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

E-bike tariff exclusion is "doubtful," but exclusion requests pour in following State Bicycle's victory

September 30, 2019
Electric motorcycles got a tariff exclusion. Some are doubtful that e-bikes got the same.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — More than a week after the Trump administration announced tariff exclusions, the industry is still unclear — or even "doubtful" — if e-bikes earned it. Meanwhile, exclusion requests pour in as importers and trade organizations hope to duplicate the success of singlespeed importer State Bicycle.

Posted in Industry News

Bidon 2020 bottles raise alarms at Facebook

September 26, 2019

LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — Facebook, apparently in an effort to curtail foreign influence in U.S. elections, made a Colorado bike accessory brand jump through regulatory hoops before letting it promote its "Bidon 2020" water bottles on the social network site.

Posted in Industry News

'A shot in the dark': State Bicycle was one of the few brands to ask for a tariff exclusion. They got it.

September 20, 2019

TEMPE, Ariz. (BRAIN) — While requests are still being accepted, so far just five importers asked for their products to be excluded from new tariffs. One of them, State Bicycle Co., received the exclusion.

Posted in Industry News

Singlespeed adult bikes — and maybe e-bikes? — granted retroactive exclusion from 25% tariff

September 20, 2019
UPDATED: Still some uncertainty whether e-bikes were granted the exclusion.
Singlespeed bikes like this State 4130 are no longer subject to an extra 25% import duty.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Singlespeed adult bikes and, apparently, e-bikes, have earned an unexpected reprieve from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration last year.

Posted in Industry News

From the ashes of ANA, Alta Cycling Group emerges

September 3, 2019
An update on the new ownership of Accell North America's brands and Mavic.

KENT, Wash. (BRAIN) — Take notice: When a European conglomerate says one of its business units is "noncore," read: "Make us an offer" and reach for your wallet.

Posted in Industry News

Updated tariff timeline: How we got here

August 30, 2019
UPDATED Sept. 11, 2019

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Tariff news is piling up on the industry. To help you (and us) keep track, we've prepared this timeline of the major battles in this trade world war.

Posted in Industry News

BRAIN plans youth bike feature for October print issue

August 26, 2019
Photo courtesy Woom.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Bicycle Retailer & Industry News' editorial staff is preparing a feature on upcoming season youth bikes and related products for our October magazine. The multi-page feature will include photos and reporting about business and product trends for the 2020 season. The feature will provide retailers with an overview of options and trends during the preseason ordering period.

Posted in Industry News

Five years after launch, 7Mesh is showing it’s more than a jacket brand

August 15, 2019
"Filling the parking spots."

SQUAMISH, British Columbia (BRAIN) — 7Mesh was founded by a crew with years of experience in the technical outdoor apparel market, so a technical cycling rain jacket was a natural centerpiece of its first seasons.

But its founders always had bigger plans for the brand.

Posted in Industry News

Helmets and lights remain on list to receive new 10% tariff Sept. 1

August 14, 2019
Balance bikes get reprieve until Dec. 15, however.
Requisite stock photo of ship. Photo by kinsey on Unsplash.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — While President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration will delay some tariffs on Chinese imports until Dec. 15, most bicycle products remain on a list subject to increased tariffs Sept. 1. 

Posted in Industry News

Karklins and Allied's parent, HIA Velo, settle suit

August 14, 2019

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BRAIN) — Tony Karklins and HIA Velo have settled the lawsuit Karklins had filed against the company last fall. 

Posted in Industry News

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