Irvine, CA, April 2026 - The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Retailer Excellence Awards (REA) and inaugural Supplier Excellence Awards (SEA), honoring exceptional specialty bicycle retailers and supplier partners who demonstrate excellence in business strategy, customer engagement, community impact, and industry partnership. This year, 80 retailers participated in the REA program, with 47 earning the distinction of being named winners, while nearly 20 suppliers participated in the first-ever SEA program, with 8 earning recognition.
About the Programs
Now in its 15th year, the REA program is a three-month intensive program run during the industry's off-season, open to all North American specialty bicycle retailers. This year's theme, Strategic Excellence & Entrepreneurial Resilience: A Business Intensive, guided participants through financial knowledge, KPI tracking, operational efficiency, strategic planning, and community engagement. Four virtual peer-learning sessions encouraged collaboration and shared best practices. Retailers organized community events, gathered customer and employee feedback, and had the option to commission a secret shopper evaluation of their store.
The 2026 SEA program, launching for the first time this year, ran concurrently with REA and recognized supplier and service provider partners for demonstrated integrity, retailer support, collaborative thinking, and innovation. Participating suppliers engaged in peer learning, hosted retailer-facing events ranging from factory tours to product training sessions, and received anonymous structured feedback from their dealer networks via the NBDA-administered Supplier
“Watching these businesses invest in their customers, their communities, and the strength of their operations throughout the REA and SEA programs is a reminder of why specialty bicycle retail continues to thrive,” said NBDA Executive Director Heather Mason. “These retailers and suppliers are going beyond adapting to change, they are leading with intention, building stronger businesses, and setting a higher standard for success in our industry. Congratulations to every winner: you’ve raised the bar for all of us.”
Winners were celebrated in-person at the 2026 NBDA Retailer Summit West in Las Vegas in March, and honored at a virtual event on April 1, 2026.
2026 REA Winners
Retailers earned recognition across four tiers - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum - based on a rigorous point-based application. The top honor, the Distinguished Retailer Award, is awarded to a select group of retailers per year and requires a Gold or Platinum program score, a secret shopper evaluation, and a video submission showcasing what makes their store exceptional.
Platinum: 2 Rivers Bicycle and Outdoor, Around the Cycle, Bicycle X-Change, Bridgeway Bikes, Johnny Velo Bikes, Kegel's Bicycle Store, Kyle's Bike Shop, Outback Bikes, Pro Bike and Run, Ryder Bikes, Spin Zone Cycling, Still Ride Bike Shop, Takoma Bicycle, The New Wheel, Two Wheeler & Ski Dealer Inc., Western Cycle Source For Sports
Gold: Al's Bike Shop, Berkshire Bike and Board, Big Sky Cycling (Helena), Bike World, Bingham Cyclery, Campus Cycles, Clemmons Bicycle, Contender Bicycles, Earl's Bike Shop, Galleria Bicycle, Hypercat Cycleworks, Landry's Bicycles, Mike's Bikes, Olympia Cycle & Ski (Portage Ave), Pearland Bicycles, Pedal Power Bike Shop, Slipping Gears Cycling, The Hub Napa, The Sports Den, Trailyard Outpost, Wheel Wranglers
Silver: BFF Bikes, Gannett Peak Sports, Mercury Endurance Cycles, Mole Hill Bikes, Mountain Bike Specialists, On Your Mark Bike Shop, Reser Bicycle Outfitters
Bronze: Cycle Alaska, We Cycle, Woodcock Cycle Works Inc.
Distinguished Retailer Award Winners:
- Bicycle X-Change - Wichita, KS
- Contender Bicycles - Salt Lake City & Park City, UT
- Pro Bike and Run - Multiple Locations, Pittsburgh, PA
- Western Cycle Source for Sports - Regina, SK
- Ryder Bikes - Bradenton, FL
People's Choice Award recipients are selected by their communities through a public voting campaign shared by each participating shop. This year's winners with the most votes in their category are:
- Single Location: Campus Cycles - Denver, CO
- Multiple Location: Bicycle X-Change - Wichita, KS
- Adjacent Category: Olympia Cycle & Ski - Winnipeg, MB
2026 SEA Winners
This year's Supplier Excellence Awards mark the first time the NBDA has formally recognized the supplier and service provider community for their role in strengthening specialty retail. The program ran concurrently with REA, from mid-December to end of February, and focused on peer-to-peer learning, practical education, and direct retailer feedback gathered over three months.
2026 Supplier Excellence Award Winners: Aventon*, Bikeflights*, Bulls Bikes USA*, Catrike*, Citrus-Lime*, Hollywood Racks*, Micromobility Connect, Midway Bicycle Supply Inc.
* Denotes Distinguished Supplier Award
About the REA and SEA Programs
NBDA Program Director Megan Schmidt added, “Every single person involved in the 2026 REA and SEA Programs brought unwavering energy, positivity, and dedication to their mission: delivering excellence in specialty bicycle retail. The incredibly creative events that shops shared with their communities were inspiring - some raised funds for local charities and others shared the joy of a sub-zero fat bike race with their customers. Suppliers truly stepped up to showcase their dealer support by inviting retailers into their warehouse, creating curated training sessions, and partnering with shops to create co-branded content. This industry is resilient, creative, and dedicated - and we are proud to celebrate every REA and SEA winner. "
The Retailer Excellence Awards and Supplier Excellence Awards are among the many programs spearheaded by the NBDA in pursuit of strengthening the specialty bicycle channel. The 2026 REA program was made possible by the generous support of sponsors TrackFly, Workstand, Marsh McLennan Agency, Ride EZ, JBI, Aurora Payments, and Hubtiger.
The 2027 REA and SEA programs will open for applications later this year. Full program information will be announced on the NBDA website at nbda.com/rea and nbda.com/sea .
About the NBDA
The National Bicycle Dealers Association is the premier trade association for specialty bicycle retailers, dedicated to supporting independent dealers through advocacy, education, and industry partnerships. The NBDA provides comprehensive resources including retailer education programs, profitability initiatives, advocacy efforts, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen the specialty bicycle retail sector across North America. The NBDA is a non-profit organization that strives to elevate the bicycle retail industry and empower dealers for long-term success. For more information about the NBDA and its initiatives, please visit www.nbda.com.
