Competing with over 4,500 bicycle shops across the United States, David Enz and the Oakdale Bicycle Shop were presented with one of 162 unique awards as “America’s Best Bicycle Shops for 2013” by the National Bicycle Dealers Association.

“It was a big honor,” said Enz after returning from the organization’s Inter Bike Expo at the Mandalay Bay Exposition Center in Las Vegas. “This is a really good shop. We have great people working here.”

A few years ago the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) launched a program that rates bicycle stores in North America against the highest performance levels in the industry, with the goal of identifying and promoting “America’s Best Bike Shops.” The program defines the characteristics of what the best would be and uses the results to lead bicycle merchants to become the best they can be. It rewards the top performing participants for their achievements by providing recognition to consumers and the bicycle industry.

Winners, including the Oakdale Bicycle Shop will be featured in the November edition of Bicycle Retailer Magazine.

Enz said he was nominated by a dealer and had to complete a questionnaire that consisted of eight essay questions about his business and his knowledge of products, and the industry. The selection process also consisted of a mystery shopper evaluation and the business’s involvement in community service.

“We’ve been very involved in the community as far as cycling goes,” said Enz, who is currently working on a bike riding event that will go through Oakdale.

Enz said in addition to the community involvement, he services the city’s police bicycles at no charge to the department.

Enz, a retired Philips Lighting and appliance industry worker, has been a lifelong cyclist. He has owned the East F Street facility for exactly one year, buying the business last Oct. 1. Racing jerseys from races he’s competed again adorn the stores walls.

“Retirement was boring,” Enz said. “I asked myself what I was going to do for the next 20 years and was drawn to my passion – cycling. The store was available at the right time.”

Enz said since taking over, the store has been attracting customers from Atwater to Sacramento.

“We’re the only ‘pro-line’ bicycle retailer between Fresno to Sacramento,” said Enz.

“Pro-line” refers to high-dollar racing and mountain bikes.

“Those bikes are magnificent machines,” Enz said.

Biking as a means of transit, recreation, and sport has spiked in popularity in recent years. The industry generated $6 billion in sales in 2011, causing many insiders to say that America is in the midst of a bicycling renaissance