Cranksgiving Philly 2024 Primer + Official Rules

Organized at the grassroots in over 100 American cities, Cranksgiving is a bicycle-powered scavenger-hunt style food drive that has delivered over 1,000,000 meals to local food banks and shelters since its 1999 inception in New York City. Since 2011, Cranksgiving Philly has raised and donated over 15 tons of food and $10,000 directly to Philabundance, our region's largest non-profit food bank.

During its November 16, 2024 event, Cranksgiving Philly aims to raise 2,000 lbs of food and $1,000 for Philabundance. I hope you'll join me in supporting that goal by RSVPing for free here, donating here if possible, and by sharing Cranksgiving Philly with your various networks.

Cranksgiving participants use a bicycle to collect food to benefit the one-in-nine households that experience food insecurity during the holiday season. Cranksgiving Philly is organized so that riders of all ages, abilities, and levels of fitness and comfort can participate and win prizes. All are welcome. In fact,

riding a bike isn't even entirely necessary:

Cranksgiving Philly welcomes folks to skip the sweaty stuff and drop in at the afterparty at Keystone Bicycle Co and donate $5, $10, $20, or whatever they're able to spare. There will be food, beer and other non-alcoholic beverages, raffles, and more. We love riding bikes, but Cranksgiving's real mission is building community and benefitting Philabundance.

Cranksgiving began life as an alleycat: a scrappy urban race held by bike messengers. Designed to emulate the busy and often grueling schedule of a messenger workday, riders were given checkpoints and tasks to complete for the bragging rights of being that city’s fastest rider. -cranksgiving.org

Cranksgiving Philly complies with alleycat heritage with adaptations that enable riders of all means to participate while encouraging more competitive riders to maximize their haul and donate more food.

Cranksgiving Philly 2024 Official Rules

• Start at Penn Treaty Park. Registration begins 11:00am. Ride begins 12:00pm.
• Collections and weigh-in begin at Philabundance Berks St Warehouse (302 W Berks St) at 1:00pm and close at 4:00pm.
• Any food from Philabundance guidelines is acceptable, but items from Top 10 Most Needed are highly recommended.
• There are three ways to win: Fun Ride, Checkpoint Race, Points Race.
• Fun Ride:
  • Everyone who registers and rides will be entered to win a raffle prize. Collect as little or as much food as is feasible. Donate as little or as much cash as is feasible. This event is for everyone.
• Checkpoint Race:
  • A secret manifest will direct riders to five grocery stores (expect to ride less than 10 miles to reach all five).
  • Retrieve at least one non-perishable food item and receipt of sale from each grocer. First rider from categories below to return with food and receipts wins.
  • Categories: first overall, first FTWNB, first fixed-gear, first cargo bike, first under 18.
  • Checkpoint racers may finish before food collection begins at 1:00pm. Checkpoint racers are encouraged but not required to race for more points after completion.
• Points Race:
  • Each pound of food donated is worth one point.
  • Final score will be awarded by multiplying the weight of food by the number of grocery stores per run (to incentivize collecting more food from more grocers).
  • Score formula: (lbs collected in a run) x (store factor) = points per run
    • Store factor: 1x for 3 or less stores. 1.5x for 4-7 stores. 1.75x for 8 stores. An additional .05x for each store past 8.
  • Examples:
    • 15 lbs of food collected from 3 stores: (15) x (1) = 15 points
    • 25 lbs of food collected from 5 stores: (25) x (1.5) = 37.5 points
    • 50 lbs of food collected from 10 stores: (50) x (1.85) = 92.5 points
  • Multiple runs are allowed. Weigh-in closes at 4:00pm.
  • Categories: first overall, first FTWNB, first fixed-gear, first cargo bike, first under 18.
• Bonus Challenge:
  • Most apples from Riverwards Produce wins a gift card. Winner for each overall and FTWNB categories.
• Afterparty will be hosted around the corner from weigh-in in the large outdoor space at Keystone Bicycle Co. Food, beer, and other refreshments will be provided for all participants. Partnering organizations will be there with giveaways and cycling resources.

Cranksgiving is a celebration of the entire cycling community and a benefit to people who could use a break in the city we all love. Thanks to everyone who participates, donates, spreads the word, and especially to the beneficiary, sponsors, partners, and mentors who have devoted time and resources to bring this event to life.

RSVPing on Partiful will help the organizers plan for afterparty refreshments. Donating here supports Cranksgiving Philly's goal of raising $1,000 for Philabundance (100% of donations go to Philabundance).