Give back on two wheels
Cranksgiving — the annual "part bike ride, part food drive" Thanksgiving tradition — rolls out in Traverse City at noon on November 13. But did you know Cranksgiving is an international event, with local food drives happening in 42 states and three countries?
The Cranksgiving tradition started in New York City in 1999, the brainchild of a bike messenger named Antonio Rodrigues. Originally conceived as an "alleycat" bike race around the streets of Manhattan, the first participants were daredevil bike messengers who competed with each other while collecting food for local food pantries.
"Managing a movement like this is similar to herding alley cats — albeit charitable alley cats," said Bill Lane, marketing director of distributor Bicycle Technologies International, now the national organizer of Cranksgiving.
"Cranksgiving is an open concept," said Lane. "It's easily tailored to fit local ridership. Most events incorporate short routes that are family-friendly and long routes for folks that want to go fast and far. Cranksgiving can take any form as long as the food is collected and done on a bike. Enduro? Gravel grinder? Bring it on!"
In New York, Cranksgiving is still a race with an element of competition. Last year, more than 300 New Yorkers participated. Across the country — and in the United Kingdom and Canada — there were 112 Cranksgiving events held in cities big and small, gathering thousands of pounds of food.
Traverse City hosts the only Cranksgiving event in Michigan (that we know of). In the last two years, we've rolled with over 100 teams from Suttons Bay, Traverse City, and Elk Rapids. And we collected and donated 2,500 pounds of food each year, food that was gathered on a bike ride and landed on the tables of needy families.
If this is your first time? Cranksgiving is a fun way to do some good for your community. And many of our local riders wear costumes — is there such a thing as too many turkeys? You'll spot many of them pedaling around town this November 13 with huge smiles as they gather food for Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan.
So gather your team of turkeys today! Registration is open now. Then, be part of the fun, and start a new tradition among your friends and family.
P.S. We're also looking for a few volunteers to help at the Norte Wheelhouse, sorting and loading food as our riders return from their journeys — turkey costumes are not required. Shoot us a message if you are interested!
