Sequim Cranksgiving participants break records in food-raising ride

By Sequim Gazette Staff • November 28, 2018 1:30 am
Sequim Cranksgiving participants break records in food-raising ride

Another year, another set of records broken in a big effort to feed a community’s hungry.

Organizers of the 2018 Sequim Cranksgiving event are anything but cranky after the Nov. 17 event brought in a record 2,969 pounds. While short of the organizers’ goal of 3,000 pounds, the haul topped the previous record of 2,347 pounds set last year.

The Olympic Peninsula Bike Alliance set the team record with 1,452 pounds collected and Ken Stringer broke his own mark to take home The BIG Kahuna (most weight by an individual) award with 600 pounds, topping the 477-pound record he set in 2017.

Reed Finfrock set a new record for fastest finish at 42 minutes, while Garth Schmeck (138 pounds) set the record for most food collected on an electric bike.

Four teams participated in the event: OPBA, F-Troop (538.5 pounds), Women On Wheels (267 pounds) and Sequim Wheelers (81 pounds).

Participants raised another $190 in cash donations plus more at the after-party at Rainshadow Coffee.

In all, 41 riders participated in Sequim Cranksgiving, an annual family-friendly, bike-powered benefit for the Sequim Food Bank. Similar to a “scavenger hunt” on wheels, participants compete for various prizes while collecting donations for the food bank. Cranksgiving organizers provide a list of food asked for and a course that traditionally spans 4.4 miles from QFC to Walmart and back.

Co-organizer Tom Coonelly said the event could not happen without a team of volunteers that includes Dave Neidhardt, Dave Collins, Jim Jefferson, Al Streeter, Jack Earhart, Stan Smith, Greg Stone and Jack Landstrom, plus in-kind donations from Bens Bikes, Pedego Bikes, Rainshadow Coffee and In Graphic Detail. Other sponsors included Applebee’s Grill + Bar, Alder Wood Bistro, Black Bear Diner, Blondie’s Plate, Domino’s Pizza, Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, Fortune Star Chinese Restaurant, Galare Thai, The Mariners Café, The Oak Table Café, Old Mill Café, Paradise Restaurant, JCPenney, Sawadee Thai Cuisine and Westside Pizza.

Coonelly noted that Port Angeles hosted that town’s first Cranksgiving, with 18 riders collecting 399.7 pounds of food plus $110 in Farmer’s Market tokens. Donna Soder was the top collector in PA with 72 pounds while Cranktastics (128 pounds) was the top team.