With your help, Cranksgiving has grown to be one of the larger food drives in the St. Louis region. During the past 13 years, 800-1,000 participants each year, this drive has brought in more than 100 thousand items for local food pantries. As the organizer, we are truly in awe of your generosity and engagement in this event each year. In 2018 with the temperature hovering around 30 degrees, with your help, we brought in 20,592 items!!!

For the 2019 Cranksgiving on Sunday, November 3rd, BWorks is partnering with Operation Food Search. Operation Food Search works with many St. Louis youth. Since 1981, Operation Food Search has been in existence for more than 35 years and is the largest distributor of free food in the bi-state region. One important reason we have picked this group is a program that they run called Operation Backpack.

Each adult entrance fee covers the cost of three weekend sacks of “kid-friendly,” shelf-stable food to help students eat through the weekend when school meals are not available.

To retain the nature of Cranksgiving, you will still to ride to grocery stores and shop for some very specific items to help fill the backpacks for Operation Backpack. We encourage each rider to spend another $5-10 each.

We hope that you will join us Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO CRANKSGIVING?

Individuals who want to participate in the bike portion of Cranksgiving need to bring a bicycle, helmet, and lock. Most people do the ride as small or large groups, one person often watches the other person’s bikes at the grocery store. Unless you have a group plan, please do not rely on others to watch your bicycle – a lock is advised.

A backpack, rack, or trailer is recommended if you wish to carry the food items you purchase. Otherwise, look for “Food SAG” vehicles to leave purchased items. Helmets are required.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE?

Cranksgiving is $15/adult(age 18+) and $10/youth (kids who can ride two wheels on their own), however riders are asked to bring a couple dollars with which to purchase food items to be donated to Operation Backpack. This is a food drive after all!

Food items most needed by Operation Backpack are:

Tuna Packed in Water (cans or pouches)

Chicken (cans or pouches)

Peanut Butter (plastic jars only please)

Mandarin Oranges

WHEN DOES THE RIDE BEGIN?

There will be staggered start times based on the mileage chosen. Please keep an eye on our social media pages for route info and start times. Our longest route, the 25 mile option starts first with the 5 mile route leaving last. If you’re late to the start, you can still ride. Just make sure to check in at registration to complete a release form.

Routes:

A link to routes will be provided via email the week of the event.

Long Route (25 miles) 9:30 AM
Medium (14 miles)
Short (4 miles) 10:15 AM

All routes will begin and end at Schlafly Tap Room at 2100 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103, we encourage you to be at the event 20-30 minutes before your route start time.

WHERE DOES THE RIDE GO?

Each year we try to vary the route, we try to use low-volume streets that are easy and enjoyable. Streets are NOT closed to traffic and you are expected to follow all laws of the road.

Maps and links to download maps will be released the week before the event on our social media page. Paper copies of the maps will be available the morning of the event.

DO I HAVE TO CARRY ALL OF THE THINGS I BUY?

There will be grocery stores on each route that have food SAG trucks that will carry items purchased from the store back to the start / finish for you. We will not keep track of who purchases what, we will only be collecting on the spot. Riders may choose to carry all of the items they purchase back to the start/finish if they wish.

HOW FAR DO WE RIDE? HOW DO I KNOW WHERE TO GO?

BWorks has planned routes starting at 5 miles and going all the way up to 25 miles. Please choose the route that is most appropriate for your skill, fitness, and experience level. Maps will be provided at registration to help you along the way. All routes will have markings intermittently on the road to help guide you. For those of you using GPS, we will release the routes the night prior with links to download via our Facebook page.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET A FLAT TIRE OR HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY BIKE?

The Alpine Shop is generously providing mechanical SAG (support and gear) for the ride until 1PM. If you have a mechanical issue on the road, they can assist you. On the day of the event, phone numbers for mechanics will be included on the map and on our Facebook page. In the event of an medical emergency please call 911. Please remember to air up tires and do a safety check before you arrive.

WHERE DOES THE FOOD I PURCHASE GO?

The food items and the registration fee for Cranksgiving are all donated directly to Operation Food Search for its Operation Backpack program that decreases the burden of childhood hunger throughout the metro St. Louis area by providing a weekend food assistance program.

We encourage you to visit their website to find out more about what they do and to stop by their information table on the morning of the ride to talk with staff members about their impact.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RIDE IS OVER?

After the ride has ended, we encourage you to stay. Schlafly is donating two beers to each rider 21+. There will be food and beverages for sale inside from Schlafly and 10% of all food sales will be donated to Operation Food Search.

I WANT A T-SHIRT

We hope to be creating shirts at the event and will be posting links via Facebook and Twitter to order our multi colored shirts.

WHAT IF I CAN’T PARTICIPATE IN THE RIDE, BUT WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

You can still register as a virtual rider and make a donation.

If you’d like to volunteer send us an email at Info@BWorks.org