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

Canyon sales up 23% in first three quarters, but profitability declines

December 5, 2023

KOBLENZ, Germany (BRAIN) — Privately held Canyon Bicycles announced Monday that its year-on-year sales increased 23% in the first nine months of 2023. However, the company recorded a loss of 1.3 million euros in the period due to discounting and a shortage of some models that were in high demand.

Posted in International

Appeals court upholds Ranger Trek trademark over Trek Bicycle's opposition

November 15, 2023
Trek briefly sold a Lance Armstrong lunchbox, but never registered its trademark for use on lunchboxes.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld the registration of the Ranger Trek trademark, which Trek Bicycle had opposed.

Posted in Industry News

Philly couple sues Trek, SRAM and retailers after crash with recalled brake

October 4, 2023

PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — Trek, SRAM, a Taiwanese hub maker, a Trek-owned retail store and an independent Trek dealer are all named in a product liability case involving an alleged coaster brake failure two years after the coaster-brake hub was recalled.

Posted in Recalls

Mancini victims eager to 'see justice done’

October 3, 2023
Cover of an OCP promotional document. The brands were never acquired.

NEWARK, N.J (BRAIN) — Victims of what prosecutors call a “Ponzi-like” scheme to buy several Italian cycling brands are asking a judge to release pre-sentencing materials for Samuel Mancini, who has pleaded guilty to securities fraud in the case.

Posted in Industry News

Mavic returns to North America with Vermont office

September 21, 2023
The Mavic USA crew at the new headquarters. JaredKatzPhotography

WATERBURY, Vt. (BRAIN) — Mavic, which was acquired in 2020 out of receivership by the French investment group Bourrelier, has had no presence in the U.S. market since at least that time, leaving retailers and consumers to struggle to find repair parts and service.

Posted in Industry News

Zwift/Wahoo lawsuit settlement includes bundled sales program

September 6, 2023
Zwift will sell Wahoo hardware and Wahoo will offer trainers bundled with Zwift software subscriptions.
The Wahoo Kickr Core.

WILMINGTON, Del. (BRAIN) — A year to the day after Zwift launched its first stationary trainer, the Hub — which led Wahoo Fitness to quickly file suit for patent infringement — Zwift and Wahoo are announcing terms of an "amicable settlement" that include each company selling bundles containing the other’s products.

Posted in Industry News

Taiwanese bike companies share ESG data

August 9, 2023

TAIPEI (BRAIN) — In the U.S., the concept of Environmental, Social and Governance reports has set off an economic/cultural/political "debate," as so many things do. But in Taiwan, ESG reports offer some useful data.

Posted in International

Bike imports plummet as average value climbs

August 8, 2023
First-half imports of adult bikes were down steeply in units and also in dollar volume.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Bike imports were down steeply in the first half of the year compared to the year prior, even as the average import value of bikes increased significantly.

Posted in Industry News

Liquidator agrees to buy 2,200 Reid bikes from its Canadian distributor's receiver

July 28, 2023
The Reid Ladies Classic is among the bikes being liquidated in Canada.

TORONTO (BRAIN) — Auctionmaxx, a Canadian liquidation specialist, has agreed with a court-appointed appointed receiver to acquire about 2,260 Reid bikes from Reid’s Canadian distributor, Vellend-Tech Inc. Velland-Tech entered receivership this spring after failing to make payments on a bank credit line.

Posted in International

Wahoo Fitness makes factory reset after Walton fund and others help eliminate debt

July 1, 2023
Wahoo Kickr

ATLANTA (BRAIN) — Wahoo Fitness says its financial woes are in the past after a recapitalization eliminated debt that had crippled it after the pandemic boom in indoor exercise products. Three private equity groups helped founder Chip Hawkins pay off a public debt owed to a bank consortium; it also put capital on Wahoo's balance sheet to enable growth.

Posted in Industry News

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