Food collection ride will help the hungry

Detail from event flyer

The Portland-based Ironclad Cycling Team and the Oregon Food Bank have teamed up for what organizers call a “unique food drive”.

Dubbed “Underpants and Heavy Cans”, the event combines the competitive fun of an alleycat, the warm-fuzzies of helping feed folks in need, a huge list of prizes, and handmade underpants (I’ll explain that later).

Ironclad team manager Dave Aldersebaes the ride was “born from a want to help our fellow citizens, and what better way to do it than by bike?”.

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Dave Aldersebaes of
Team Ironclad.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Dave says riders will visit six food collection sites (grocery stores), where they’ll pick up a minimum of one can of food in order to qualify for prizes. There will be two classes: shoulder bag/backpacks and trailers. The winners will be based on weight, not time. Dave has also planned the ride to incorporate the big, LIVESTRONG Benefit Block Party being held at Laurelwood Brewery the same day.

“So you can help feed the hungry and help with the fight against cancer all in one day,” Dave says.

As for the underpants, the ladies of the Ironclad Cycling Team are sewing up some “amazing custom underpants”. Why underpants? Dave says, “There’s no real good reason, we just thought it was funny.”

Underpants and Heavy Cans
A food collection ride to benefit the Oregon Food Bank
Sunday, May 24
Register 12-1, Ride starts at 1:00
Entry fee: $2 – All riders welcome!
Meet at Vera Katz statue on Eastbank Esplanade north of Hawthorne Bridge
Sponsors: Cars-R-Coffins, Swobo, Surly, BikeTiresDirect.com, Rapha, Roots Brewing

Riding bikes, helping the community, having fun, and enjoying some locally brewed beer — sounds like a great time to me.