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BRAIN: America's Best Bike Shops

November 1, 2017

The National Bicycle Dealers Association selected 166 shops for its annual list of America's Best Bike Shops. The list, now in its fifth year, was unveiled just before the Interbike show, and retailers were celebrated at an annual reception held in Las Vegas.

The America's Best program identifies and honors bicycle stores in North America. Retailers must fill out a detailed application and be identified by a mystery shopper to be considered. Points are awarded for customer support, knowledgeable staff, operational excellence, marketing excellence, community involvement, local bike advocacy, national bike advocacy and the mystery shopper experience.

Applicants for the NBDA program must be independent bicycle stores that sell bicycles, parts and accessories and have a service department. Fifty percent of the store's total sales must be related to bicycles and be from a physical store location to qualify.

In this section, retailers who made the list provide information about their stores.

Shops accompanied by the "ABBS 5" logo have been on the America's Best list all five years since the NBDA introduced the program.

Century Cycles
Medina, OH
Owner: Scott Cowan
Number of stores: 3
Number of employees: 34
Square footage: 14,000
Not only are we among the best bike shops in America, we are among the best of the best, with a forward-thinking and innovative approach that is benchmark for our peers around the country. But for us it's not about the accolades. It's about living our motto: "Define your life. Ride a bike." We believe in defining and enhancing lives, improving health and wellness, fostering family togetherness, putting smiles on faces -- with with Century Cycles along to help every pedal stroke of the way.

November 1, 2016

The National Bicycle Dealers Association selected 238 shops for its annual list of America's Best Bike Shop. The list, now in its fourth year, was unveild just before the Interbike show, and retailers were celebrated at an annual reception held in Las Vegas.

Thet America's Best program identifies and honors bicycle stores in North America. Retailers must fill out a detailed application and be evaluated by a mystery shopper to be considered. Points are awarded for customer support, knowledgeable staff, operational excellence, marketing excellence, community involvement, local bike advocacy, national bike advocacy, and the mystery shopper experience.

Applicants for NBDA's program must be independent bicycle stores that sell bicycles, parts and accessories and have a service department. Fifty percent of the store's total sales must be related to bicycles and be from a physical store location to qualify.

In this section, retailers who made the list provided information about their stores.

Century Cycles
Medina, OH
Owner: Scott Cowan
Number of stores: 3
Number of employees: 34
Square footage: 14,000
Not only are we among the best bike shops in America, we are among the best of the best, with a forward-thinking and innovative approach that is benchmark for our peers around the country. But for us it's not about the accolades. It's about living our motto: "Define your life. Ride a bike." We believe in defining and enhancing lives, improving health and wellness, fostering family togetherness, putting smiles on faces -- with Century Cycles along to help every pedal stroke of the way.

November 1, 2015

Each year, the National Bicycle Dealers Association chooses America's Best Bike Shops, and the winners are announced in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. We are proud to have one this award once again!

Scan of Nov. 1, 2015 BRAIN Article

Scan of Nov. 1, 2015 BRAIN Article part 2

November 1, 2014

The National Bicycle Dealers Association selected nearly 300 shops for its annual list of America's Best Bike Shops. The list, now in its second year, was unveiled just before the Interbike trade show, and retailers were celebrated at an annual reception held during the show.

The America's Best program identifies and honors bicycle stores in North America. Retailers must fill out a detailed application and be evaluated by a mystery shopper to be considered. Points are awarded for customer support, knowledgable staff, operational excellence, community involvement, local bike advocacy, national bike advocacy and the mystery shopper experience.

Stores with 370 points and above were awarded the title of "America's Best Bike Shop" for 2014.

Applicants for the NBDA's program must be independent bicycle stores that sell bicycles, parts and accessories and have a service department. Fifty percent of the store's total sales must be related to bicycles and be from a physical store location to qualify.

In this special section, retailers who made the list provided information about their stores and what makes them special.

Century Cycles
Medina, Ohio
Owner: Scott Cowan
Manager: Mike Petcher
Number of stores: 3
Number of employees: 34
Total square footage: 14,000
What sets you apart: Century Cycles has won many awards. We've been a BRAIN Top 100 Dealer/America's Best Bike Shop for over 11 years, voted Cleveland's Best Bike Shop for several years, honored with "Consumer's Choice Bike Shop" by the League of American Bicyclists, and many more. Only a handful of IBDs have our resume. Not only are we among the best bike shops in America, we are among the best of the best, with a forward-thinking and innovative approach that is a benchmark for our peers around the country. For us it's not about the accolades; it's about living our motto: "Define Your Life. Ride a Bike." We believe in defining and enhancing lives, improving health and wellness, fostering family togetherness, putting smiles on faces--with Century Cycles along to help every pedal stroke of the way.

November 1, 2013

CENTURY CYCLES
Medina, OH
Owner: Scott Cowan
Manager: Michael Petcher
Number of stores: 3
Number of employees: 40
Total square footage: 14,000

About: Century Cycles has been honored by almost every bike shop program in America; but for them it's not about the accolades. It's about living their motto: "Define your life. Ride a bike." Century Cycles shops believe in defining and embracing lives, improving health and wellness, fostering family togetherness, and putting smiles on faces--with Century Cycles along to help every pedal stroke of the way.