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Cranksgiving comes to Hudson
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| Nine cyclists participated in Hudson's Cranksgiving, a bike race where riders bought canned goods and other foodstuff from area grocery stores to donate to the local Salvation Army chapter. George Winegard, on the far back left, was the winner. Matt Miller, on the right wearing a green vest, organized Sunday's event that went from the bottom of Warren Street in Hudson to the new Super Walmart in Greenport and back again. (Photo courtesy of Chip Moon) |
Cyclists race, donate food to Salvation Army
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
HUDSON — Nine cyclists raced from the Promenade in Hudson to the Super Walmart in Greenport and back Sunday, but unlike most sporting events where the end goal is to be first, this bicycle race had another reason for being — to gather food to donate to the local Salvation Army.
The event was a localized version of Cranksgiving, which began in 1998 in Manhattan and has spread across the country, from Miami to Los Angeles.
“It was started in New York City...by a bike messenger by the name of Tone,” said Matt Miller, owner of Second Gear Bikes and the organizer of the Hudson event. “They have from 60 to 100 riders and collect hundreds of pounds of food.”
The 11th annual event in New York City was held Saturday.
Sunday’s race in Hudson, about six miles long, involved stopping at local grocery stores and delis, including Price Chopper, Shop Rite and Aldi, to purchase canned goods and other food items.
The list included potatoes, cranberry juice and turkey stew, among others. The last seemed to be the hardest to find and participants ended up with everything from turkey chili to chicken stew.
Negotiating the roads was only part of the challenge as participants sometimes had to stand in long lines or go from aisle to aisle in pursuit of the required purchases.
“The lines were huge,” said Miller.
George Winegard, from Hudson, came in first with a time of just under an hour.
“It feels amazing,” he said afterwards. “I feel like a little kid again.”
Winegard, a friend of Miller’s, said he started biking this past summer after quitting smoking nearly two years ago.
“I used the money I was spending on cigarettes to buy a bike,” he said.
A number of local businesses donated items for the race, including Strongtree Organic Coffee Roasters, Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Red Dot Restaurant, Steiner’s Sports, Pulver’s Bicycles, Historical Materialism, Johnny’s Ideal Printing and Dr. Julia Wilson.
The haul collected Sunday amounted to around 200 pounds of food.
“We’re always excited (when people donate),” said Linda Kilcer of the Salvation Army, who was there with her husband Joseph to accept the items from the race.
She said so far the Salvation Army in Hudson had put 325 food boxes together for those in need. She said along with giving out these, they were having their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hudson location, 40 South 3rd Street.
Miller, who held a similar event three years ago as well as a Halloween race in late October, said that he was trying to raise awareness for bicyclists in the area.
He said he would be holding a six-day bicycle repair course during the winter.
“We’re trying to strengthen the bike community,” he said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
The event was a localized version of Cranksgiving, which began in 1998 in Manhattan and has spread across the country, from Miami to Los Angeles.
“It was started in New York City...by a bike messenger by the name of Tone,” said Matt Miller, owner of Second Gear Bikes and the organizer of the Hudson event. “They have from 60 to 100 riders and collect hundreds of pounds of food.”
The 11th annual event in New York City was held Saturday.
Sunday’s race in Hudson, about six miles long, involved stopping at local grocery stores and delis, including Price Chopper, Shop Rite and Aldi, to purchase canned goods and other food items.
The list included potatoes, cranberry juice and turkey stew, among others. The last seemed to be the hardest to find and participants ended up with everything from turkey chili to chicken stew.
Negotiating the roads was only part of the challenge as participants sometimes had to stand in long lines or go from aisle to aisle in pursuit of the required purchases.
“The lines were huge,” said Miller.
George Winegard, from Hudson, came in first with a time of just under an hour.
“It feels amazing,” he said afterwards. “I feel like a little kid again.”
Winegard, a friend of Miller’s, said he started biking this past summer after quitting smoking nearly two years ago.
“I used the money I was spending on cigarettes to buy a bike,” he said.
A number of local businesses donated items for the race, including Strongtree Organic Coffee Roasters, Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Red Dot Restaurant, Steiner’s Sports, Pulver’s Bicycles, Historical Materialism, Johnny’s Ideal Printing and Dr. Julia Wilson.
The haul collected Sunday amounted to around 200 pounds of food.
“We’re always excited (when people donate),” said Linda Kilcer of the Salvation Army, who was there with her husband Joseph to accept the items from the race.
She said so far the Salvation Army in Hudson had put 325 food boxes together for those in need. She said along with giving out these, they were having their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hudson location, 40 South 3rd Street.
Miller, who held a similar event three years ago as well as a Halloween race in late October, said that he was trying to raise awareness for bicyclists in the area.
He said he would be holding a six-day bicycle repair course during the winter.
“We’re trying to strengthen the bike community,” he said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
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