CRANKSGIVING 2012
The Milwaukee Bicycle Collective and MKEBKE are hosting Cranksgiving, now in it’s fourth consecutive year, on Saturday, November 17th.
Registration is at 12pm at Gordon Park, located on Locust and Humboldt in Riverwest.
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(2010 artwork, 2012 flyer coming soon)
If you’re not familiar with Cranksgiving, it’s a bike race that has participants bicycling all over the city to different grocery stores, gathering hundreds of non-perishable food items that are donated to a local food pantry.
This year, we’ll be donating all of the collected donations to Hope House in Walker’s Point.
“Hope House is an emergency and transitional living facility as well as a true community center located in the near south side of Milwaukee. Opened in 1987, Hope House was created to provide a safe, temporary refuge for people needing a place to sleep. Over the years, Hope House has evolved into a complete provider of services for homeless and low income individuals. In addition to residential services, Hope House provides community outreach to individuals needing health care, food distribution, financial assistance, and educational opportunities for adults and children. Hope House provides services that aim to end homelessness and create healthy communities.”
Non-riders are encouraged to bring additional donations (food or otherwise) for Hope House to registration, or the ride’s last checkpoint / afterparty (location TBD).
Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate! There will be two different manifests, one being a little more difficult for those more into the “race” aspect of the event.
Save the date, more information coming soon..
In the meantime, you can RSVP and keep yourself up-to-date via the facebook event. This is coming up quick, so please help spread the word!
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CRANKSGIVING 2011
Saturday, November 19th 2011 3pm
- view the facebook event for more details
“Milwaukee Cranksgiving 2011 will be an alleycat bicycle race to benefit The Milwaukee Hunger Task Force. All experience levels of riders are encouraged to participate.
Fabulous Prizes!
Many details to follow. Rad flyer to follow. Kick-butt sponsorships to follow. Just want to get the word out as early as possible.
Invite your friends and family! It’s a good cause!
We are happy to announce that The Hotel Foster is our spot for the after-party and also our first sponsor!
Sponsors:
The Hotel Foster – Afterparty and Bar Tab
PBR
DreamBikes – Bicycle tune up and SWAG
Stag Barbershop
Classic Slice – Gift Certificates”
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CRANKSGIVING 2010
Milwaukee will be hosting it’s third annual Cranksgiving alleycat race on November 6th. Started in Milwaukee by Steve Kasprzyk with Megabolt, a group that raises money for benefits and other local charities, this alleycat race helps raise hundreds of non-perishable food items to be donated to a local food pantry.

Steve recently relocated to Portland this summer, and good friend Josh Weis will be organizing this year’s event. Feel free to be in touch with him at josh_weis@hotmail.com with any questions, volunteer help, or sponsorship inquiries.
Last year had nearly 70 riders, donating well over 1000 pounds of food. Hopefully a lot of you can make it out and participate helping out those in need in this fun, charitable race. Milwaukee Bicycle Community cares, positive change through positive action.
Below is a quote from cranksgiving.net that briefly explains the roots of Cranksgiving 10+ years ago in NYC, and does a great job summing up what this alleycat is all about.
“Cranksgiving started as one of several annual bike messenger ‘alleycat’ races in New York City. Each year it is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a way for messengers and other urban cyclists to socialize, compete, and enjoy themselves while also raising food for local soup kitchens or food pantries in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. It is one of the only alleycats focused on raising donations for good causes. Ever since its beginnings in 1999 it has been adopted by organizers in numerous cities in one form or another where all types of cyclists participate to have fun while benefitting a local charity.
Even though the roots of Cranksgiving began among hard working messengers, with its spread the event also demonstrates how almost any person can use their bicycle as a means of transportation for typical
shopping errands. As a result, cycling reduces an individual’s dependence on expensive automobiles and the ever increasing cost of gas. Riding a bicycle also contributes to a person’s good health through exercise and the resulting reduction of air and noise pollution. A bike also reconnects people to their communities by slowing them down a little and providing exposure to a person’s neighbors and surrounding environment.”
When: Saturday, November 6th 2010 3pm
What: Cranksgiving 2010
Where: Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee, WI (behind Summerfest grounds)
Description: Registration at 3pm. There will be an A class and a B class, so all levels of riders are encouraged to come! There’s no entry fee, but you’ll need around $15-20 to cover the grocery items you’ll need to pick up at the checkpoints.
Link: mkebke.com/cranksgiving, facebook event, mkebke forum topic
Check back on the Cranksgiving 2010 facebook event page as more information on the event, volunteering, sponsors, etc. is posted. You can also follow Cranksgiving 2010 on twitter.

