More than just cyclists, L5 Cycling Team are mothers, fathers, friends, and neighbors who actively participate in our communities—cycling and otherwise. We don’t volunteer just to fulfill our mission statement or to please our sponsors. L5 Cycling Team volunteer because it’s the right thing to do. We realize that bike racing is a privilege. It affords us wonderful experiences, amazing friends, and unbelievable joy. But not everyone is as fortunate. So, with pleasure, we involve ourselves with our communities in hopes that we can in some way help improve them.
AIDS Vaccine 200
The AIDS Vaccine 200 (AV200) is a two-day, 200-mile bike ride that raises funds and awareness for AIDS vaccine research. Produced by Action Cycling Atlanta, the non-profit organization has raised over 2 million dollars for the Emory Vaccine Center.
L5 Cycling Team is proud to have ridden miles, raised funds (over $11,000 in 2019 alone), and served as rest-stop volunteers for this event since 2014.
Brownwood Bike Rally
The East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC) launched the Brownwood Bike Rally[AL1] in 2003. The event features bike races for kids and adults, a bike safety rodeo, bike decorating, and other family-friendly festival fun. EAKC hopes to promote youth fitness and community development through fun biking events that engage cycling enthusiasts of all ages. Brownwood Bike Rally also serves as the non-profit’s largest annual fundraiser.
L5 Cycling Team volunteer their talents as racecourse designers, social media strategists, race mechanics, marshals, and other support roles. Seeing so many kids race bikes makes our hearts smile.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz
Free Bikes 4 Kidz[AL2] is a non-profit organization geared toward helping “all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing bikes to those most in need.” The public donates gently used bikes, Free Bikes 4 Kidz organizes thousands of volunteers to clean and refurbish them, and then they give them away to kids in need.
L5 Cycling Team teammates give their time to prepare the bicycles to be gifted to deserving children. We know how much joy a bike can bring and want every child to know it too.
Grant Park Criterium
Attracting racers from all over the country, Grant Park Criterium (GPC) is arguably L5 Cycling Team’s proudest achievement. Fulton County’s longest-running criterium premiered in 2004 as the Dog Days Criterium. The sweltering course races through the heart of historic Grant Park in Downtown Atlanta. Racers consistently refer to GPC as one of the best-organized races in the state.
For months before the event, teammates work behind the scenes to secure sponsors, obtain permits, and co-ordinate with USAC. When race weekend arrives, it’s all hands on deck. The team comes together to prep and set up the course, register racers, marshal the route, race the event, and then help take it all down.
The proceeds from the race support Grant Park Conservancy and Grant Park Neighborhood Association.
In 2020, GPC became part of the prestigious Speed Week, a week of high-profile bike races in Georgia and South Carolina. Unfortunately, the race was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
Doing More Good
The non-profits and events listed above are the team’s official volunteer opportunities, but our members also donate their time and talents to other organizations such as homeless shelters, school sports, Boy Scouts, Tour de Cure, Little Bellas, and more.