Chico Velo
Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization based in Chico, California that promotes bicycling through volunteer-driven trail building (Trailworks), the Chico Bike Park (opening 2026), the Colby Mountain trail network, community events, and free Bike Valet services for residents of Chico and Butte County.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersChico, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chico Velo does
Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization founded in 2014 and based in Chico, California, serving Chico, Butte County, and the broader Northern California region. The organization promotes bicycling for transportation, recreation, and health through three core programs: Trailworks, a volunteer-driven trail building and maintenance program operating in Upper Bidwell Park and regional locations; the Chico Bike Park, a 6-acre mountain bike skills park currently under construction next to Marsh Junior High School with a scheduled November 2026 opening; and the Colby Mountain Recreation Project, a 40-mile singletrack trail network in Lassen National Forest that forms the westernmost node of the 300-mile Lost Sierra Route connecting 15 mountain communities. Supporting programs include a free Bike Valet service at the Chico Farmer's Market, the annual Wildflower Ride & Festival, the Gravel Grind event, educational resources on bike safety and e-bikes, and an Adopt-a-Path stewardship program.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding structure. Operating revenue is generated through individual donations, merchandise sales (apparel and gear via an online store), event participation fees from the Wildflower Ride & Festival and Gravel Grind, and project-restricted grants from foundations and government programs. Notable grant funders include the Sierra Nevada Conservancy ($221,000 in 2021), the American Rescue Plan Act via Butte County ($1,000,000 in 2021), the Friesen Foundation ($50,000 in 2020), and the Lupine Legacy Foundation ($250,000 in 2025). Chico Velo does not develop proprietary technology; its core capability is community organizing, project management, and partnerships with public land managers including the City of Chico, the Butte County Resource Conservation District, Lassen National Forest, and the Chico Area Recreation District.
The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on volunteer engagement, free community services (Bike Valet), and recurring cycling events to build awareness and participation. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and is currently hiring its first Executive Director, signaling a transition toward professionalized nonprofit management. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; total documented grants cumulative since 2020 are approximately $1.52M, with the organization operating at a small scale of 1-10 employees.
Chico Velo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chico Velo
- Legal name
- Chico Velo
- Website
- https://chicovelo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization based in Chico, California that promotes bicycling through volunteer-driven trail building (Trailworks), the Chico Bike Park (opening 2026), the Colby Mountain trail network, community events, and free Bike Valet services for residents of Chico and Butte County.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chico Velo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bicycle Advocacy Nonprofit
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives) (MPAKAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF)
Keywords
Where Chico Velo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chico
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chico Velo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Chico Velo operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily funded through donations from individuals, organizations, and foundations. They accept online donations and checks mailed to their P.O. Box.
- Merchandise Sales: The organization sells Chico Velo branded merchandise including apparel and gear through their online store. Proceeds directly support bike advocacy, community programs, and trail infrastructure improvements.
- Event Participation Fees: Revenue generated from cycling events including the Wildflower Ride & Festival and Gravel Grind events.
- Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations and government programs for specific projects such as trail construction and park development. Notable grants include funding from Sierra Nevada Conservancy, American Rescue Plan Act, Friesen Foundation, and Lupine Legacy Foundation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chico Velo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization based in Chico, California that promotes bicycling through education, advocacy, community programs, and organized cycling events. The organization supports local cyclists and the broader Chico community through advocacy work, cycling-related programs, and event organization. It operates as a community-focused nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise.
Product overview
Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit bicycling advocacy organization offering multiple interconnected programs focused on promoting bicycling for transportation, recreation, and health. The core programs include Trailworks (trail building and maintenance), the Chico Bike Park (skills park development), and the Colby Mountain Recreation Project (40-mile trail network). Supporting programs include Bike Valet services, the Wildflower Ride & Festival, Gravel Grind events, safety resources, and advocacy initiatives. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission through public education, advocacy, and community stewardship.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bicycle Advocacy Programs
- Cycling Education Programs
- Organized Cycling Events
- Trail Maintenance Programs
Companies that use Chico Velo
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Chico Velo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chico Velo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rock Solid TrailscoreProfessional trail construction company contracted to build the first 4+ miles of singletrack trail at Colby Mountain. Working to ensure the cycling community has involvement in the project.
- Butte County Resource Conservation District (BCRCD)coreBCRCD serves as the official project owner for the Connected Communities Colby Mountain Project. The Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with BCRCD to manage the project, following ARPA funding allocation.
- Trail Labs CocoreScience-based professional trail building company based in Mt. Shasta, CA contracted for initial trail layout and planning. Surveyed terrain to find optimal routes for the 40-mile trail network, flagging trails from May to July 2021. Also trained Trailworks crew leaders on sustainable trail design techniques.
- California Conservation CorpscoreCalifornia Conservation Corps provides crew leader training and support for trail work projects. Their crews have been involved in collaborative trail building efforts alongside Chico Velo Trailworks volunteers.
- City of ChicocoreEstablished partnership with the City of Chico to maintain trails in Upper Bidwell Park. The city coordinates volunteer calendar events and Trailworks work days in Upper Bidwell Park are always coordinated with the city. The City led post-Park Fire rehabilitation efforts.
- Lassen National ForestcoreThe U.S. Forest Service Almanor District of Lassen National Forest is partnering on the Colby Mountain Recreation Project to open up an underappreciated corner of the Lassen National Forest to outdoor enthusiasts. The NEPA process was launched through this partnership.
- Sierra Buttes Trail StewardshipcoreLead organization for the Connected Communities initiative connecting 15 mountain communities. The Colby Mountain Recreation Project forms the westernmost node of the 300-mile Lost Sierra Route. Chico Velo collaborates as a core partner in this regional trail development vision.
- Golden Valley Bankminor2026 Bike Valet Partner providing sponsorship support for the free bicycle parking program at community events.
- Chico Area Recreation DistrictcoreOwner of the land where Chico Bike Park is being constructed. Envisions the many amazing community parks Chico currently enjoys and has partnered to develop the 6-acre bike park site adjacent to Marsh Junior High School.
- American Ramp CompanycoreExperienced bike park builder working with Chico Velo and the community to design the Chico Bike Park facility.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chico Velo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marin County Bicycle Coalition: A county-level bicycle advocacy nonprofit similar in structure and mission to Chico Velo, delivering advocacy, education, events, and trail-related programming for a single county. Both organizations run community events, advocate for bike infrastructure, and engage volunteers.
- Bike East Bay: An East Bay-based bicycle advocacy nonprofit combining infrastructure advocacy, education, and community events. Comparable to Chico Velo's mix of programming, but operates in a larger urban context with a more developed donor base.
- Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA): A regional nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization in Northern California doing education, advocacy, and community rides. Compares to Chico Velo in mission, regional scope, and the mix of policy advocacy with hands-on community programming.
- Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance: A Washington-state mountain bike advocacy nonprofit building trails, running events, and advocating for bike infrastructure. Strong overlap with Chico Velo's Trailworks program, Colby Mountain-style trail builds, and IMBA-chapter-derived volunteer model.
- Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship: Lead organization for the Connected Communities initiative and the Lost Sierra Route. Chico Velo is a core partner on the Colby Mountain Recreation Project, which forms the westernmost node of SBTS's 300-mile trail network. Identical nonprofit model focused on trail building, stewardship, and mountain-bike-driven rural economic development in Northern California.
Broad incumbents
- Access Fund: National advocacy nonprofit protecting climbing and outdoor recreation access. Comparable model of grantmaking, land-manager partnership, and volunteer mobilization for outdoor recreation stewardship, though focused on climbing rather than cycling.
- PeopleForBikes: National bicycling advocacy coalition focused on policy, infrastructure funding, and ridership growth. Comparable to Chico Velo's advocacy pillar (bicycle infrastructure, safety, and education) but operating at federal and national-scale policy level rather than community-level execution.
- International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA): The national umbrella organization for mountain biking advocacy and trail stewardship. Both organizations pursue trail building, volunteer engagement, and bike park development, with IMBA providing national-level best practices, training, and recognition that Chico Velo's Trailworks program draws on.
Emerging players
- National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): Organization developing youth and high-school mountain biking leagues. Adjacent to Chico Velo's mission of growing cycling access and could complement the Chico Bike Park's beginner-oriented programming, though focused on competitive youth leagues rather than advocacy or trail building.
Others
- Friends of Bidwell Park: A Chico-area nonprofit dedicated to stewardship of Bidwell Park, where Chico Velo's Trailworks program operates. Mission-adjacent with overlapping volunteer base and partnership potential, although focused on the broader park rather than cycling specifically.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chico Velo social profiles
Digital presenceChico Velo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Chico Velo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chico Velo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Chico Velo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chico Velo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chico Velo
What does Chico Velo do?
Chico Velo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization based in Chico, California that promotes bicycling through education, advocacy, community programs, and organized cycling events. The organization supports local cyclists and the broader Chico community through advocacy work, cycling-related programs, and event organization. It operates as a community-focused nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise.
Is Chico Velo a public or private company?
Chico Velo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chico Velo founded?
Chico Velo was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chico Velo based?
Chico Velo is headquartered in Chico, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chico Velo make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, event Participation Fees and grant Funding.
Who are Chico Velo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Bike East Bay, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. Broad incumbents are Access Fund, PeopleForBikes and International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is listed as an emerging player. Friends of Bidwell Park is listed as an others.
Does Chico Velo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chico Velo.
What industry is Chico Velo in?
Chico Velo's product category is Bicycle Advocacy Nonprofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAIAC, Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAG, Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations. Its NAICS code is 8133.