Cranksgiving Philly 2025 - Official Rules

Organized at the grassroots in over 100 American cities, Cranksgiving is a bicycle-powered style food drive that has delivered over 1,000,000 meals to local food banks and shelters since its 1999 inception in New York City. Since 2011, Cranksgiving Philly has raised and donated over 18 tons of food and $10,000 directly to Philabundance, our region's largest non-profit food bank.

During its November 8, 2025 event, Cranksgiving Philly aims to raise 3,000 lbs of food and $1,000 for Philabundance. I hope you'll join us in supporting that goal by RSVPing for free here, donating here if possible, and by sharing Cranksgiving Philly with your various networks.

• See a recap of last year's event here.
• Check out reigning champion Don Klipstein's Cranksgiving guide and strategy here.

Cranksgiving participants use a bicycle to collect food to benefit the one-in-nine households that experience food insecurity during the holiday season. Cranksgiving Philly is organized so that riders of all ages, abilities, and levels of fitness and comfort can participate and win prizes. All are welcome. In fact,

riding a bike isn't even entirely necessary:

Cranksgiving Philly welcomes folks to skip the sweaty stuff and drop in at the afterparty at Keystone Bicycle Co and donate $5, $10, $20, or whatever they're able to spare. There will be food, beer and other non-alcoholic beverages, raffles, and more. We love riding bikes, but Cranksgiving's real mission is building community and benefitting Philabundance.

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. -cranksgiving.org

Cranksgiving Philly complies with alleycat heritage with adaptations that enable riders of all means to participate while encouraging more competitive riders to maximize their haul and donate more food.

Cranksgiving Philly 2025 Official Rules

Start at Penn Treaty Park. Registration begins at 10:00am (pre-register to beat the line). Ride begins at 11:00am.

Collections and weigh-in begin at Philabundance Berks St Warehouse (302 W Berks St) at 11:10am and close at 2:00pm.Any food from Philabundance guidelines is acceptable, but items from Top 10 Most Needed are highly recommended. 

Philabundance has requested that we not drop off produce or perishable items at their warehouse. If you'd like to donate these types of food, please drop them off at a community food fridge instead.

There are three ways to win: Fun Ride, Checkpoint Race, Points Race.

• Fun Ride:
  • Everyone who registers and rides will be entered to win a raffle prize. Collect as little or as much food as is feasible. Donate as little or as much cash as is feasible. This event is for everyone.
• Checkpoint Ride:
  • A secret manifest will direct riders to several grocery stores in Philadelphia (expect to ride less than 15 miles to reach all of them).
  • Retrieve at least one non-perishable food item and receipt of sale from each grocer.
  • Riders must donate an item to at least one community fridge and take a picture of their bike there.
  • First rider from the following categories to return with food, photos, and receipts wins: first overall, first women’s, first trans + gender non-conforming, first fixed-gear, first cargo bike, first under 18, first over 55.
  • Checkpoint racers are encouraged but not required to continue to compete for points after finishing. Completion of the checkpoint manifest will earn the rider 50 points for the Points Race. 
• Points Race:
  • Each pound of food donated is worth one point.
  • Final score for each haul will be awarded by multiplying the weight of food by the number of grocery stores per run (to incentivize collecting more food from more grocers).
  • Score formula: (lbs collected in a run) x (store factor) = points per run
    • Store factor: 1x for 3 or less stores. 1.5x for 4-7 stores. 1.75x for 8 stores. An additional .25 for each store past 8.
  • Examples:
    • 15 lbs of food collected from 3 stores: (15) x (1) = 15 points
    • 25 lbs of food collected from 5 stores: (25) x (1.5) = 37.5 points
    • 50 lbs of food collected from 10 stores: (50) x (2.25) = 112.5 points
  • Multiple drop-offs are allowed. Weigh-in closes at 2:00pm.
  • Categories: first overall, first women’s, first trans+ gender non conforming, first fixed-gear, first cargo bike, first under 18, first over 55, first team 
• Afterparty will be hosted around the corner from weigh-in in the large outdoor space at Keystone Bicycle Co. from 2-5pm. Food, beer, and other refreshments will be provided for all participants. Partnering organizations will be there with giveaways and cycling resources. Podiums/Prizes will be announced ~4:30pm. (Please be sure to pre-register so we can prepare the right amount and kind of food for everyone.

Cranksgiving is a celebration of the entire cycling community and a benefit to people who could use a break in the city we all love. Thanks to everyone who participates, donates, spreads the word, and especially to the beneficiary, sponsors, partners, and mentors who have devoted time and resources to bring this event to life.

Pre-registering will help the organizers plan for afterparty refreshments. Donating here supports Cranksgiving Philly's goal of raising $1,000 for Philabundance (100% of donations go to Philabundance).

📅 Date: Saturday, November 8
📍 Location: Penn Treaty Park
⏱️ Time: Registration 10am, Start 11am
🏁 End: Philabundance Berks warehouse by 2pm
🥇 Awards and refreshments: @keystone.bike 2-5pm
🎉 Ride to @tmoms for afterparty at 5pm

**This event is open and welcoming to all cyclists!**