Best Bike Shop - The Alt - 2013 Best of MN

The Alt, a fixture of the Uptown area for nearly 40 years, is almost as hip as all those newcomer bike shops around town. See The Alt's deep selection of gorgeous Electra and Breezer cruisers. And the employees might look like your typical twenty-something bike punks, with their tattoos and their hipster sneakers. Except they're super friendly, even when an aging know-nothing enters the store. Longing for a commuter bike with a custom paint job and vintage styling? No problem. The folks from The Alt will hook you up with a baby-blue frame, hammered aluminum fenders and a brown leather saddle. Or maybe you simply want to repair your 1990s Specialized hybrid. The Alt isn't too cool to fix your dorky wheels, either. 3013 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls.; 612-374-3635, www.altbikeboard.com.

Runner-up: Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop + Coffee Bar