The Bicycle Tree

Great shop! The kind of place where riders come to learn a thing or two about their bikes and maintenance. I found a spectacular Surly Steamroller online, and was able to secure it after the first buyer dropped out. The clincher is how big the frame was, that’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. It had an odometer already installed and the gear ratio (single speed fixed gear) had me riding at a cool average of 16mph. The handle bars were perfect and the front brake did the job. I rode one hundred miles a week on that thing, taking the long ways home, for pleasure. Alas, some enterprising bum stole it from inside my van parked outside my place on a quiet street. That’s the second bike I’ve had stolen in a year, but that’s a whole other can of worms. Luckily there are places like the Bicycle Tree, where replacements can be found and altered, and we can all get back in the saddle again. I recommend this shop completely.

Today The Bicycle Tree hosted, in my opinion, an extremely successful bike sale which marked the shop’s 2^nd year anniversary. As a generally outspoken supporter of everything pedel-​powered, and volunteer of Paul’s Army (proprietor), I’d bet the last $ 1.50 in my pocket, that the entire crew collectively, sold and serviced more bicycles today than any other full service bicycle shop in the OC.
Boastful as it may read, it’s not; just the real testament to a common vibe of TBT. Believing in the concept of giving without expectations, and educating riders on the fundamentals of bicycle maintenance, safety, and straight up fun son!
My personal thumbs up to everyone who stopped in and supported the shop today .
will be a real time source of value, and I’m certain a handful of you will be joining the weekly group rides Paul leads. Make it a great day. Timothy Sides

This place is awesome; an amazing resource for anyone who owns a bike. I just bought a 1984 touring bike used on Craigslist from some people who had refurbished it with some random parts, and kind of haphazardly as I leaned this evening. I ended up spending two hours leaning how to remove and replace tires (I bought a set of used rims for $ 33 and fine tuned them myself) and ended up replacing all of the gears and cranks. I also learned how to adjust my breaks.
The set up at the Bicycle Tree couldn’t be better, there many bike stands and every imaginable tool one could use on a bike. In addition, they have a great selection of used parts, taken from scrapped bikes. I replaced a lot of my key components with high quality used ones, learned a lot about bike repair, and didn’t even spend $ 70.
Thanks to Paul, Chris (the guy with hair on his head) and Matt for the knowledge, hospitality, and assistance. The people here are great and will help you do anything to your bike. I walked in with a rubbing rear break and ended up with a much more capable and smooth running bike that I can’t wait to tour with.

I was rebuilding an older bike and needed a few parts to finish the job. This is a great place, they had all the stuff I needed at less than reasonable prices! Great people too. I donated anything I had left over, this is a great place for parts and help with repairs.

I just moved to southern California from Phoenix and have been looking for a good bike co-​op and am so happy I found this place. I plan on making more visits. I went in just to learn some basic tune up skills and Paul and Chris were ver helpful. I was comfortable here and not intimidated. Thanks guys!!!

I came here with my girlfriend to get my bike fix. The back derailer was off and the front derailer did not shift anymore. We went in and met Chris. He was so nice and friendly. We expected to get all dirty fixing the bike, but the problems were too complicated so Chris had to fix it himself. In the end, it only costed us $ 3. This place is not just an AMAZING bike shop, it’s also non-​profit! They also sell buys that are really good for cheap prices. All these money go to donation! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who need to fix or buy new bikes!!!

The Bicycle Tree is simply incredible. It’s a non-​profit bike «shop» staffed with volunteers who will help you do whatever it takes to get your bike working. If you’re interested in having a dedicated, knowledgeable volunteer help you fix your bike AND teach you how to do it yourself while saving you tons of money, then this is the shop for you. If you just want a place to drop your bike off so you can pay someone big bucks to fix it for you, then this isn’t the place for you.
The walls are lined with tools and parts that anyone can use. They’ve got many new parts, but the real treasure is their bins of used parts that volunteers will help you pick through to use on your bike (typically for a couple of bucks a pop). Need to replace your brake lever? They’ve got a bin of dozens of used ones ready for you to choose from. Need a new axle for your wheel? Head over to the «harvest me» section, grab an old wheel, and tear it apart to get what you need. Need to replace your cables? They’ve got boxes of cable and housing ready for you to use. And if you don’t know how to do any of these things, they’ll help you!
I’ve brought three different bikes here, and have done everything from replacing cables and brake pads to truing wheels, replacing spokes, changing out the bottom bracket, and replacing wheel bearings and axles. In most visits I spend an hour or two there, accomplish tons of maintenance, and leave spending no more than $ 20 or $ 30 («stand time» costs $ 7/​hour).

Went in on Saturday. Paul helped me replace my chain on my bike. He showed me how to remove the chain. After removing it he sold me a replacement chain, it was the same brand that I previously had. Then he helped me install it. After that I oiled the new chain, he came over to help me adjust my gears. As he looked at my bike he notice my brakes where a little off, so he adjusted those as well.
All that for 18 dollars! I will be coming back here for sure. Paul is very knowledgeable and has lots of patience. He was helping me and a couple with their bike. I look forward to going to the bike workshop on Tuesday nights.
Thanks again Paul.

A real awesome little shop! On certain days You can work on your bike yourself guided by a skilled wrench wielder. They guide you through everything, have all the tools and knowledge to help you do whatever you want to your bike. Super friendly staff, I will for sure frequent this place. A++

Awesome place, helped me out with what i needed and they give you advice for whats best for your bike!!! :D definitely will come back

The Bicycle Tree rules. We’re really lucky to have an organization like them in Orange County.
They just celebrated one year in their present location. Before that, they used to set up shop in locations such as the parking lot of The Road Less Traveled, when that shop was located on N. Main Street. Now they have a place of their own right down the street.
Their mission remains the same: to work for the betterment of cyclists in Orange County by hosting workshops, assisting cyclists with bike repair, refurbishing old bikes, and by providing services to low-​income individuals.
As my wife Sandya N. has Unilocaled, they were really helpful in getting her bike operating properly again. They made it easy and, dare I say, fun? Bless them!
Anyone with any interest in bikes whatsoever should really check out their website:
It’s an incredible resource that covers everything that you would want to know about cycling in Orange County. They even list similar organizations to them in other parts of SoCal. Very cool!
They’re always looking for volunteers. Not mechanically inclined? They could also use help with marketing, graphic design, fundraising, data entry, etc.
I know where I’m going the next time that I need help with my bike.
They take online donations via PayPal and credit cards. Cash and six packs must be delivered in person!

This place is awesome. They sold me some used parts to fix my bike. I have a cannondale and they had the tools i needed. Best place ever.

Really awesome little shop.
We went in to fix a stroller since they had the tools and found out it was a volunteer place and $ 7.99 donations welcome!
The guy was really attentive and you can tell the people in the shop were huge bike enthusiasts.
Was able to fix and replace a bolt on my stroller, we didn’t have any cash, but gave him a starbucks gift card.
Will definitely recommend this place to friends.

These guys are so awesome! =)
Came in here after having some trouble with my bike. Paul & Christopher here was so patient & helpful with fixing & teaching me so many different things about my bike.
I learned so much today that i would have never known if I had to take it to an expensive bike shop & having someone fixing it for me. Yay! =)
The people here not only help you with any problems that you have with your bicycle but they also teach you how to fix your bike & also answer all your questions about your bike.
It’s ONLY $ 7/​hr to use all of their equipment & space & they provide the expertise to help guide you in fixing your bike. =) They won’t turn you down if you down have $$ either.
They also hold classes & have maintenance sessions where you can bring in your bicycle for help to get it fixed.
They even have Sunday morning group rides which you can participate in also. Check out their website 4 more info.
Feel free to call them if you have any questions. =)
They give back so much to the community; it’s amazing that one small shop can make such a positive difference in a neighborhood.
Tip: This place is great if you’re a newbie cyclist/​student/​cyclist on a budget. They won’t charge you an arm & a leg to help you fix your bike but you have to be willing to learn & be hands on in fixing your bike. =)
Pro Tip: If you have any bike parts/​accessories /​old bicycles that you want to get rid of please bring it here & donate it so that they can use it to help the community.

I owe so much to The Bicycle Tree! About two years ago, I decided to adopt my dad’s 1989 Columbia Metro that was abandoned and rusting away in our backyard. Poor thing was a mess! I didn’t know the first thing about bicycle repair, but I cleaned it up, took the rust off, and took it to The Bicycle Tree back when it was still a mobile bike shop. While there, they helped me fix gears, brakes, true the wheels, and helped me get «Carlos» back in working order! I have returned many times since, including after getting hit by a car while riding Carlos. I have since volunteered with them for about a year now, and have learned so much during my time there. They also helped me when I took a 1977 Schwinn Varsity Camelback that was in desperate need of some TLC. If it wasn’t for The Bicycle Tree, I would never have been able to fix these bikes and give them a second chance.
The shop is completely run by volunteers and the donations of generous people. The people there are the most selfless people you will meet. They truly care about bicycles and helping the community learn about bicycles and how to safely ride them; they really want to help you. They have a $ 7/​hr fee, but will never turn anybody down for lack of funds. They have many parts (new and used) and used bicycles for sale. They are also involved in repairing and donating bicycles to the needy. They also offer many classes and workshops where you can learn about a specific topic on Tuesdays.
It truly is a gem in Orange County, and it’s definitely a must to check out!

Be ready to get your hands dirty because you’re going to be doing the work!
The concept is fantastic. You «rent» the workstation and get access to all of their tools and help from the staff. There are 4 bike stations so there can’t be too any people at once, but this place feels like a community, rather than an official organization. But don’t get me wrong – things aren’t messy. They have plenty if spare parts and inner tubes for sale, as well as some bike locks also for sale.
Staff is friendly and part of their job is to teach you how to do whatever you need done. And like I said, you’ll be doing much of the work so don’t expect to drop off the bike and get it back completed. Paul was the one who helped me and he was a pleasure to work with. He was both knowledgable and patient with me.
The incredible thing about this place is the price. $ 7/​hr. I was there for half an hour so he charged me $ 3.50. Are you kidding me? Going to a different bike shop to have my inner tubes changed would have:
— been way more expensive
— taken longer
— been less educational
— been less fun
The only thing I had to lose was the cleanness of my hands. I had a great experience and left extremely happy. This place is awesome.

I’m an amateur rider with a handy-​man background. Purchased a GT & took it in to see if the coop matched the reviews.
PERFECTION! Learned how to true wheels, adjust: derailer limit screws, brake cable, brake pads, brake spring set screws, assess & maintain chain, disassemble, clean, grease, replace ball bearings and assemble axle, freewheel and cassette on rear hub, adjust cone depth on front hub and adjust handle bar height!
Spent 4 hours learning and was charged $ 20. Looking forward to going back to learn more and volunteer!

Had a bike to donate and since it’s not worth it to meet some creepo from Craigslist in some parking lot to get some $ 50 for it — I took the smarter path and brought it here (if you donate to charity regularly it doesn’t make sense to sell stuff and then donate money. Cut the middleman and donate your stuff directly) Great people here that help others fix their bikes, help homeless guys with their only means of transportation and do other good deeds. Absolutely worth helping them help others, give them your donation, either bike related or money, they will put it to good use.

Recently bought a bike on Craigslist, so before going on a long ride I wanted to have it checked out and «tune it up», but I didn’t want to spend $ 50+ going to a bike shop. Bike Tree us a coop/​non-​profit where they let you use their tools, and they are there to help you do it.
I checked heir website, and they are at different locations each Saturday (in either Orange or Santa Ana). I went by yesterday (which was a 1^st Saturday of the month), so 1^st Saturdays of the month they are at a farmers market in Orange. 1^st Saturdays of the month they are there from 9am to 1pm.
I got there around 11 AM. They have 2 bike stands and I was able to start working on my bike right away. They helped me check the brakes, check to make sure that the gears were shifting correctly as well as check that the wheels were straight. They helped me «true» one of the wheels that needed to be straightened, and then he proceeded to clean up and lubricate the bike completely.
I learned a lot, was there for less than one hour, And it cost me a $ 10 donation (I think they ask for $ 5 per hour of use, But I decided to give them $ 10). Will definitely go back whenever I need to work on my bike!
Before you go check their website to see where they will be that Saturday — They have different times at different locations they are:

These guys are the best… helped me fix the dragging brakes on my wheel and also helped me install a seat leash so no punk asses will ever be able to steal my seat and post again — damn thug kids! all for only a $ 5 donation.
these guys are friendly, easy-​going, and overall awesome. and they are volunteering their time and efforts solely because they love riding and want to help inspire others to get back on the saddle once again. seriously, this may be one of the (few) reasons i like OC. thanks, guys!