Around town now

The Cranksgiving donation cans are starting to pop up in bike shops around town. Both Bike Masters and the Trek Store have them. Just drop in a buck or two and watch it multiply into something great for the Food Bank.

Want a can at your establishment? Send an email (bredemske at gmail.com) and we'll get one to you, pronto.

Crank up the money machine

The online donation link is live here, and also to the right. Donations made via PayPal are quick, secure and convenient.

Remember: Cash goes a long way for the Food Bank. A $10 donation can buy around $100 worth of food.

On the donations screen, there is an option to "add special instructions." In that space, type CRANKSGIVING OMAHA, so we can add it to the tally.

Sponsor update: Twin Six, Ergon, Bike Masters and Midwest Cycling are on board. More to follow.

Out in the street

Look for these around town in the coming days. We'll have a second version out, too. If there's interest, we'll print up another batch for sale. All proceeds go to the Food Bank.

Fill The Truck

Well, it's getting on October, which means fall is in full swing. That also means the holidays are looming. For many of us, that means a time to gather with family around the table and share a meal.

For for the less fortunate, the holidays are a time of stress and worry, with little-to-no room in the budget for anything special. Organizations like the Omaha Food Bank can ease the burden, but they need help.

You can help.

Join us on November 14 at noon for Cranksgiving Omaha 2009 — a bike race/ride to benefit the Omaha Food Bank. It will be held at Bike Masters in Omaha (129th/Fort Streets) rain or shine, snow or ... well, what's worse than snow?

Details on how the race works are on the sidebar to the right. Once again, we'll have homemade eats on hand (with standard and vegetarian options).

New for this year is a push called "Fill The Truck." It's our dream at Cranksgiving Omaha to supply enough food for an entire day's worth of donations. That number is big. Really big. But we can do it with your help.

For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can purchase around $10 worth of food. Now think about a $10 donation, and how quickly that could add up into something really big, and really great.

Even if you can't make the race, consider a cash donation. We'll have donation boxes at bike shops and businesses all over town. Please consider helping any way you can, whether riding, donating or volunteering (just email me: bredemske at gmail dot com).

Let's Fill The Truck.

Fire it up!

Planning for Cranksgiving Omaha 2009 is underway. If you're a sponsor and want to help, drop a line. If you're a volunteer and want to help, do the same.

Otherwise, stay patient. We'll have more info soon.

1,263 pounds! (updated)

Hey, I just got an email from Heather at the Food Bank. Our final number was 1,263 pounds of food and supplies. After filling up the big blue barrels the Food Bank provided, Bike Masters had to get a few boxes out to carry the rest to to the van. That's pretty awesome.

I should mention our overall winner, Lucas Marshall (center, with third-place finisher Rafal Dotolo on the right). He was at the first stop before some people left the parking lot, and ended up ditching last year's winner, Eric Brunt, in the Kum & Go parking lot after Brunt flatted less than five minutes into the race. Ouch. Lucas wrote about his race here, and has photos here.

Jennifer Limpach (center) was the women's winner, followed by Lisa Vignolo (right).

The single-speed/fixed winner was Mike Douglas (right), followed by Stephen Osberg.

And, finally, there's the story of trailer-class winner Mark Stursma. He pulled more than 200 pounds, and got all of the goods in the door with only a few seconds to spare (trailers had a 3-hour time limit). For his efforts, he took home a Heath bar cheesecake made by my mom.

We owe quite a bit of thanks to the riders, volunteers and sponosors who made this a success. The weather (wind chill in the 20s) no doubt kept a few riders away, but to be able to donate 1,263 pounds to the Food Bank is always a good thing.

Results: (apologies for butchered names)

Geared men
1. Lucas Marshall
2. David Randlemann
3. Rafal Dotolo

Geared women
1. Jennifer Limpach
2. Roxanne Abbott (but since she was gone, we stole her silver cassette)
3. Lisa Vignolo

SS/Fixed men
1. Mike Douglas
2. Stephen Osberg
3. Jon Hood

Trailer
1. Mark Stursma, 203.8 pounds
2. Jason Johanning, 60.9 pounds (and a case of Fat Tire. We thank you.)
3. Bob Brindamour, 59.7 pounds (and a kid in the trailer)

Video: here.

Next year: November 14, 2009. Mark it down right now.

First numbers

1,200 pounds this year, though it'll be confirmed by the Food Bank on Monday. Thank you to all who rode, donated and volunteered. Your efforts will make a big difference for those who need it most.

We'll have more pictures soon, plus the story of Mark Stursma, who pulled more than 200 pounds in his trailer. Yikes.