What's better than a friendly bike race with fellow pedaling enthusiasts? A friendly bike race with fellow pedaling enthusiasts to help a great cause!

My friend Tom Fucoloro over at SeattleBikeBlog.com is organizing a great event for this coming weekend to benefit the Rainier Valley Food Bank.

Seattle's second annual Cranksgiving invites bike commuters, messengers and families to come out to Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Nov 19, to ride bikes, have fun, and collect food for the homeless and low-income families in our city.

Similar to an alleycat race, each rider is given a map at the start with certain stops along the way and the location of the finish line.

The goal is to buy at least one grocery item at each marked location and be the first to the finish line somewhere near Columbia City.

The first person to cross the line with all the grocery items and receipts from each store will win a prize. There will also be prizes for the person who hauls in the most food, best costume and families, and more.

A celebration of goodwill and bicycles, Cranksgiving tests your city navigation skills, while demonstrating hat the bike is a great way to accomplish simple errands like going to the grocery store.

The food will be donated to Rainier Valley Food Bank, which is having a big pre-Thanksgiving distribution that day.

Cranksgiving 2011 will be Saturday, November 19. Registration starts at 10 a.m., ride at 11. Meet at Cal Anderson Park .

The race is free to enter, but expect to spend $10-20 (or more if you’re feeling generous) on groceries along the way.