The North Face Honors Bicycle Sports Shop

The North Face named Bicycle Sports Shop of Austin, TX the winner of The North Face Never Stop Exploring Award. The award, a $5,000 grant of the Explore Fund, recognizes a specialty dealer that has been nominated by their sales agency for having the most impact as a role model in strengthening their community by encouraging Outdoor Exploration. The specialty dealer was selected for many reasons, including its commitment to keeping cycling safe and accessible to everyone through trail maintenance and cyclist education.

“Bicycle Sports Shop is an incredible example of a specialty shop making a big impact on the community,” said The North Face National Sales Manager for Action Sports Jeff Brusven, “Through creative clinics and events they’re making it easy for the people of Austin to learn more about a sport we all love, and helping more people to get after it more often.”

As one of the largest independently owned bicycle shops in Texas, with three locations in the greater Austin-area, Bicycle Sports Shop is an advocate for cyclists through programs that protect bike trails, through events like “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day” that help inspire and encourage new riders, and by supporting bike-friendly laws. The store organizes trail building and maintenance days at least four times a year in support of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and hosts a number of events, including: Monthly Women’s Ride Days, which attract 100 local cyclists on average, five mountain biking road trips a year, Wednesday evening mountain biking rides with special beginner access, free bike maintenance classes, commuter clinics focused on cyclist safety and regular road rides for all levels.

“Bicycle Sports Shop owner Hill Abell is a huge champion for our mission, both locally in Austin and across the nation,” said IMBA Director Rich Cook. “it is great to see Hill and the store get this kind of recognition and support from a company like The North Face to get even more people excited about jumping on a bike."

The Never Stop Exploring Award was initially developed in 2010 to recognize specialty running dealers that demonstrate the most complete dedication to encouraging and enabling Outdoor Exploration. This award to Bicycle Sports Shop is the first time the grant has been awarded to a specialty bike dealer. This year, The North Face has expanded the award to recognize specialty outdoor (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market), bike (Interbike), running (The Running Event) and winter sports (SIA) dealers who share the brand’s goal to inspire a global movement of Outdoor Exploration.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in Alameda, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.