Stephen 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.

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All articles by Stephen Frothingham

Mobile trade group to work with PBMA

March 29, 2018

PLAISTOW, N.H. (BRAIN) — Members of the Independent Mobile Bicycle Professionals group have decided not to form a trade association, but instead to explore ways to work with the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association.

Posted in Retail News

Bike share organization expels Ofo because of Florida lobbying

March 23, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BRAIN) — The North American Bikeshare Association has expelled Ofo US Limited from its membership. The company is the U.S. operation of China's Ofo, one of the world's largest dockless bike share companies.

Posted in Industry News
UPDATED: Ofo says it voluntarily withdrew from NABSA.

ANA sales fell 14% last year, but restructured company is bullish on its future

March 9, 2018

KENT, Wash. (BRAIN) — For more than a few years Accell North America has been the problem child for its parent, Dutch-based Accell Group. That status would appear to continue judging from the annual report that Accell released early Friday.

Posted in Industry News
Company says it has signed up more than 30 new dealers since launching a new omnichannel program.

ANA makes $5 million in repayments after discovering bike import duties mistake

March 9, 2018

KENT, Wash. (BRAIN) — As part of a review late last year, managers at Accell North America discovered that the company had been underpaying U.S. Customs on some bike import duties since 2013. The company wound up paying 4 million euros ($4.9 million) in repayments and interest.

Posted in Industry News

Oregon Legislature votes to expand $15 bike tax to kids' bikes, e-bikes

March 5, 2018
The cash register at Bicycle Way of Life in Eugene this week.

SALEM, Ore. (BRAIN) — In the name of simplification, Oregon's Legislature this weekend amended the state's $15 bicycle excise tax to include all bikes selling for $200 or more, including e-bikes. The tax originally exempted bikes with wheels smaller than 26 inches and exempted e-bikes that were sold through bike shops.

Posted in Retail News
Amended transportation bill is headed to governor's desk.

Full Cycle gives its espresso bar/tap room its own identity

February 12, 2018
A Grand Re-opening party was held earlier this month.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Boulder retailer Full Cycle, which added an espresso bar and beer tap area to its Pearl Street location last year, has now given that part of its business its own name: The Tune Up.

Posted in Retail News

Online custom fixie brand Big Shot Bikes looking for a buyer

February 7, 2018

FT. COLLINS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Big Shot Bikes, primarily an online seller of custom-colored fixed-gear and single-speed bikes, is looking for a buyer.

Posted in Industry News

Container store: Missouri bike shop, built with shipping containers, will serve rail trail users

January 29, 2018

WILLARD, Mo. (BRAIN) — Matt and Cari Harrison were looking for a way to build a small bike shop next to the popular 36-mile Frisco Highline Trail, on a piece of land leased from the rail trail's owner, the Ozark Greenways corporation.

Posted in Retail News

About those Friday BRAIN newsletter links ...

January 19, 2018

LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — BRAIN switched to a new platform for its weekly e-newsletter two weeks ago, and we are still learning the ins and outs of the new system. That, combined with a late night finishing pages for our Feb. 1 print edition, led to a technical problem with the newsletter that went out this morning.

Posted in Retail News
Here are the corrected links from our newsletter, plus some bonus links.

ANA releases new omnichannel program for IBDs

January 19, 2018

KENT, Wash. (BRAIN) — Late Thursday, Accell North America unveiled a new omnichannel distribution program designed to entice brick-and-mortar dealers to fulfill online bike orders, while requiring the stores to carry few — or no — ANA bikes on their sales floor.

Posted in Industry News

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