Cranksgiving is a food drive on two wheels.

Part bike ride. Part food drive. Part scavenger hunt.

All you need is a bike, a bag, and a lock!

Join the LifeCycle Community as we take on Cranksgiving!

Cranksgiving started in 1999 and has it's roots in bike messenger alleycats, however the only requirements are "get food" and "do it on a bike". All of the food collected will benefit local NYC non profits- Bowery Mission, Nazareth Housing, and New York Bike Messenger Foundation.

Event details:

Date: Saturday, November 19, 2016

Registration: 1pm, Hudson Yards- East side of 11th Ave between 34th & 35th St. You can not register online, only in person.
* times and locations are subject to change.

Start: 2pm

Cost: Free to register, but you'll need cash to buy food at the stores. $10-$15 per person should suffice.

Finish: TBD

After party & awards: 4pm-7pm, location TBD

More info closer to the date!

Interested in joining the LifeCycle Cranks??? Register here!

All registered LifeCycle riders will receive a code for 15% off of official LCB community gear!

Isla de Ometepe is an island formed from the lava of two volcanos in Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. In the shape of an hourglass, it is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua and has exquisite views of the two volcanoes that birthed it- Concepción and Maderas. With newly paved roads between the local towns, Ometepe has become an explorers dream for cyclists, both local and transient.

LifeCycle Biking got an opportunity to explore the island while traveling through Central America.

In order to get to Ometepe, we took an hour long ferry from San Jorge to the dock at Moyogalpa. From there, we were shuttled to our lodging quarters at the earth-based, intentional, communal living retreat, Inanitah- situated atop a steep incline, about 45 minutes (driving) from Moyogalpa. At Inanitah- we camped on on their grounds, ate 3-4 vegetarian meals daily, explored meditation, yoga, & wellness workshops; and participated in ongoing learning opportunities for growth and expansion.

Inanitah residents guided us along the island biking terrain. With the two volcanoes, dry and wet forests, and stop overs at warm lake shores and petroglyph sites, it is a mountain biking paradise. Limited paved roads make road cycling difficult as the roads tend to be the main connections between cities and have high traffic volumes. However, the trucks make room for riders and we experienced welcoming horns and thumbs up's along the way.

Bikes were available for daily rental at various locations across the island and some hotel and hostels have bikes that visitors can use.

Our stops along biking routes included small villages and “comedores” where typical Nicaraguan meals of rice, beans, tortillas, fried cheese & eggs with either chicken, beef, or pork were served. Fresh fruit juices and coconut water were easily accessible and enjoyed roadside.

With the recent re-pavement of the road between Moyogalpa and Altagracia, it is the route used by most cyclists. The cities are around 15 miles (24 kilometers) apart and it takes about an hour and a half to travel the route. The road to the Maderas Volcano is still unpaved and requires more time and effort to get to that side of the island. Biking around the Concepción Volcano is also possible, but cyclists will hit some dirt roads after Altagracia.

With the frequent altitude changes and the Nicaraguan temperatures, cycling on Ometepe can be tough- but also amazingly rewarding.

The sunset views were some of the most amazing we had ever seen.

Breathtaking sunsets next to the Volcano

On Ometepe, the local community is embracing the tourism influx and we felt genuine generosity and hospitality from the residents, both transplant and native.

The scenery was unlike any other and a ferry ride back to San Jorge left us missing the simplistic pleasures and rough routes of Ometepe.

Want to learn more of our journey through Nicaragua? Contact us!

Photos courtesy of Sara Elise

Cranksgiving 2016

LifeCycle Rides: Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Our mission is to utilize physical ACTIVITY programS WITH AN EMOTIONAL HEALTH LENS to support and uplift defenseless communitieS; THEREBY lessening health disparities, teaching mind-body knowledge and showcasing the importance of unity in community.