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

Bianchi's women ambassadors go beyond the brand to promote cycling

September 17, 2018

KILLINGTON, Vt. (BRAIN) — Beyond merely promoting the Italian bike brand, Bianchi's new U.S. women's ambassador program is designed to get more people into the sport — and into bike shops.

Posted in Retail News

Pedego shifts some e-bike production to Vietnam in response to tariffs

September 12, 2018
Don DiConstanzo

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — In May, more than a month before the Trump administration proposed a 25 percent tariff on China-made e-bikes, Pedego co-founder and CEO Don DiCostanzo went to Vietnam to look for factories to make e-bikes.

Posted in International

Osprey Packs aiming for No. 1 spot in IBD hydration market

September 10, 2018
The new Osprey Raptor.

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — With a president who is a former longtime leader of CamelBak, and a bike industry veteran brought on as a new bike-specific sales manager, Osprey Packs isn't shy about its ambitions.

Posted in Industry News

With comment period over, the industry awaits a decision on tariffs while Trump calls for even more

September 7, 2018

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The public comment period ended Thursday for a proposed 25 percent tariff on $200 billion in Chinese imports, including most categories of bicycle products. Now the industry can do little but wait for the Trump administration to announce whether it will go ahead on the package. Meanwhile, the president has proposed another round of tariffs that would hit virtually every product coming from China.

Posted in Industry News

Moosejaw CEO says curated Walmart site helps the outdoor industry reach a wider audience

September 7, 2018
Eoin Comerford says he was surprised by the industry's vehement response to the online store.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (BRAIN) — Eoin Comerford, the CEO of Moosejaw, says a controversial new curated website featuring premium outdoor gear, part of Walmart's e-commerce site, has the potential to expand the outdoor industry's reach.

Posted in Retail News

Domestic rack makers favor Trump's proposed tariffs

September 7, 2018
Saris's owner said his company has been "abandoned by bicycle trade and industry groups" who sided with importers.

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (BRAIN) — When Ali Yazdian began planning his bike rack company about three years ago, he was determined to manufacture in the U.S., as much as possible near his home in the Salt Lake Valley.

Posted in Industry News

Rapha cuts 15 jobs at London headquarters

September 7, 2018

LONDON (BRAIN) — Rapha has cut 15 jobs at its headquarters in the name of reducing redundancy and costs, the company said. The company said sales were up significantly last year but that it now focusing on long-term profitable growth rather than short-term sales.

Posted in International

It's not them, it's us: Amer's CEO confirms he's thinking of dumping its cycling brands

September 6, 2018
Takala at Thursday's presentation.

HELSINKI (BRAIN) — Amer Sports CEO Heikki Takala made clear Thursday that the company is considering selling off both its cycling brands, Mavic and Enve. In the most gentle but firm way, Takala said there might be a better owner out there, somewhere, for the brands, both of which he called "iconic."

Posted in International

Park Tool sues Real World Cycling over tool color

September 6, 2018
RWC changed its DU Bushing Pilot to this shade after Park's complaint.

MINNEAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Park has held a trademark blue bike tools since 2008. But RWC's owner said he's switched to a different shade and accuses Park of bullying him.

Posted in Industry News

Decathlon moves ahead with its US market return, plans first 'full-scale' store

September 6, 2018
Photo from the grand opening of Decathlon's San Francisco lab store in April.

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — The world's largest sporting goods retailer — which does considerable business in cycling — plans to open a 47,000-square-foot store in Emeryville, California, in the spring. The planned location is in a former Toys R Us store and will join Decathlon's "lab store" in San Francisco, which it opened in April.

Posted in Retail News

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