SANTA FE, N.M. (BRAIN) — More than 40 Cranksgiving rides will take place this weekend in cities nationwide as the 26th annual food drive nears its peak activity period before Thanksgiving next week.
As of the beginning of the week, 43 states — plus Alberta, Canada, and Bournemouth, United Kingdom — have had or are having events planned in 109 cities, said Bill Lane, marketing director for BTI, the Cranksgiving sponsor, who added a minimum of 120 rides will happen. He said a record turnout of 167 riders came out in Santa Fe for its Cranksgiving on Nov. 8, when more than 12 tons of food was collected for the city's food bank. The event is held in the fall, peaking in November.
"Perhaps it was due to the threat of losing SNAP benefits, but generosity in Santa Fe, New Mexico, reached an all-time high," Lane said.
This year, 18 national sponsors are contributing to the cause, including Ass Savers, 5 DEV, SQlab, and Hiplok "all to support the riders giving back to their local food banks," Lane said.
He added that a campaign was started this year to get more bike shops interested in the promotion of Cranksgiving and it culminated in a drawing for a $1,000 Remco Bike Lift stand. Participating bike shops submitted a 45- to 60-second video detailing their Cranksgiving event that were circulated on social media. Aggieland Cycling in College Station, Texas, won the drawing.
In its two-plus decades of grassroots growth, Cranksgiving has been held in more than 120 cities annually and delivered more than 60,000 meals nationwide annually.
Bicycle messenger Antonio Rodrigues created Cranksgiving in New York City as a pure street race, with grocery stores serving as checkpoints. It evolved in 1999 with local organizers teaming with area charities to form a list of food needs. Routes to local grocery stores are mapped out for cyclists to follow and purchase food with their own money.
