The weather will be fine (partly cloudy with a high of 54) on Sunday for the third annual Chambana Cranksgiving, which is a bike-driven food drive to benefit the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. I spoke to Luke Thompson, the lead organizer of the event, a couple of weeks ago, and the audio appeared on the first edition of SP Radio last week. If you missed it, here ’tis:
Since we did that interview, they’ve added even more awesome sponsors and prizes. In fact, each of the first 50 registrants will get a free set of bar-end lights, and that’s not even counting the prizes for the top point-getters in the food drive, which include gift certificates to local restaurants and lots of other outstanding swag.
Since the event’s website does such a great job of answering questions, I’ll just include their Q&A:
I’ve never done a ride like this before? How does it work?
It’s easy. You show up, you grab a manifest, you figure out the best route, and when we say “GO,” you start. Make sure you’ve got a bag and a lock (and, preferably, a helmet), because you’re going to need to lock up to run into grocery stores and a spot to stash the nonperishable food you buy.
Do I need to ride a fixed gear bike?
Not at all. Very few rides are “fixed-gear only.” Cranksgiving is definitely not one of them. You can ride any kind of bike you want. We often have tandems, tall bikes, choppers, and penny farthings…not to mention bikes with trailers to haul extra food.
How much does it cost to register?
It’s free to register, but you’ll need cash to buy food at the grocery stores. $10-$15 should suffice. Top racers (those who buy the most food for the Foodbank and deliver it to The Bike Project in the least amount of time) win prizes donated from our sponsors at the after-party. They often win back the value of the food they’ve purchased in the form of gear and/or gift certificates.
Can I register online?
No. Registration will only take place at the beginning of the race (at the Bike Project, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana). Registration will begin at noon and the event will begin at 1 p.m.