LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Bike Tahoe announces the winners of its inaugural Best of Bike 2026, a region-wide public survey created to recognize the businesses, trails, destinations, and bicycling experiences that help make Lake Tahoe an exceptional place to ride.
Over the course of the campaign, residents and visitors voted for their favorites across two regions and 19 categories representing the many ways people experience bicycling in the Tahoe region.
From mountain biking and recreational paths to local bike shops, services, and bike-friendly businesses. Best of Bike gave the people who ride Tahoe an opportunity to recognize those places and experiences they value most.
“This first Best of Bike campaign was really about celebrating the entire Tahoe bicycling community,” said Ty Polastri of Bike Tahoe. “The people who ride here know what makes Tahoe special. We wanted to give them a voice and an opportunity to recognize the businesses, trails and experiences that contribute to that.”
The inaugural campaign drew nearly 500 votes from visitors and residents, providing a snapshot of what bicyclists value when riding, visiting, and exploring the Lake Tahoe region.
Best of Bike also aims to encourage greater awareness of the businesses and organizations that support Tahoe’s bike culture and economy. Bicycling connects recreation with local businesses, tourism, healthy lifestyles, transportation, and the experience of the natural environment that makes Tahoe unique.
Bike Tahoe produced the 2026 campaign with the support of community sponsors Lake Tahoe Travel, Visit Lake Tahoe, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Barton Health, Forest Suites Resort, Granlibakken Tahoe, and others.
“We are grateful to our sponsors for helping us launch this first campaign,” Polastri said. “Their support made it possible to invite the broader community into the conversation and celebrate the people and places that make bicycling such an important part of the Tahoe experience.”
The inaugural Best of Bike also marks the beginning of what Bike Tahoe intends to grow into an annual recognition of the region’s growing bicycling community.
As new trails and infrastructure develop, businesses expand their services and more residents and visitors discover Tahoe by bicycle, Best of Bike will provide an opportunity each year for riders to share what they value and recognize those who are helping make the region an increasingly bicycle-friendly destination.
North Lake Tahoe Best of Bike Winners
- Advocacy Organization: Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association
- Beaches: Sand Harbor State Park
- Bike Events: America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride
- Bike Path Rides: East Shore Bike Path
- Bike Rentals: Flume Trail Bikes
- Bike Rentals: Flume Trail Bikes
- Bike Shuttle: Flume Trail Bikes
- Breakfast: Rosie’s Café
- Brew: Alibi Ale Works
- Burgers: Burger Me
- Campground: D.L. Bliss State Park
- Entertainment/Community: Concerts At the Beach
- Entertainment/Concerts & More: Crystal Bay Club
- Independent Cafes: The Tahoe House Bakery
- Pizza: Whitecaps Pizza
- Single Track Trails/Black: Tyrolean Downhill
- Single Track Trails/Blue: Marlette Lake Flume
- Single Track Trails/Green: Incline Flume
- Taqueria: T’s Mesquite Rotisserie
South Lake Tahoe Best of Bike Winners
- Advocacy Organization: Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association
- Beaches: Kiva
- Bike Events: Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival & Triple Crown Ride
- Bike Path Rides: Camp Richardson Forest Trail
- Bike Rentals: Tahoe Bike Company
- Bike Retail/Repair: Sierra Ski & Cycle Works
- Breakfast: Sprouts Natural Cafe
- Brew: South Lake Tahoe Brewing Company
- Burgers: Lucky Beaver Bar & Burgers
- Campground: Nevada State Beach
- Entertainment/Community: Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series
- Entertainment/Concerts & More: Harvey’s Summer Concert Series
- Independent Cafes: Crazy Good Bakery & Café
- Pizza: Lake Tahoe Pizza Company
- Single Track Trails/Black: Mr. Toad’s
- Single Track Trails/Blue: Kingsbury Stinger
- Single Track Trails/Green: Railroad Grade
- Taqueria: Jalisco’s
For the complete 2026 Best of Bike results, visit: https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/bestofbike2026/#/
