You are hereBest of Austin 2009 Winners Announced!
Best of Austin 2009 Winners Announced!
The Austin Chronicle just announced their Best of Austin 2009 winners, and it looks like they gave out two bike-specific awards this year.
Congratulations to Bicycle Sport Shop for winning Best All-Time Winner in the Readers Poll. They've pretty much had Best Bike Shop award on lockdown for the past two decades, so there was no recourse but to give them "Best All-Time". Hell yeah, y'all.
Also, congratulations to Ladybird Lake (aka. the Town Lake Hike and Bike) for winning Best Bike Ride in the Readers Poll. I voted for the Full Moon Cruise, but whatever. I guess that trail's ok.
Update: I don't know how I glossed over this, but The Peddler Bike Shop won "Best Bicycle Repair" in the Readers Poll. These guys just recently moved into their new location with big windows, a nicer storefront, and HUGE amounts of space, so swing by 51st and Duval sometime soon and check out their new digs. Sorry for leaving you guys out!
I didn't notice any other bike-specific awards, but if I left any omissions, please let me know.
I didn't realize that a trail was considered an actual Ride ride. But it is beautiful to ride on, especially when the weather cools down.
So people interpret that in whatever way they see fit.
Still, I'm surprised -- I don't really care for riding on that trail at all -- too many pedestrians, dogs, leashes, etc.
I'd love to see all the rides that people voted for any how many votes each got ... anybody know of a way to get that? (My guess is that they won't release it, but hey, maybe ...)
You make good points, it's really not a bike trail when you're having to constantly dodge pedestrians. Maybe next year they can have a separate section for "Best Bike Trail."
I find the town lake hike and bike trail only slightly less dangerous than riding the upper deck of I-35. at least the upper deck is paved.
I LOVE riding a brakeless fixed gear bike with slick 25c tires around the hike and bike as fast as I can manage while listening to thrash or death metal, dodging joggers and other bikes. Back when my commute wasn't completely hellacious I used to ride at a lap or two after work several times a week. I know it's a bad habit, but hey, so is smoking...
Peddler Bike Shop won Best Bicycle Repair in the Readers' Poll:
Best Bicycle Repair: The Peddler Bike Shop
Since 2005, the Peddler on North Loop has built a loyal following of neighborhood patrons due to its speedy repair service and low labor costs. With an ever-expanding array of high-quality accessories and inventory of used and new bicycles – from KHS to Redline to Free Agent – it's a good thing the shop's moving into spacious new digs this month, just a few blocks away at Duval and 51st Street.
119 North Loop, 220-6766 www.peddlerbike.com
They just moved to 51st and Duval to a new HUGE space (they told me they wanted to do the move on 9/1 and have the store open on 9/2, it was open when I stopped by today). Apparently it's like 700sf in the old shop vs 3700sf in the new shop. Go check out the new space!