One year ago, over 30 people biked to five grocery stores around the city racing (or not) to buy food for Rainier Valley Food Bank in Seattle’s First Cranksgiving. It was a blast, but this year’s ride will be bigger and better.
Cranksgiving 2011 will be Saturday, November 19. Registration starts at 10 a.m., ride at 11. We will meet at Cal Anderson Park (east side near 11th and Howell). There’s also a Facebook event page.
It is free to enter, but expect to spend $10-20 (or more if you’re feeling generous) on groceries along the way.
Cranksgiving is a ride for everyone from racers and messengers to families and slow riders. It’s a celebration of goodwill and bicycles. It’s a test of your city navigation skills, but also a demonstration that the bike is a great way to accomplish simple errands like going to the grocery store.
Most of all, it’s about having a great time.
Riders will be given a map with grocery stores marked and a list of items to buy. The goal is to buy at least one item at each location and get to the finish line somewhere near Columbia City (you will find out where when the race starts).
The food will be donated to Rainier Valley Food Bank, which is having a big pre-Thanksgiving distribution that day. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of year for our city’s food banks.
The first person to cross the line with all the items and receipts from each grocery store will win a prize. There will also be prizes for the person who hauls in the most food, best costume and families. And maybe more, who knows?
More sponsors will be announced soon. If your business would like to donate a prize, cash or service for the ride, contact [email protected].
If you would like to help spread the word, click here to download the poster pdf (designed by Chuck Erickson). Print copies (black and white or color, doesn’t matter!) and post them around your neighborhood and/or workplaces. And be sure to invite your friends!
Be sure to check back on this page as details evolve.
Sponsors:
- Swift Industries – See our recent profile on this local bike accessory maker
- Fork + Frame – Community food delivered by bike
- Alleycat Acres – Urban farming collective hosting their second spring bike ride fundraiser next year
- Caffe Delia – Coffee shop inside super bike-friendly Proletariat Pizza in White Center
- Seattle Sports Company – Outdoor gear dealer
- Cascade Bicycle Club – Donating lights for ride ninjas
- Detours – Seattle-based bag maker headquartered in the Pike Place Market
- Rainier Bike Law – Helping to provide after-ride snacks
- More…
Cranksgiving began 12 years ago in New York City as an alleycat race for messengers. Today, there are Cranksgiving rides in cities all over the country, including one in St. Louis that saw nearly 700 people participate this year.
Comments
6 responses to “Cranksgiving 2011 – Seattle’s second annual pedal-powered food drive”
Disappointingly, the Facebook event page can’t even be viewed without logging in to Facebook. Thanks for sharing info here, too, so all of us can read it!
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This was a blast…thanks for organizing! What a gorgeous day for a ride, too.
Riders, I found a single Pearl Izumi toe cover (size L/XL) just outside the food bank. Is it yours?
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