This time, there is both an alley cat race (checkpoint race) and a points "race". Both of these "races" will have prizes for 1st place overall, 1st place with a cargo bike, first place with a fixed gear bike, first place rider under 18, and first place rider who is not cisgender male.
For the points race: I noticed one little modification from the 2019-2022 rules, with decrease of benefit for going to 8-12 stores, increase of benefit for going to more than 12 stores. I noticed that getting receipts from 4 stores or 8 stores might be a way to win. With (for example) 840 pounds from 1-3 stores getting same points as 560 pounds from 4-7 stores, same as 480 pounds from 8 stores, 464 pounds from 9 stores, 449.2 pounds from 10 stores, 435.2 pounds from 11 stores, 422.1 pounds from 12 stores, 409.8 pounds from 13 stores, 398.1 pounds from 14 stores, 387.1 pounds from 15 stores, 376.7 pounds from 16 stores, 366.8 pounds from (2024 new record for store count) 17 stores, 357.4 pounds from 18 stores.
UPDATE 10/16/2024:
Cranksgiving Philadelphia 2024 has been announced. Meetup starts at 11 AM,
rollout is scheduled for 12 noon, the start location which is the usual Penn
Treaty Park. The end location in 2024 is the Philabundance warehouse at 302 W.
Berks Street.
The Facebook page for Cranksgiving Philadelphia, most recently updated 11/8/2024 with most recent significant comment 11/10/2024 as of 11/11/2024.
The Facebook page for the Cranksgiving Philadelphia 2024 event.
The scoring system for points in 2019-2024 is 1 point per pound of groceries hauled in, multiplied by a multiplier based on number of stores one shopped at. For bringing in receipts from 1-3 stores, the multiplier is 1. For 4-7 stores, the multiplier is 1.5. For 8-plus stores the multiplier was 2 until 2022, but a 2024 change made this more complicated with decrease of benefit of going to 8-12 stores. So, I favor getting receipts from 4 or 8 stores. Multiple stops at the finish point for dropping off groceries by the 4 PM deadline are allowed.
My 2024 strategy, updated bigtime in evening of 11/11/2024: Is to go to the Grocery Outlet supermarket style store on the east side of American Street (between 2nd and 3rd) just south of Berks Street. This is only a block from the 302 E. Berks Street finish point, the Philabundance warehouse. And make multiple trips and haul in hundreds of pounds of groceries.
If the Grocery Outlet gets running out of stuff, then I will start hauling lots of weight from the Acme at 2nd & Girard.
And when you spent your charity budget (or we emptied favorable stores) and you have time to go to other stores, or if you want to have some time to go to other stores for more receipts, then you get to figure out how to budget your time to go to more stores to get receipts from.
My pre-2018 strategy is removed, at least mostly. If you are curious about my pre-2018 winning strategy, then go to my pre-2018 cheat sheet.
Winning bike, 26" wheels and other details
BIG UPDATE Competitors can get groceries weighed in at the finish point,
get weights noted on their manifests, then go back out for more groceries and
receipts. When multiple trips are done, all trips must be done by the deadline
that in 2024 is 4 PM.
UPDATE in eve of "race day" 2024: I am planning on using an Aventon Mataro track bike, without the pizza rack that I previously used. My only cargo carrying equipment will be a "big boxy backpack" "Caviar Bag". News for 2024 is that there is a store (Grocery Outlet) only 1 block from the new-for-2024 finish point (Philabundance warehouse 302 W. Berks Street). I am planning on moving tonnage as quickly as I can with such a lightweight setup without score multiplier, and I hope someone can dethrone me in 2024 from my 5-time defending championship.
Update 2 days after 2024 "race day": I hauled in 812.9 pounds according to my copy of written scale readings. I did 13 trips, all from the same score, so I had points multiplier of 1. I plan to do the same next year, with no equipment change other than regearing this same bike to a slightly lower gear ratio (from 43/17 to 42/18). And, in 2024 I used standard butyl inner tunes instead of latex ones for less rolling resistance, and in 2025 I will repeat use of standard butyl inner tubes.
My freight hauling ability has history going back to 2015 with my 2016, 2017 and 2022 winning bikes being souped-up (slick tires, latex inner tubes, no front derailleur) cheap heavy 26 inch bikes, although in 2019 and 2021 I won by using a track bike *with an added pizza rack* and a big backpack.
I won in 2019 by making multiple trips and carrying lots of weight on each trip, by using a large backpack and a lightweight track bike (fixie) with gear ratio about 66 inches, with a pizza rack. I learned in 2022 that I can carry 80 cans of beans with weight between 80 and 90 pounds in this big boxy backpack, although my 2022 bike was slower than the bikes I used in my previous 4 championships.
In 2021, I used my track bike with a pizza rack added and a pizza bag and inner tubes used as giant rubber bands, along with a big backpack, to carry much more weight on my trips from the Acme on 5th Street to Tattooed Mom. My second last trip had a little less than 100 pounds, and my last trip had about 130 pounds, hauled about 4-1/2 blocks.
For 2022, I used a cheap mountain bike, with 26x2.0 tires (my usual slick / semi slick) with Vittoria pink latex inner tubes, and a pizza rack that I used for carrying a large backpack (a "Caviar bag"), strapped onto the pizza rack with a used inner tube. I loaded my "Caviar bag" with 80-89 pounds of mostly or entirely canned goods on four trips. On my first trip, I took on most of my weight at the Trader Joes at 1324 Arch after making small purchases at 4 other stores, then rode less than 1.5 miles to the finish point. In my following three trips, I took on weight at mainly or exclusively at one of the two Acmes closest to the finish point.
UPDATE 11/25/2022: I forgot to bring my pizza bag to the starting point in 2022. After I arrived at the 5th (and last) store of my first of four trips (Trader Joes 1324 Arch), I realized how many 15-16 ounce cans can fit in a common size "Caviar bag" which is a box-like backpack. 80 cans fit in, with a pattern of 4 layers of cans, and each layer has 5 staggered rows of 4 cans.
This is my 2022 winning bike, but for Cranksgiving Philadelphia 2022 I removed
the motor and battery of my e-bike conversion kit that I previously added to a
Walmart-sold cheap mountain bike that a friend trashpicked for me. Its front
derailleur was removed, and had one 42T front chainring for Cranksgiving
(48T when I have it motorized). The rear derailleur cable was frazzled, so this
bike was single speed at 42/20 for Cranksgiving Philly 2022. Also shown here
(main reason for this photo) is one of my "Caviar bags", which can carry 80
15-16 ounce cans (86-90 pounds) of canned goods. I rubber-banded my Caviar bag
with an inner tube to a front pizza rack (poorly shown here) on this bike.
I do well with 26" wheels with slick or semi-slick tires of mountain bike size.
This means less rolling resistance, especially with latex inner tubes. Latex
tubes are only easily available in a few sizes, including only one mountain bike
size, 26" by 1.7-2.1. These are Vittoria pink latex with presta valve, which
works OK (in my experience) with rims drilled for Schraeder valves. UPDATE
11/12/2024: Latex 26" mountain size inner tubes have been discontinued by
Vittoria, and may be getting scarce. Ultralight tubes, like latex tubes, have
less rolling resistance than standard tubes, but many bike shops don't have them.
Another part of my strategy, a minor one: Use the widest rims I can get for
wheels that can be used with 26x2.0 tires. This reduces rolling resistance and
increases weight-carrying capacity.
This is my 2016 winning bike, a cheap beach cruiser with minor modifications.
My significant changes were adding front and rear baskets, upgrading the tires and inner tubes, and removing the kickstand. The front basket is a Wald 157. The rear one is the formerly common 6-gallon milk crate attached to a homebrew rear rack made of aluminum angle. The tires are Nashbar 26x1.25" slicks, which I consider narrower than optimum. Note the large carrying bags in each basket.
This is my 2017 winning bike.
My 2017 bike was a hardtail mountain bike configured as a fixie, with good wheels, 30mm wide front rim, 33mm wide rear rim, and 26x2.0 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tires with Vittoria pink latex inner tubes. It weighed a few pounds less than my 2016 winning bike. I think slick or semi-slick tires 26 x 1.7 to 2.1 with latex inner tubes helped me a lot.
Gear ratio: My 2016 winning bike had about 59 gear inches. My 2017 & 2018
bike had ~ 65 gear inches, but I felt that I would have done better with around
61-62 gear inches. I expect men with trouser inseam length longer than my 30"
and cranks longer than my 165 mm to do best with higher gear ratio in the mid
60s to mid 70s gear inches if using a 1-speed bike.
My 2022 winning bike was a cheap mountain bike ridden in only one gear, 42/20
with 26" tires, which is 55 inches. I could have gone faster with about 60-61
inches (42/18 with 26" tires), but I had gotten out of shape from using an
e-bike during the summer to avoid overheating.
Tire pressure: 110 PSI front, 120 PSI rear, divided by the tire width in inches. This is 2750 PSI front, 3000 PSI rear, divided by the tire width in mm. Or 110% of the tires' maximum rated pressure. (Exceed maximum rated pressure only at your own risk, even though I do this for heavy weight hauling.) Whichever is lower. Go for a little more (at your own risk if exceeding manufacturer ratings) if you are heavy or your load will be especially heavy. I used less in 2022, 45 front low 50s rear with 26x2.0 tires, but I could have used 55 PSI in both tires and gone slightly faster.
In 2022, I mentioned to most persons at the starting point, including the one who came in second, that I planned to do multiple trips with my first trip having 5 stores, none north of Girard, and the last store of my first trip being the Trader Joes at 1324 Arch where my plan was to load up on lots of cans of cheap beans. I ended up making four trips each with 80-89 pounds for a total of 336.7 pounds.
In 2021, the rules were the same as in 2019, and I told many competitors my 2019 strategy. More than one individual competitor hauled in more than I did in 2019, and I hauled in 299 pounds, all with maximum points multiplier. My second-last trip (3rd trip) had about 95 pounds, and my last trip (4th trip) had about 130 pounds, both from the Acme on 5th between Spruce and Pine. My second of four trips had about 65 pounds, mostly from the Acme stores at 10th & South and 5th between Pine and Spruce.
In 2019 I received a rules clarification, that competitors can make multiple trips. Competitors can bring groceries to the finish point, get groceries weighed in and weight written onto their manifests, and then go out shopping for more groceries and store receipts. Those who make multiple trips must get them done by the final deadline that for 2024 is 4 PM. In 2019 I hauled in 185.7 pounds of groceries from 8 stores in 4 trips, and my last 2 trips were to the supermarket closest to the finish point (the Acme on 5th between Spruce and Pine) so that I can load up on cheap qualifying canned goods.
Click Here to Skip to Other Prizes.
I advise avoiding the Mariposa co-op on Baltimore Avenue near 49th to save time.
In 2022, the Acme at 5th & Pine had only mini carts and lack of availability of full size carts. I hope that in November 2024 this Acme will have some full size carts, to benefit my rival who has a human-powered tractor-trailer, and so that they can sell hundreds more pounds of groceries (that get donated to Philabundance).
* Cooking oil (New for 2024, cheapest is veg/soybean but I see canola as healthier by having significant amount of ALA)
* Can of meat or tuna (or chili according to my past experience)
* Can of veggies or fruit, such as beans or string beans
* Can of stew or soup. In the past, I had chili counted as stew.
* Cereal, oatmeal or breakfast bars. I recommend store brand corn flakes and store brand oatmeal, in bigger sizes.
* 1-pound box of whole grain pasta (I think any pasta is good)
* 100% juice
* Rice (which has low cost per pound in big bags)
* Milk in boxes and that does not require refrigeration
Recent past years had clarifications against anything in glass containers, and perishables such as bags of potatoes that were on the list before 2019.
NOTE 2: I had difficulty finding canned stew, but I had chili counted as stew.
NOTE 3: These charts do not always lead to the smallest, lightest, or least expensive version of the listed items. These charts were made mostly for getting through supermarkets quickly. No guarantee that all listed item locations will be valid on Race Day.
Note 4: Avoid perishables including bags of potatoes that were in favor before 2019. And avoid glass containers, which means peanut butter is only acceptable in plastic containers.
Grocery Outlet, American & Berks new for 2024The Chart for Grocery Outlet, American & Berks (Chart added 11/12/2024)
Item Location -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PB & J: Rear "end cap" between Aisles 1 & 2. 4 pound Skippy is $4.99. Juice: Aisle 2, right side towards front Cereal, bkfast bars: Aisle 1, left side towards front Pasta: Aisle 3, left side towards front Can beans: Middle of Aisle 3, both sides but more on left side Soup: Aisle 3, middle of right side Can fish/meat: Aisle 3, right rear Can veggies: Aisle 3, middle of left side. Some cost 59 or 69 cents per can. Oil: Aisle 4, left side, rear-middle. Rice: Aisle 4, right towards front. Includes 70 cents per pound. The Chart for Acme, 2nd & GirardPasta: Aisle 10, right, front & middle Can veggies: Aisle 9, left, towards front Canned fish: Aisle 9 right rear Canned chili: Aisle 9 right rear Cereal, Bkfast bars: Aisle 8 left. Cheap corn flakes: 3rd highest shelf about 1/3 of the way back. Peanut Butter: Aisle 7 left, bread and PB & J aisle, rear-middle Oil: Aisle 7 rear, and look around both sides Rice: Aisle 10 left & middle, includes $4.99 5-pound and $14.99 20-pound The Chart for Freshgrocer, east side of Broad between Jefferson and OxfordCanned beans: Aisle 6 right towards front Can veggies: Aisle 6 tight towards front, includes huge cans $ 7.69-7.99 Canned fish: Aisle 6 left towards rear Cereal: Aisle 3 right. Cheap corn flakes: Lowest shelf about 35% of the way back, Bowl and Basket brand, white boxes with green. Peanut Butter: Aisle 14 left towards front Oil: Aisle 5 left rear, includes Bowl & Basket gallons (~8 pounds) for $10.49. Rice: Aisle 7 right, includes $9.29 10-pound and $16.99 20-pound Bags of beans: Aisle 6 right frontThe Chart for Aldi, Ridge just east of Broad(Chart added 11/12/2024)Item Location -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peanut butter: Left center of store, between 2nd and 3rd most-left aisles Juice: Left side of rear half of a left-center aisle Can goodies: Right-center aisle, left side, rear half Soup: Right-center aisle, right side, rear Rice: Center of store, but supply may be lowThe chart for Acme, 10th & South (not part of my pre-2018 winning strategy)Item Location -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pasta and Can goodies: Lots of goodies including cheap cans veggies Aisle 3, confirmed 2024 Oil: Aisle 5, left towards front Box Cereal Aisle 4, left, most of the aisle Brkfast Bars Aisle 4, right, rear of aisle 8-pack juice Aisle 11, left, middle of aisle, 2nd highest shelf, first boxed juices Lg. jar P.B. Aisle 12, left, frontish middle, bottom shelf, confirmed 2024The Chart for Aldi, 31st & Girard(Chart added 11/14/2019, not updated since)Item Location -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peanut butter: 2nd-rightmost aisle, left side of rear-middle of aisle, bottom shelf Juice 8-pack: 2nd-rightmost aisle, upper shelves front of left side of aisle, past cranberry juice drinks Cereal 3rd-rightmost aisle, right side, just past the mid-store aisle break Breakfast bars 3rd-rightmost aisle, right side, rear of aisle past syrups, upper shelves whol-grn Pasta 4th-rightmost aisle, front of aisle on the left Can beans: 5th-rightmost aisle, left side, just past the mid-store aisle breaks Chunky Soup 6th-rightmost aisle (left aisle), right side of rear of aisle (I hope accepted in place of stew) Can tuna/meat In the rear side of the mid-store aisle braks between the 5th and 6th rightmost aisles (the two leftmost aisles)New additions for 2022, for 89 and 99 cent cheap beans at two Trader Joe's stores:
At the Trader Joe's at 1324 Arch: After entering the store, go left to enter the aisle to the left of straight ahead. Look left before going much rearward along that aisle to find cheap cans of beans.
At the Trader Joes on the rear side of 2121 Maeket Street, with driveway access from 21st Street and 22nd Street, I prefer 21st for Cranksgiving: After entering the store, quickly go left, and look for the 3rd-last aisle before the wall with bottled water. Turn right into this 3rd-last aisle, go about halfway along this aisle and look left for cheap cans of beans. Next, follow through this aisle to the end and turn left and at the wall turn left again, to enter the checkout line. The checkout line at this Trader Joe's on a mid-November Saturday afternoon might be so long that you may have to find your way to its rear end. Thankfully, it moves quickly.
Prizes other than First Place Overall
UPDATE for 2024: There is still or should be a Most Charitable prize, which goes to the person who hauls in the most weight. I advise making multiple trips to the Grocery Outlet on American Street about 1 block from the finish point, and if we deplete that place then we can start emptying the Acme at 2nd & Girard. (Go almost a block south past Girard, then turn left up a ramp to the Acme.) If that store starts running low on good things to get, then go to the Acme at 10th & South. The amount of weight hauled in by people who won this prize in the past has usually been around or over 300 pounds. In 2019, the weight hauled in by the winner of this prize was about 380 pounds. The 2024 change with a new finish location close to a store has the one who hauled in the most weight hauling in 812.9 pounds in 13 trips.
UPDATE after the 2022 event: I consider the Trader Joes at 1324 Arch as useful for 80 to over 250 pounds of canned beans at 89 - 99 cents per 15-16 ounce can that weighs in at about 1.1 pounds each. Also, I consider a 2022 competitor who competed with a cargo bike with a trailer as having demonstrated ability to haul in about 275 pounds in one trip, which means about 550 pounds if he tries for this prize with two trips. I consider 3 trips with ~ 700-800 pounds as doable, and about/over 800 pounds having fair chance of also getting 1st Overall without a score multiplier.There is a prize for the most points earned by someone who is female, transgender, a femme or non-binary. The person who won this prize in 2022 hauled in either about 67 or about 76 pounds. I think there are women who can haul in well over 100 pounds and receipts from 4 or more stores.
There is a Best Out Of Town prize, for the person who lives outside Philadelphia that earns the most points. This prize may be reserved for someone who does not win another prize or who lives farther from Philadelphia than Upper Darby is. The 2022 winner of this prize hauled in either about 67 or about 76 pounds, but I have known it to have been won before by hauling in more.
There is the Overachiever prize, for the person who brings in groceries and receipts from the most stores. In 2019, the winner of this prize went to 11 stores. For 2024, I'm not sure this prize still excists, but I want it to be a winnable prize. I heard two people claiming they went to 17 stores in 2024.
Update for 2022: At the starting point, it was reclarified that stores that are not on the manifest count for points.
Lower cost groceries
Groceries generally cost less at Aldi than at other stores. The one that is least out of the way from the starting point to the finish point is a new one at the Ridge Avenue side of 1300 Fairmount. It wasn't on the manifest but was allowed and mentioned at the starting point in 2022. Trader Joes at 2121 Market (use the rear driveway accessible from 21st and from 22nd just north of Market) and at 1324 Arch have cans of beans for cheap.
Large cans of string beans at Acmes cost little per pound.
ADDED HERE: Rules changes restored usefulness of getting boxes of cereal; I recommend store brand corn flakes (and also for 2024 oatmeal) when getting boxes of cereal from major name supermarkets such as Acme.
Supplemental Info
2017 Manifest, one side
2017 Manifest, other side
These are the sides of the 2017 "manifest", which was a manilla envelope with the rules, scoring, shopping list, list of qualifying stores, and a map showing them, the start location, and the end location. Receipts from stores get put into the envelope.