo by Matt Wiebe.

OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — Shimano's factory in Malaysia will be completely closed until at least June 14 due to an official COVID-19 mandate. Since June 1, the factory had been allowed to operate at 60% capacity.

Posted in International

Fayetteville hires Medalist Sports to manage cyclocross events

May 28, 2021
Brook Watts tells BRAIN local officials refused to seriously consider how Arkansas' anti-trans legislation could harm the races.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (BRAIN) — The city has hired longtime event firm Medalist Sports to manage two high-profile cyclocross races this fall and next winter. Medalist replaces Parkven Productions, owned by Brook Watts and Kristin Diamond, which parted ways with the events last month as the race community pondered responses to Arkansas' recent anti-transgender legislation.

Posted in Industry News

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