Bicycle Angels was started by three Team in Training cycle team leaders in December 2009. We were coaching/training people to cycle 100 miles and raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Many of our trainees were first-time endurance event participants.  We found that some first timers didn’t have an adequate road bike to train for and complete a cycling event. Imagine riding 100 miles and climbing big hills on a heavy beach cruiser or city bike!

Many of these first-timers couldn’t afford a road bike, or were just not ready to make the investment in a road bike of their own.  So they would quit…and we didn’t like that! We wanted people to raise more funds for charity, and join in the healthy fun doing it! So we got a few bikes together (just four to start!), formed a corporation, got a logo and a web site, and off we went with the first loans! Once the idea took hold, we decided to branch out to support other charities as well.  The more the merrier!

We finally obtained our IRS non-profit status in late 2012. Seeing how are mission was a resounding success, in 2013, we set the vision of becoming a National organization, with offices across the United States.  In 2024, due to a slowdown in charity fundraising cycling events, we made the difficult decision to scale back operations to Southern California alone.

From those humble beginnings, and on a relatively small budget, we built a volunteer organization that has raised millions for charities by over 3000 loan recipients.

Our program is a winner for everyone. Bike borrowers (who get to help reach a fundraising and physical fitness goal, and make friends); Important charitable causes (who get more participants and funds raised through their events); and, the bicycle industry (through recruitment and engagement of new cyclists).