Since 1999, New York City cyclists and bike messengers have raised food for their city’s homeless the week before Thanksgiving. Like traditional “alleycats”, Cranksgiving tests your skills and speed navigating city traffic. But it also tests the sharpness of your wits as you navigate the aisles of grocery stores searching for specific food items. Once you’ve found them and made your way through the checkout lines and finished the ride, all of your food will be donated to a local homeless shelter.

Cranksgiving is a charity ride, and anyone can participate. It’s been happening for over 10 years in New York City, and has spread to cities across the country and across the ocean.

With over 120 racers, 2009 was the biggest Cranksgiving ever, and New York City’s largest alleycat of the year. The race & the cause shows no sign of abating. Over the past two years, we’ve donated over $2000 in food to Saint Mary’s soup kitchen on the Lower East Side. On top of that, two Nazareth Housing & Hudson Guild both each received over 100 jars of baby food each. And on top of THAT, over $2,300 was raised for City Harvest and $700 for the New York Bike Messenger Foundation.

This is the best reason you’ll ever find to ride around in traffic. You’ll have a blast with some of the city’s most seasoned riders and you’ll contribute to excellent causes.

For more information visit::
http://cranksgiving.org/2010/about.html