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

SRAM investigating 'cybersecurity issue'

April 1, 2025

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — SRAM said it has hired outside specialists to investigate an IT systems outage that caused the company to shut down its wholesale ordering system and other systems last month. 

Posted in Industry News

Industry leader John Neugent dies at 76

April 1, 2025
John Neugent

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Longtime industry member John Neugent died recently at age 76. Neugent worked for Service Cycle, led Sachs USA and worked with several other brands before opening his own consumer-direct wheel brand, Neuvation, in about 2004. 

Posted in Industry News

Industry uncertainty continues over materials and Venezuelan tariffs

March 26, 2025

TUCSON, Ariz. (BRAIN) — A speaker at last week’s Bicycle Leadership Conference declared “uncertainty” the Word of the Year for this industry and others, with much of the prevailing unease related to U.S. tariffs that have taken effect or been threatened. 

Posted in Industry News

In Vegas, Haro shows expanded product line, offers to 'grandfather in' pre-tariff pricing

March 26, 2025
CABDA West opened Wednesday in Las Vegas. Kathy Haq photo.

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — A year after announcing an expanded lineup, Haro is fleshing out its product line with new aluminum-framed full suspension mountain bikes, new e-bikes and other adult models being introduced at CABDA West and Sea Otter next month.

Posted in Industry News

Chains subject to steel tariffs; some cables and other products, too

March 14, 2025

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The 25% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that took effect Thursday apply to bicycle chains, some bike cables, perhaps some locks, and a wide variety of hardware and other products that are used in bike shops and by manufacturers.

Posted in Industry News

Merida writes down $105 million impairment related to Specialized investment

March 14, 2025
Screenshot of Merida's presentation slides from Thursday's news conference.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Taiwanese manufacturer Merida Industry Co., which owns 35% of Specialized Bicycle Company, recorded a non-operating loss of over $100 million related to that investment in 2024, as the U.S. bike brand took a deferred tax loss and write-downs on its retail operations.

Posted in International

Giant operating profits down 60% last year

March 14, 2025

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Giant Group reports that its operating profits declined 60% last year as it wrote down NT$1.9 billion ($57.6 million) in inventory provision losses, recognizing the decline in inventory value due to discounting.

Posted in International

Brompton celebrates 50th with new models and stores

March 12, 2025
A Brompton — outside the city??

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Brompton Bicycle is 50 years old this year, and as it looks to expand sales outside a handful of major cities, the most British of bike brands is getting … a bit cheeky?

Posted in Industry News

Despite uncertainty, Mexico's Mercurio factory still eyes US sales

March 12, 2025

SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico (BRAIN) — Mercurio Sports Group, a bike manufacturer and distributor in Mexico, opened a $25 million, 540-square-foot factory here in 2019, with plans to assemble bikes for the U.S. and the domestic market, and to eventually add frame manufacturing.

Posted in International

Stinner quietly becomes one of largest U.S. framemakers

March 12, 2025

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Stinner Frameworks has quietly become one of the highest-volume framemaker in the U.S., putting out just under 2,000 frames for its own brand and others last year. And the 15-year-old company says it’s ready for more.

Posted in Industry News

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