For over 20 years Cranksgiving has captured the imagination of cyclists worldwide. Read on to learn more!

History

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. In 1999, New York City messenger Antonio “Tone” Rodrigues thought up a different kind of alleycat, one that would help the less fortunate during the Thanksgiving holiday – this alleycat would be primarily for charity. On November 20, 1999, the first Cranksgiving took place.

What’s in a Name

If someone out there would like to establish a Cranksgiving ride in their own town, we just have a few requests in order to use the “Cranksgiving” name. First of all, riders must use bicycles as their only means of transportation. After all, why would you call it “Cranks-giving” if cycling was not involved? Secondly, no entry fee or registration charge should ever be collected! The point of the ride is for charity, so anyone running the event should be doing it out of the kindness of their heart. Besides, the items riders purchase during the course of the ride could be considered an entry fee. The last and probably the most important request is everything people buy along their routes should all be donated to a local charity.

Apart from those guidelines, things are pretty flexible. Naturally the original intent was to make sure the less fortunate could have a decent meal over the Thanksgiving holiday, so it would be nice to have any Cranksgiving events held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This would ideally establish an annual charitable cycling holiday of sorts across the country, which would be incredible. However, we should never limit ourselves from being charitable the rest of the year if possible, so if there is a charitable cycling event someone out there is organizing and would like to call Cranksgiving, then go ahead.

 
The Posters

Great artwork has always been a part of the Cranksgiving ethos – check out some of the fantastic designs in this 2019 gallery:

Sponsors

Every year a few terrific supporting organizations come forward – either to help spread the word about Cranksgiving or to support organizers. Check out this year’s sponsors page.

Media

A compendium of press coverage about Cranksgiving.

Blog

News items from the world of Cranksgiving. Blog page.

Questions?

Here at Cranksgiving.org we are a small volunteer crew dedicated to helping organizers new and old. Feel free to contact us with your questions.