This Saturday is Cranksgiving — and we CANNOT wait! But maybe you’ve never participated in food drive/bike ride/scavenger hunt before? We’ve put together some of the questions we hear the most below! Don’t see your question answered? Email danielle@bikemore.net!
Can I come by myself?
Of course! Lots of people come solo, and we’ll help connect you with other people looking for a team. Cranksgiving is ridden in teams of 3 or 4, because we find that’s the ideal number to be able to ride together and stay safe. Plus — riding with new and old friends is way more fun!
Who wins?
The team that make it to the most stores on the list, collects the most food items on the list, and in the fastest time wins! We’ll have a first, second, and third place. This year we also have prize categories for WTF teams (teams where all team members self identify as women/trans/femme non-binary), and Youth + Family teams (where at least one team member is under 16!).
Do I need to register beforehand?
This year we have an online pre-registration, to make check in the day of really easy! But if you decide last minute to come, you can still register on-site day of. As always, registration is free, but we ask that you bring ~$10-15 to purchase the food to donate.
What do I need to bring?
Working bike
Bag to carry purchases (backpacks, panniers, baskets — whatever you have!)
$10-15 for purchasing food items to be donated
Water, layers, and anything else that will make you more comfortable riding for a couple of hours around Baltimore
Can my kiddos ride?
Yes! This year we are having a new youth + family category for teams with at least one kid! For this category we'll be providing a suggested route map that is mostly on bike lanes and quiet neighborhood streets. The basic route for the youth category is ~6 miles, with options to make it shorter or longer depending on how your team is feeling.
Keep in mind that the ride is not supported and you’ll be navigating on your own to the grocery stores, so be sure to bring anything you and your kids would need to ride for an hour or two. Definitely bring some extra snacks, water and layers! If you’re riding with a kid that you are not the parent or guardian of, be sure to have their parent or guardian fill out the online registration or bring a signed waiver with them.
Can I ride my commuter bike? My mountain bike? My cargo bike?
Ride whatever bike you have! The key is to be able to carry groceries and ride something that’s comfortable to ride around the city for about 2 hours. On Saturday you’ll see tons of different types of bikes, and lots of different methods for carrying groceries.
What’s the route?
There is no official route! At the start of the ride we’ll give you a manifest that has a list of grocery stores on it. It’s then up to your team to devise a route that makes the most sense for you, keeping in mind that you get the most points by going to the most stores.
Will there be food?
Yes! The Mexican on the Run food truck will be at Charm City Meadworks after the ride! Food and drink are pay as you go.
Why does Bikemore host Cranksgiving?
Cranksgiving is an opportunity for the bike community to give back to organizations that do so much for the city we love. And supporting our friends and neighbors in whatever way we can is at the heart of Bikemore. Plus, it’s a good excuse to get together, ride bikes, strengthen the bike community, meet new people — and maybe someone will even discover that carrying your groceries on your bike isn’t too hard!
More details about Cranksgiving are on the event page.
Don’t see your question? Email danielle@bikemore.net.
