Cranksgiving is coming early this year! Please join us for an Alley Cat race that's fun AND rewarding. You'll have the opportunity not only to ride, but to provide food and shelter to those in need.
Registration opens at NOON (don't forget we "fall back" the night before) and the event will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Once you're registered, you'll receive an awesome T-shirt (compliments of Rasmussen Bike Shop and T-Shirt Graphix). You'll also be given a grocery list of items that are desperately needed by local families. Not familiar with the area? Never fear- we'll include a map on the reverse side of that list. You choose the stores, you choose the route. We're even giving you some extra items from which to choose.
Ride whatever you want- mt. bike, cruiser, TT bike, unicycle, rat rod- we don't care, just ride whatever you bring to 10 different stores, purchasing one item from your list at each store. When you've purchased that 10th item, race back to Mars Cafe! The first person to return in each category wins a coveted Golden Crank. This year's categories are: Male, Female, Junior, Tandem, Family, Fixie, Single Speed, and Out-of-Towner. We'll also give a prize for best costume. Get creative!
After everyone returns to Mars, we'll celebrate with free-will donation beer from New Belgium Brewery and Peace Tree Brewery (for all participants 21+). You can also order non-alcoholic drinks and a bite to eat. Then sit back and relax while we pull participant names for prizes from Sakari Sushi, Rasmussen Bike Shop, My Alibi, Kyle's Bikes, Beaverdale Bicycles, Star Bar, Cumming Tap, Back Country Outfitters and many more.
Shortly thereafter, we'll pull the raffle tickets for the New Belgium Fat Tire Cruiser and the custom build from Ichi Bike (that funky bike shop in the East Village) Raffle tickets are on sale NOW at Mars Cafe- $5/each or 5/$20. Go get some! Two bikes means better odds! In addition, the more tickets you buy, the more money we'll raise to help shelter homeless women and children.
All of the food donations wil be given to the Des Moines Area Religious Council. All cash donations from raffle ticket sales and the free-will beer donation will be given to Hawthorn Hill Homeless Shelter for Families.
So plan to join us Sunday! The more people who participate, the more fun we'll have and the more we'll be able to donate to those in need. This is your chance to show the world just how awesome the cycling community is!