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

Retailers unimpressed by Kona's new D2C program

June 26, 2023
A 2015 photo of Kona's Bellingham, Washington, store.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (BRAIN) — Kona USA, facing the same excess inventory and stagnant consumer demand challenges as most other IBD brands, rebuilt its website in early June to add consumer-direct sales for the first time. While most traditional IBD brands now offer some variety of direct sales and click-and-collect few have received such a negative initial response from retailers.

Posted in Retail News

ACT Lab program will provide bike hangtags showing compliance to UL

June 9, 2023
The hangtag on a Lectric e-bike model at (e)revolution Thursday. Steve Frothingham photo.

DENVER (BRAIN) — ACT Lab, an independent testing laboratory, has launched a certification program that includes providing bike makers with hangtags letting consumers know on the sales floor that the bikes meet relevant standards including UL. 

Posted in Industry News

Quality closes its Colorado mechanic school

June 1, 2023
QBP's distribution center in Broomfield, where U of Q was housed.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products has closed its bicycle mechanics school, U of Q, which was previously known as Barnett Bicycle Institute. The Minneapolis-based distributor said its projections pointed toward a decline in enrollment.

Posted in Industry News

Giant and Stages end investment negotiations

May 15, 2023

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Giant Group has ended plans to invest about $20 million to take about a third share in Stages Cycling because the companies were unable to reach definitive agreements on the deal, according to documents Giant has filed with the Taipei stock exchange.

Posted in Industry News

New Lightspeed program draws retailer criticism

May 11, 2023

MONTREAL (BRAIN) — Several bike retailers are telling BRAIN they are displeased with Lightspeed’s decision to unify its point-of-sale software with its payment processing software.

Posted in Retail News

Wahoo reaches closure in one patent suit; Zwift suit continues

May 10, 2023
In Zwift case, Wahoo asks to redact information about trainer market and its financial condition.

ATLANTA (BRAIN) — Wahoo Fitness has reached a settlement with a Nevada inventor who sued the company in 2015 alleging that its Kickr trainer infringed on his patent. The inventor’s suit against Foundation Fitness (the owner of Stages Cycling) also is close to a settlement. 

Posted in Industry News

Fox Factory's bike-related sales down 30% in Q1; 20% annual decline now expected

May 4, 2023
On an earnings call, Fox's CEO reveals that Fox made layoffs in its bike division in Q1 and is close to making a small acquisition in the industry.
Fox released updated Float mountain bike shocks last month.

DULUTH, Ga. (BRAIN) — Fox executives said the decline was a return to seasonality after several years of pandemic-driven demand for its Speciality Sports Group products.

Posted in Industry News

Acquisitions bolster Vista Outdoor’s revenues while continuing brands record sales decline

May 4, 2023
Fox Racing president Jeff McGuane says industry inventory levels are improving and discusses Fox integration in an earnings call.

ANOKA, Minn. (BRAIN) — Vista Outdoor’s Action Sports business unit recorded net sales of $496 million in its most recent fiscal year, a 23% increase from the prior year.

Posted in Industry News

Mancini’s alleged victims include Best Buddies executive, veterans

April 18, 2023

NEWARK, N.J. (BRAIN) — Samuel J. Mancini was sentenced Tuesday to 71 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to securities fraud related to a failed cycling industry investment fund.

Posted in Industry News

Vista Outdoor makes layoffs at Bell and Giro as Fox Racing integration continues

April 1, 2023
UPDATED with quote from Vista Outdoor.
Fox Racing sales boosted Action Sports revenue in Q3.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Sources at Bell and Giro tell BRAIN that the Vista Outdoor brands made significant staff layoffs this week, especially in the marketing, brand, and creative departments.

Posted in Industry News

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