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

Who should you trust? Helmet makers dispute Consumer Reports findings

July 5, 2019

LONDON (BRAIN) — The maker of a helmet model that failed a recent Consumer Reports test said the results are "fake news." He also questioned whether the publication's in-house testing should be given more weight than the multiple national standards his helmets have been certified to pass.

Posted in Industry News

René Herse: on gravel before it was cool

June 20, 2019

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — Now that even Shimano has jumped into the gravel bike component market in a definitive way, it’s a time of reckoning for suppliers who have nurtured the category's growth since before it was a category.

Posted in Industry News

Startup offers daily insurance for share bike and e-scooter users

June 19, 2019

TEL AVIV (BRAIN) — Many riders who hop on a shared e-scooter or e-bike are unaware that they may not be insured for liability. An Israel-based company has raised $5 million in Series A funding to launch Voom, offering insurance on a daily basis to users of e-scooters and other vehicles.

Posted in Industry News

Scicon Sports, backed by ASG, expands beyond travel cases

June 18, 2019

MUSSOLENTE, Italy (BRAIN) — Scicon Sports, known to U.S. retailers for bike travel cases and as Ellsworth’s new sister brand, is broadening its product portfolio with the addition of sunglasses, saddles and cycling apparel, with more to come. 

Posted in Industry News

PeopleForBikes' Ride Spot app helps retailers target infrequent cyclists

June 13, 2019

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Ride Spot offers hand-picked routes in each community, chosen by local bike retailers or other organizations. The routes give beginners an on-ramp to cycling, helping the industry and retailers establish a relationship with the riders that continues after they wheel new bikes out the door. Ride Spot also has features that help bike retailers increase local riding participation, and develop — and market to — a riding community with their store as a hub.

Posted in Retail News

UK's Morvelo looks to niche shops in US

June 11, 2019

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — With designs that owe as much to old school BMX as the Tour de France, UK-based apparel brand Morvelo is ramping up for a go at the U.S. market. The brand established almost 10 years ago sells though some large retailers in its home market, but is looking for a different kind of store in the U.S.

Posted in Product/Tech

Roula offers concierge service for upscale traveling cyclists

June 7, 2019

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — For cyclists who are cash rich but time poor, Roula.cc offers concierge-style bike rental services in business destination cities around the world. The startup will deliver a high-end road bike to a hotel, office, or Airbnb, professionally tuned and adjusted. It also offers guided rides.

Posted in Industry News

Shimano makes new Deore XT parts available soon after public launch

May 31, 2019
500 XT 'priority packs' were sold in the US.

IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — In what may be a first for the company, Shimano is making a major new group of components available for retail purchase soon after a public launch, both as original equipment and in the aftermarket.

Posted in Product/Tech

Latest Danny Macaskill video spurs interest in German trailer brand

May 29, 2019

The Scottish trials rider's latest video, Danny Daycare, has garnered 3.7 million views since it launched May 19. The company that makes the one-wheeled child trailer in the video is seeing increased web traffic and more inquiries from dealers and consumers.

Posted in Industry News

Allied Cycle Works lays off about 15 workers, faces lawsuit from founder

May 29, 2019
Separately, Allied to launch new model at Dirty Kanza and unveil new IBD program this week.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (BRAIN) — HIA Velo, LLC, the parent of Allied Cycle Works, laid off about 15 workers this month as managers adjusted staff levels to demand for its U.S.-made carbon bikes. The workers let go were from a variety of departments but mostly from production.

Posted in Industry News

Pages