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

Peloton and some bike stocks trade down on vaccine news

November 9, 2020
Peloton's stock price Monday. Source: NASDAQ.com.

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Market indexes soared Monday on Pfizer's good news about a COVID-19 vaccine. However, some bike-related stocks were trading down as investors bet riding — indoors or outside — will be less popular in a post-COVID world.

Posted in Industry News

Rivendell offers 'reparations' discount to Black customers

October 5, 2020

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (BRAIN) — In its new Black Reparations Program, Rivendell Bicycle Works is offering Black customers a 45% discount on bikes and frames bought through its website or its warehouse store.

Posted in Industry News

LeMond relaunches with two upscale, carbon fiber city e-bikes; road and gravel to come

September 22, 2020
The LeMond Dutch e-bike.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BRAIN) — After a long dormancy, LeMond Bicycles is back, releasing two new bikes Tuesday.

Posted in Industry News

CPSC recalls two helmets that failed Consumer Reports test last year

August 28, 2020

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued recall notices for two of the three bike helmets that failed tests performed by Consumer Reports magazine last year. After the magazine test, one of the helmet makers disputed its findings, calling them "fake news." That company, Morpher, is now closed.

Posted in Recalls

Boom inspires new retail entrants

August 13, 2020
The crew at SpokeWorks.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (BRAIN) — Sometime about nine months or a year after the start of the pandemic in the U.S., a new generation of bike shops will be born, their conception inspired by the 2020 bike boom.

Posted in Retail News

No relief in sight as bike imports can't match demand

August 5, 2020
As retail sales increased by double or triple digits, bike imports were up just 3% through June.
Monthly bike imports.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Bike imports are up significantly in recent months, according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures released Wednesday. But importers are still struggling to make up for reduced shipments earlier in the year combined with unprecedented demand from retailers and consumers.

Posted in Retail News

Industry braces for tariff increases this month as exclusions expire

August 3, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) — Many importers of Chinese bike products will see costs increase by 25% as tariff exclusions are expected to expire August 7.

Posted in Industry News

California retailers threatened with lawsuits over their websites' accessibility

July 31, 2020
Revolution Bicycles' homepage.

ARCATA, Calif. (BRAIN) — At least 15 bike shops in California have received emails and letters from a law firm threatening suits over their websites' compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a California statute.

Posted in Retail News

Black Lives Matter movement puts Black-owned police bike brand in 'awkward position'

July 23, 2020
Randolph in a company promotional photo.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (BRAIN) — In the middle of a national discussion about the role of police departments in systemic racism, Brandale Randolph, a Black entrepreneur and activist, is raising money to manufacture high-tech police bikes in the United States.

Posted in Industry News

This boom's gone electric

July 22, 2020
E-bike sales will extend the 2020 bike boom, the industry says.
Photo courtesy of Shimano Steps.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — As the industry debates whether the pandemic-driven bike boom will end with a bust as supply dwindles, or reset as the new normal for years, consider one key difference between this boom and the early 1970s edition: This time we have e-bikes.

Posted in Industry News

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