Look Who Won A Creative Loafing "Loafie" Award

SWFBUD is recognized by Creative Loafing for our bike advocacy. We're a "Best Of" Winner -- from Creative Loafing:

Best Advocates for Bicyclists

Alan Snel and the South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers
SWFBUD is the country’s only localized alliance of bike store dealers, comprising 10 shop owners and two lawyers. Group spokesman Alan Snel, a bicycle advocate and former metro newspaper reporter, has lobbied local governments to provide more bicycle resources and helped put on the touted Bicycle Bash festival each year. With the staggering statistics placing Tampa at the bottom of bike-safety lists, it’s encouraging to know that Snel and SWFBUD are fighting the good fight for two-wheelers. Snel also organizes the popular Hub Grub Bike Ride, and the next Bicycle Bash takes place at Flatwoods Park on Nov. 6. bicyclebash.com/swfbud.html, hubgrubride.blogspot.com.

Also, two SWFBUD stores won Loafies, too:

Best New Bike Shop

Velo Champ

This year, Velo Champ has upped Seminole Heights’ retail profile, bringing life to Central and Hanna’s long-abandoned vintage storefronts. The sleek, distinctive one-stop shop offers a range of performance road, cyclocross and track bikes, as well as today’s most functional townie and commuter bikes. Mad props to owner Jordan Miller, who has helped organize and bring sanity to the PBR Pub Bike Rides and has been a staunch supporter of bike culture and safety in Tampa Bay. 6112 N. Central Ave., Tampa, 813-374-2424, velochamp.com.

******

Best Bike Retailer Before Bikes Were Cool

Chainwheel Drive

Clearwater isn’t known for much in the way of hip retail (exceptions include back-in-the-day shops Sagittarius and Crash and Burn, of course), but Chainwheel Drive is a survivor, thank God, a stellar standout amid the city’s strip-mall mediocrity. The mainstay in North Pinellas for the past three decades supports local bike clubs and state and national cycling organizations, providing support for rides and races all over the region. They are also involved with many different aspects of cycling, including racing, triathlon, mountain biking, cross country touring, and BMX. 1770 Drew St., Clearwater, 727-441-2444, chainwheeldrive.com.