Part of any tradition is recognizing the history of the tradition. Cranksgiving is not an event native to Portland, where I attended. However, it fits nicely into Portlandy style and was embraced by a variety of bike enthusiasts this year. Cranksgiving isn't just a ride. There is a message. The message is of hope and help.

And this message was originally brought by some unlikely heroes--bike messengers.

Cranksgiving started in New York city in 1999 by Antonio Rodrigues, was run under his leadership for 8 years, and continues on as a tradition within the New York bike community. It is a charity food drive with bike messenger flair. Originally participants raced to multiple stops at grocery stores, taking any route they wished, and met at the selected charity for the finish. The idea is to replicate the day of a bike messenger while collecting food for donation at the same time. With some planning, you can create your own Cranksgiving next year.

About 3,000 miles west of New York on Sunday, November 23^rd,  we had Portland’s first Cranksgiving. The day's event was not a race, but a group of bicyclists on a specific route, stopping at 5 locally owned grocery stores before going to the Clark Center men’s shelter. We had 16 adult Cranksgivers, and 3 kids in tow. Attached to the bikes were trailers and bucket panniers in which to carry the food. There was a feeling of community as we traveled between stores and shared stories. It was a superb ride and a great day to be out—a crisp, sunny northwest day. We traveled all over Portland, seeming to hit all the great stretches of the city on which to ride.

An unexpected benefit of the ride was that I had not been to most of the stores on our route. We started at People’s Food Co-op, a well stocked store that boasts many eco-friendly building designs such as being the nation's first commercially zoned building to feature cob walls. Then on to Food Fight!, a total vegan grocery store that solves the problem of where to go to find vegan vitals, plus they play cool music. Next, Alberta Co-op Grocery, providing your every want from bike-delivered baked goods to having resource articles on their homepage. By the time we all met at the charity, we had collected a considerable amount of food to donate.

I am for any bikey activity, especially because I am trying to instill in my sons that bikes are viable means for transportation. In addition, I am for traditions that help the community.

How to Start Your Own Cranksgiving
(read the more detailed directions on the Cranksgiving website)

• Identify a charity that accepts food and ask for a list of their needs
• Determine local stores that carry these items and are in range of your charity
• Distribute copies of the needs list to participants
• Plan a route that is approriate for your participants, or leave the route undetermined if you want a competitive race format

Get Involved

Locate co-ops near you by searching Local/Organic Food in the popular tags.

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