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

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

Amer places Mavic 'under review' as it updates its strategy

September 5, 2018

HELSINKI (BRAIN) — Amer Sports says its Mavic cycling business is "under review" as Amer updates its strategy and looks to focus its portfolio of brands, which includes Salomon, Arc'teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic, Mavic, Enve, Suunto, Wilson and Precor.

Posted in International

After outcry over Apache Bicycles, the Czech bike brand promises changes

August 31, 2018
Part of Apache Bicycles' 2018 Eurobike display.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Apache Bicycles, a 17-year-old bike brand based in the Czech Republic, is planning some changes to its marketing, which outraged many on social media in recent weeks.

Posted in International

Fox taking 'halo product' approach to launching Live Valve suspension feature

August 28, 2018
Limited numbers of bikes with the new $2,000 upgrade are hitting the market, allowing Fox and bike brands to educate retailers on it.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — "The system is complex, but what you get is simple," Fox says in its marketing. But how hard is it for dealers to set-up, tune and service the complex system?

Posted in Product/Tech

Vee Rubber increasing tire production capacity in Thailand due to proposed tariffs on Chinese tires

August 28, 2018
The company said its tire production capacity will be increased by 40 percent before the spring selling season.

BANGKOK, Thailand (BRAIN) — Vee Rubber Corporation, the parent of Vee Tire Company, is adding staff and expanding capacity at its Thailand factories as U.S. brands look for alternatives to Chinese production.

Posted in International

ASE consolidates Nashbar and Performance systems and shipping, closes Ohio warehouse

August 24, 2018

PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — Advanced Sports Enterprises is consolidating some back end functions at its two e-commerce brands, Nashbar and Performance. The two brands are moving toward operating on the same inventory system and consolidated warehousing.

Posted in Retail News

Framebuilder Dario Pegoretti dies at 62

August 23, 2018
Photo courtesy of Gita.

CALDONAZZO, Italy (BRAIN) — An Italian cycling site, cyclinside.it, is reporting that famed framebuilder Dario Pegoretti died Thursday following a heart attack.

Posted in International

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