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

Coronavirus could cause bike delays — even for brands that don't make bikes in China

February 7, 2020
Major bike maker warns that 'anti-Chinese sentiment' in Vietnam could cause delays there and in Cambodia.
A welder at a Taiwanese bike factory. BRAIN photo.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — The CEO of A&J Bicycles — one of the world's largest bike makers, with factories in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia — is warning customers of possible shipment delays due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

Posted in International

Taipei Cycle canceled, sources tell BRAIN. Small May event planned in Taipei

February 7, 2020

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Multiple sources in Taiwan and the U.S. tell BRAIN that next month's Taipei Cycle show has been canceled. Exhibitors and other potential visitors have told show organizers they were reluctant to attend because of the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

Posted in Industry News

Industry unprepared for e-MTBs, former Trek executive says

February 7, 2020
Joe V. says a fourth e-bike class is needed for trail use.
A former Trek executive said a fourth e-bike class is needed for trail use.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (BRAIN) — While suppliers and advocacy groups were laying groundwork for e-bike use on paved roads and trails, electric mountain bikes began rolling onto sales floors and trails (or not) with little industry preparation.

Posted in Industry News

Rad Power closes on $25 million investment, plans more stores

February 5, 2020
First new store will be in Austin.
Rad Power Bikes' Rad Rover step-thru

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — The company said it will use the funding to support new brick and mortar retail locations, and to expand its mobile service and "white glove" delivery offerings.

Posted in Industry News

Taiwan suppliers ask TAITRA to cancel Taipei Cycle show over virus concerns

February 4, 2020
Taipei Cycle attracts more than 1,110 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Taiwan-based exhibitors at the Taipei Cycle show — scheduled to open a month from Tuesday — are circulating a petition asking organizers to cancel it because of the new coronavirus outbreak in China. 

Posted in International

Proposed oil drilling under Moab's Slickrock Trail should concern industry, Korenblat says

January 23, 2020
The industry veteran is asking bike companies to sign a letter opposing the plan. UPDATED with link to letter.
A rider on the Slickrock Trail. Wikicommons photo.

MOAB, Utah (BRAIN) — The iconic Slickrock Trail and environs are not in imminent danger from oil and gas development — if the industry and others step up to oppose proposed extraction leases on the area, said Ashley Korenblat, a bike industry veteran and managing director of Moab-based nonprofit Public Land Solution

Posted in Industry News

Customs ruling means e-bikes excluded from tariffs

January 12, 2020
Kent sells Univega USA and Kent-branded e-bikes.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has ruled that e-bikes fall under the same category as electric motorcycles and therefore share an exclusion, granted in September, from the Trump administration's Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Importers of Chinese e-bikes are now exempt from paying the 25% tariff imposed in August 2018.

Posted in Industry News

Eeeeeeeee! LA retailers buy in to the plug-in trend

January 11, 2020
Why struggle? The BRAIN E-Bike Dealer Tour heads to LAX.

Editor's note: A version of this article ran in the November issue of BRAIN.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (BRAIN) — As far west as you can get, with nothing but sand between us and the Pacific, we headed to the last retailer visit on our three-day tour.

Posted in Retail News

USTR grants tariff exclusion to kids bikes

January 2, 2020
Now all bikes with wheels from 12- through 24-inch are excluded. Some saddles and pumps also get the exclusion.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The U.S Trade Representative has granted tariff exclusions to two more categories of kids bikes from China.

Posted in Industry News

US Trade Rep denies some Trek tariff exclusion requests, still assessing others

December 23, 2019
Trek requested a tariff exclusion for rims including its Kovee models.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The Trump administration, which recently granted a tariff exclusion to importers of Chinese bikes with 20-inch wheels, has denied Trek Bicycle's request for exclusions for several other items, including rims, frames, and 26-inch bikes.

Posted in Industry News

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