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

Shimano sells Pearl Izumi to sporting goods group

May 5, 2022

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Shimano Inc. has sold off its apparel brand, Pearl Izumi, to United Sports Brands, the parent of Nathan, Cutters, and Shock Doctor, among other brands. 

Pearl Izumi will join Nathan, which offers running accessories and apparel, in USB's new outdoor division.

Posted in Industry News

Cooper's new e-bikes won't be sold in the US. So why should we pay attention?

April 29, 2022

LONDON (BRAIN) — Thanks to the Cooper family's notoriety in the auto industry, its new line of e-bikes has generated plenty of free press globally. They are not available in the U.S. but feature an innovative hub motor worth making note of.

Posted in Product/Tech

Mancini civil proceedings paused until September

April 29, 2022
The civil case will proceed after criminal sentencing in August.

NEWARK, N.J. (BRAIN) — A federal judge has approved delaying the civil case against Samuel J. Mancini, the CEO of an investment group that planned to buy up several Italian cycling brands.

Posted in Industry News

Approximately none of the recent 'e-bike fires' in New York involved an e-bike

April 26, 2022

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Many of New York's tragic and highly visible fires have involved e-scooters and e-motorcycles. Does the distinction matter?

Posted in Industry News

Boulder police recover stolen prototypes with help from local retailer

April 7, 2022

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Police have recovered stolen prototype bikes valued at $80,000, thanks in part to help from local retailer Full Cycle. The store's owner became suspicious when a man walked in with a $12,000 e-bike and a pair of bolt cutters.

Posted in Retail News

Kona’s new owners look for growth

March 18, 2022
Kona team rider Caleb Holonko.

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — Kona Bicycles, cheerfully independent for a third of a century, is now part of an Ohio-based outdoor sports group, Kent Outdoors. For about a year, Kent, a long time family-run business, has been in the hands of Boston-based private equity firm, Seawall Capital.

Posted in Industry News

Bike suppliers pull out of Russia

March 17, 2022
UPDATE: Pirelli halts operations in Russia; Orbea stopped operations the day after the invasion.

MILAN, Italy (BRAIN) — Most bike suppliers tell BRAIN they have stopped doing business in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision to end business there is due to the difficulty of operating under banking sanctions and the voluntary decision by some shipping companies to stop delivering in Russia. Or a happy coincidence of both.

Posted in International

Framemaker flees Russia, asks industry for support

March 3, 2022

TEL AVIV (BRAIN) — Dmitry Nechaev, the owner of Sochi, Russia-based Triton Bikes, is asking industry suppliers and customers to continue to do business with his company, which he is planning to re-establish outside of Russia.

Posted in International

Industry imported nearly $2 billion in bikes last year

February 8, 2022
Also: We provide a bit of a primer on data available in the industry. And look! A ship photo.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Bike imports continued to skyrocket last year, as the industry brought in bikes with a customs value of $1.96 billion, a record that is 40% higher than in 2020.

Posted in Studies/Reports

In its centennial year, Shimano hits record revenues and earnings

February 8, 2022

OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — In the year the company celebrated its 100th anniversary, Shimano Inc.’s sales and operating income hit an all-time record, driven primarily by its business in the bike industry.

Company-wide, Shimano's sales last year were up 44.6% over 2020, while operating income was up 79.3%.

Posted in Industry News

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