FAQs & FORMS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do I have to do to borrow a bike?
It’s easy! Contact your local Fleet Manager to see what we have in stock.
You will need to come to our regional office to check out the bike, sign our paperwork, and get fitted. You will also need a valid form of I.D., such as a California Driver’s License, a valid MasterCard or Visa (we only charge this if you lose or damage the bike), and proof that you are enrolled in the eligible charity event. That’s it!
What is an eligible charity?
Bicycle Angels supports only secular (i.e., non-religious) charities. Also we do not support charities that are for a political party.
What is an eligible charity event?
Either:
- Training with a charity group to complete a bike ride or triathlon (such as with Team in Training); or
- Participating in a charity bike ride or triathlon (examples: AIDS Lifecycle, MS Coastal Challenge, Tour de Cure).
In either case, the “eligible charity event” must have a fund raising component with a minimum fund raising amount required.
What if the bike breaks?
Routine repairs/adjustments during your loan period (derailluer adjustments, cleaning, lube, tires, tubes) are the borrower’s responsibility. We ask that the bike be returned in as good or better condition than when you borrowed it. Borrowers are responsible for any damage or other loss to the bike that occurs during their loan period.
My loaner bike is broken or needs adjustment. What should I do?
We have arrangements with bike shops to do repairs for us at low cost, so if you have a problem, please contact us for assistance.
Do you take donations?
Absolutely! We greatly appreciate financial donations as well as bikes, bike parts, and services in kind (bike repair, etc.). If it is not an item we can use, we will sell it and use the proceeds to add to our funding. Please see the Donate web page for further info.
When do I need to return the bike?
We ask that you return your loaner bike within two weeks of either completing your event, getting a different bike, or discontinuing your fundraising/training efforts. We need your loaner bike back ASAP so it is available for other fundraising events!
How do I know what bicycle frame size I need?
Giving us your pants inseam and your height is helpful. You can also go to your local bike shop and ask them what size you need. We will fit you with what we have available when you come to our storage facility, but it’s best to have an idea of what size you need ahead of time. An ill-fitting bike is very uncomfortable for an endurance ride.
What if you don't have the right size?
We have a limited fleet, but will try to help you out. Sometimes a bike in your size may be already loaned out, but returning shortly – so you may have to wait a bit. Sometimes we are able to add to our fleet to meet new demands.
Can I rent a bike from you for a weekend?
We are not a rental service, we only provide loans for charity bike rides and training for those events.
I loved my loaner. Can I buy it from you?
Typically no. Because many of our bikes were purchased with special deals, in general we cannot replace your loaner bike with something of similar quality at the same cost.
What cities do you operate in?
At this time, we only loan bikes to persons living within 100 miles of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and Salt Lake City. We will be opening more Bicycle Angels offices in additional cities in the future. By donating funds to us, you can help us accomplish this goal and support more charity fund raising.
Can I borrow a bike more than one time?
No. We only allow participants to borrow a bike from us one time. There are very few exceptions made to this rule.