I don’t like grocery shopping with kids, but I love Cranksgiving shopping with kids.
(Photos: Madi Carlson)

Cranksgiving is a bike-based food-and-supplies drive, treasure hunt, costume contest, and bike race. This is the sixth year for the event in Portland, but it started back in 1999 in New York City. It’s fun for participants fast and slow, and whether you’re equipped to carry a lot or a little, it’s definitely something to bring the kids to.

Our Family Biking column is sponsored by Clever Cycles.

➤ Read past entries here.

This year’s edition is on Saturday, November 24th from 12:00-5:00 pm at Nomad Cycles PDX (5820 NE Sandy Blvd). Here’s the blurb from the event page, “Cranksgiving is a tradition. You come, you ride, or volunteer. We provide a manifesto of locations, supplies, and tasks that must be completed. You make it happen with your team.”

This year’s beneficiary is Portland Street Medicine — whose donated bike fleet we featured here on the Front Page two weeks ago.

In addition to purchasing items to donate (expect to spend $20), teams are eligible for prizes in several categories:
➤ Fastest
➤ Most donated
➤ Best costume
➤ DFL (dead…uh…festively last)
Form your team (of any size this year) ahead of time or find teammates on race day.
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Team Muscles with Brussels won Best Costume.
L to R: Ben Salzberg, Erinne Goodell, Kirk Paulsen, Josh Guttmacher.
(All photos by Mick Orlosky/Redfishingboat Photography)

Think of it as doubling down on doing good.

We all know that just by cycling we are doing a good thing for our community; but what happens when you actually do good while cycling? We found out during last Saturday’s annual ‘Cranksgiving’ food drive.

Started in New York City in 1996, Cranksgiving rides have spread to over 60 cities across the United States. Described as a “food drive on two wheels,” the event is part scavenger hunt, part food drive, and part alley cat. Participants show up in teams and they’re given a list of stores and food items to buy. At the end, all the food and other items from the manifest lists are collected back at the starting point and given to charity.
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