However, there will be penalties for paniers, baskets, or cargo bikes
Penalties for real bikes?
Booo! Hiss!
Mick
2009-10-25 23:48:37
37
Alleycat Soup 2009 - Food drive race!
November 14, 2009
You will need:
• $10 (to buy food)
• A bag to carry said food
Registration starts at 4pm
Race at 5pm
Starts in the park next to REI in the Southside
The format is simple. I give you a list of grocery stores and a shopping list of non-perishable foods. You race around the city collecting items from the list, keeping the receipts, and return to the finish line. All of the food collected will be going to the Jubilee Soup Kitchen in uptown.
At the finish you will be greeted with amazing praises, prizes, and drink specials from the one and only OTB!
For this year’s Alleycat Soup, there will be a special prize for most weight carried to the finish line. However, there will be penalties for paniers, baskets, or cargo bikes. More details on this the day of the race.
This will be a great race for a great cause so come out to race and tell your friends. If you'd like to donate food outside of the race, feel free to drop off non-perishable items at Over the Bar Bicycle cafe on the southside from now until the day of the race. Any questions?
Check out Iron City Bikes Racing's new blog
2009-10-25 21:29:25
I'm psyched to ride this, and may opt to compete in the weight category... With or without cargo capabilities. There should be a penalty for overspending in order to stock up as well, or else I'd imagine it just turns into a game of who's willing to spend the most.
2009-10-25 23:53:14
Yeah, no penalties for practicality, punk.
Hit me up for some pries.
2009-10-26 00:34:34
This was one of the best alleycats I ever did... Beware of the Northside Giant Eagle!!!
I got in the express line and watched Brad, and several other bikers go through the longer lines on the other end of the store, while the slow ass cashier had to go get change, and then some 90 year old lady who bought 2 bags of potato chips costing $.25 cents each had to write a god damn CHECK to pay for them...
"My momma said, 'alleycats are like a box of chocolates... You never know what you're gonna get...'"
2009-10-26 01:13:11
Awesome! This was one of my favorite alleycats in the past - the supermarkets make for great equalizers/rest opportunities. Not to even mention the philanthropic aspect.
May I suggest that some out of the way Eagles are added in this time, to make it a little wackier? E.G. Greenfield. Brentwood, etc.
2009-10-26 12:48:58
Penalties for real bikes?
Haha, it is an alleycat afterall.
Honestly, I still haven't figured out how any of that is going to work, still thinking about it.
No worries though, it is gonna be sweeeet either way!
2009-10-26 14:55:06
From the way Adam described the last one to me on saturday, sounds like Supermarket Sweep meets Takeshi's Castle.
2009-10-26 17:02:37
too bad i'll be out sailing on the way to the bahamas for this (i really would love to do it...)
2009-10-26 18:33:16
too bad i'll be out sailing on the way to the bahamas for this
Too bad indeed. My heart bleeds for you.
2009-10-26 18:41:33
if it makes you feel any better i start nov 1 in portland maine... cruising through the water at below freezing!
2009-10-26 19:03:19
Oh, btw,
After party at OTB will have $1 PBRs and $3 Bombs for everyone that races! Trying to work on some other awesome deals too. More to come!
2009-10-26 20:58:14
From the way Adam described the last one to me on saturday, sounds like Supermarket Sweep meets Takeshi's Castle.
I've never done an alleycat before, but would like to. Right now, only my geared road bike is running. Do I need to get my singlespeed back up and running to participate? I don't want to be 'that guy' if racing on a road bike is frowned upon.
2009-10-26 21:47:01
Lots of people ride normal road bikes (or beater mountain bikes or any-which bike) at alleycats. It's fine.
2009-10-26 23:39:21
Do I need to get my singlespeed back up and running to participate? I don't want to be 'that guy' if racing on a road bike is frowned upon.
Any kind of bike is welcome, especially at this race. Even those wacky recumbents (looking at you Dan!):-p
It's all about having a fun ride and helping out the community and I guarantee that those who will benefit from this don't give a damn how the food gets there!
2009-10-27 03:43:15
Oh man, I'm all over this one.
I guess I'll use my Osprey Aether 85 pack.
2009-10-27 04:55:54
this would have been the perfect race for my pelican bag
2009-10-27 13:59:17
I've had my eye on that bag since I saw it on the CETMA site.
2009-10-27 14:32:58
That is an awesome bag. You could fit, like, a dozen baguettes on end in that thing.
Heck, you could fit imakwik1 in that thing.
2009-10-27 14:45:47
I'm surprised you can see over that thing!
2009-10-27 16:03:07
@Stu I agree, it baffled me like seeing the Spirit of St. Louis baffled me as a child...
2009-10-27 17:34:37
LOL... The northside Giant Eagle now has self checkout lines so that could make things interesting... BUT... The last time I was in there they were all turned off!!!
I could see someone getting held up because some robot voice keeps saying "Place the item in the bag... Take the item out of the bag... Place the item in the bag... Take the item out of the bag..." over and over again!
(BTW don't buy anything perishable from that place).
2009-10-28 20:38:18
Awesome to see you're back to putting these things on, Justin! The last Alleycat Soup was super-fun! I highly suggest you all do this!
2009-10-28 21:48:06
Just giving this a bump!
Update: there is now a box for additional donations located at OTB in the southside. If you'd like to drop off donations there before the race, feel free!
Think warm clothes, sundries and such.
2009-11-03 18:46:54
Thanks for the notice. I have a pile I've been meaning to get to Goodwill.
2009-11-03 18:52:40
Don't forget, Alleycat Soup this Saturday! Tell your friends!
2009-11-10 18:47:35
have rules been set for the most weight carried class? What can and cant be used. Are there items that cant be bought even tho they are non perishable? Can I put a 50 pound bag of potatoes on the back of my bike?
2009-11-10 21:45:22
^^ Yes, i've decided to say to hell with rules! There will be a special prize for the most weight carried. But, No bike restrictions, ride what ever kind of creation you want! There will not be a penalty for having a ridiculous cargo bike. Pass that info along please!
Also, non-perishable stuffs only please.
2009-11-11 14:45:04
I have updated the bike info on the Iron City Bikes Racing site as well. But just to clarify:
There are NO bike restrictions. Baskets, cargo bikes, paniers are all welcome!
See you there.
2009-11-11 14:49:29
Oh man this could get ridiculous.
2009-11-11 15:05:28
Never done an alleycat race. Would this be a good first try?
2009-11-11 16:22:51
Alright, it's for a good cause. I'm gonna try to make this.
(Preemptive excuse-mongering: I've got a Dirty 1/2-Dozen ride that morning, so I don't exactly expect to be, uh, competitive...anyone wanna join me in the "I'm just here for the charity and the beer" peloton?)
2009-11-11 17:01:33
@alnilam, this would be a good first try. The way this race is set up benefits the more average city riders (as long as you know where the city grocery stores are) b/c locking up, going into the store and waiting in line, acts as a good neutralizer. Even if someone is doing really well, getting in the "wrong" line at the store could lose them a bunch of time. Transversely, even you are a bit behind, getting in the "right" line could make up for it. Can't wait for this, it's going to be fun!
2009-11-11 17:06:47
So a 50 pound bag of flour is free game ?
2009-11-11 19:54:22
It's today, be there! It's going to be an awesome day (weather-wise) so you don't have a november excuse! Reg at 4, Race at 5
2009-11-14 13:41:42
super fun. really makes you realize how much the giant eagles need bike racks.
when i was in the northside, one of the employees said to the other, "we need ta get one one of dem dere...wathacallits" "a bike rack?" "yeah a bike rack"
me: "that would be great!"
employee: "i'll let them know for ya"
2009-11-15 19:13:54
super fun, great race, good cause, fun after party, what more could you ask for?!! Thanks Justin
2009-11-16 00:08:12