Cranksgiving 2024: $555.83 in Donations Collected for Food Bank

DESR Will Host Again in 2025

Cranksgiving 2024 carried a reminiscent spirit of 2016, bringing warmth, camaraderie, and generosity, even with a smaller participant group than in previous years. The enthusiasm of everyone involved made it a memorable event, all while collecting vital donations for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. In light of rising grocery costs, the contributions felt more impactful than ever. Although this wasn’t Cranksgiving’s first rodeo, it marked the first year the Downtown East Social Ride took the helm as host, signifying a bit of a reset for the tradition. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be hosting it again next year, with more details coming later in this newsletter.

Supporting Local Businesses and Giving Back
Riders traveled roughly 14 miles, stopping at five locally-owned grocery stores: Shoppers Value Foods, Matherne's Market, Bet-R-Store, Calandro's Supermarket, and Rouses Market. Together, they collected and donated groceries valued at $555.83, weighing a total of 242 lbs! The event not only showcased community generosity but highlighted how supporting local businesses can create a ripple effect of positive change.

You can still contribute to this campaign in two ways. 1) Purchase a shirt and $2 from your purchase will go to the Food Bank. 2) Make a financial donation of any amount to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in connection to this event utilizing this link:

https://brfoodbank.org/?form=CRANK

The Perfect Ride
Riders enjoyed near-perfect weather, making the journey across the city a delight. Upon returning to the Electric Depot, participants celebrated their accomplishments with homemade ice cream donated by Avery Legal—a sweet reward for a day of giving and unity.

The New Location
This year marked a significant change as Cranksgiving shifted from its traditional spot at City Park to the Electric Depot. Since Downtown East was the host, it only felt right to bring the event closer to home. The move offered participants more parking options and the convenience of being surrounded by local businesses. KOK Wings & Things even offered riders a 15% discount for post-ride meals, while Red Stick Social entertained with a live brunch performance. Our host business, Local Supply BR, made a great impression—don’t forget to show them some love for your holiday shopping needs!

Friendly Competition: Race Results
Though Cranksgiving is all about giving, it’s still a race at heart. This year’s winner was Julio Magos, who completed the course with an impressive time of 56:44, followed closely by John Lea. The "Wu Tang is for the Children" group claimed the new grand prize for having the most participants, earning a gift certificate for a three-course meal at Spoke & Hub, generously donated by City Group Hospitality.

All participants took home prizes, many courtesy of Bike Baton Rouge and past donations from Capitol Cyclery. A new addition this year was a gift certificate for an electric bike rental from Pedego Bikes, whose owner, Steve, attended the event to show off some of their latest models and offer test rides.

More Than Just a Ride
Cranksgiving is more than just a fun ride; it’s a way to inspire confidence in people to incorporate biking into their everyday lives, like trips to the grocery store. While biking is often seen as exercise or recreation, most people drive to destinations only a few miles from home. Biking makes it possible—and practical—to grocery shop without a car. Smaller trips lead to better decision-making, fresher produce, and less waste. Small changes like these contribute to a healthier lifestyle, less road congestion, and a greener environment. Even reducing car trips occasionally makes a difference.

Keep the Momentum Going
We’re excited to announce that we will host Cranksgiving again next year at the Electric Depot. With more time to plan and promote, we hope to make it even bigger and better. If you’re interested in helping us organize, reach out, and we’ll add you to our planning team!

Join Us!
Discover Baton Rouge on two wheels and make lasting connections. Join us every Monday at the Electric Depot at 6 pm for another ride and keep the spirit of Cranksgiving rolling year-round! We only cancel if it’s raining, or the temperature is below 50 degrees during the hours of the ride.