Giving Back on Two Wheels at "Cranksgiving"

Local cyclists depart from Beachland Ballroom to nearby grocery stores for Cranksgiving

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In addition to events like Cleveland Critical Mass, as the area’s bicycle continuously grows, creative events to promote bicycles and their presence on our roadways are held.  On a mild, rainy Saturday morning in November, nearly 50 local cyclists gathered at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland for the third annual “Cranksgiving.”  It is a nationally renowned bicycle event that usually takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  Cleveland is one of 70 cities nationwide that hosts this event, including Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and Washington, DC. 

The objective of the event was to spend up to $15 on canned goods and non-perishables and bicycle 15 total miles to local grocery stores.  The travel itinerary included grocery stores in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood, most of Euclid’s local grocery stores, and as far east as Shoregate Shopping Center in Willowick.  This included both Dave’s Supermarket locations along Lakeshore Boulevard, Shwebel’s Bakery Outlet on E. 200th Street, and Giant Eagle in Willowick.  This was the third year in a row Cranksgiving happened, and was the first time that Cranksgiving came to the northeastern side of town.  Last year it took place in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, which also encompassed Fairview Park, Rocky River, and Lakewood. 

 “We organize the event each year not only for the cycling community to help feed hungry families during the holiday season,” says Jeffrey Sugalski, the Cranksgiving coordinator through the local bicycle nonprofit Bike Cleveland, about the general purpose of Cranksgiving.  Cyclists bought generous amounts of food to be split among local hunger centers within the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.  Cranksgiving was successful with raising an estimated value of $2,500 in food.

“It is also to demonstrate that cyclists can do many of the things that motorists do, including grocery shop on one of the busiest shopping days of the year,” says Sugalski about the importance Cranksgiving is to Cleveland’s growing bicycle community.  This is important as commuting by bicycle is becoming a popular means of commuting in major cities nationwide.  It is also an opportunity for cyclists to give back to the community and provide food for those less fortunate while giving thanks.