Rider Profile for Brad Simeral, and A Special Prize Announcement!

Meet Brad Simeral, a fundraising and cargo racing rockstar who's been doing the Sweep since the very beginning! Last year, he won the fundraising category by raising a whopping $6,579 and placed 4th in the men's cargo category by bringing in 245 lbs in 3 hours and 25 minutes!

Photos by: Jonathan Koshi

Name: Brad Simeral

Sweep Categories: Cargo-Men, Fundraising

What was the race equipment you used? 

I've used a variety of equipment. Every year I've bitten off more than the equipment can handle, many of them were more than a bit scary. 

• My old mountain bike pulling a trailer (one year also I also pulled a wagon behind the trailer)
• That same bike converted to a cargo bike (Xtracycle extension was a Sweep prize)
• A city bike pulling a trailer (bike was a Sweep prize)
• My touring bike with panniers. 

Why is the Sweep important to you? 

Each year I send out a pretty emotional plea for donations in the fundraising category. The essential message is that food insecurity and hunger is a problem that should not exist in an area of such prosperity. My friends, family, colleagues, and I are all privileged enough to not have to worry about where our next meal is coming from and no person deserves to feel that stress. The Sweep is important because it gives me a platform to solicit my network for their donations to help the Food Bank.

How long have you been participating in the Sweep and what's the biggest thing you've learned since then? 
I've been participating in the Sweep since its inception. I had to miss a couple of years when my company's volunteer event had a date conflict, but I've been volunteering on the day of the Sweep since 2005. I've learned that generosity and competition can be great bedfellows. The Cargo competition was such an innovative way to magnify the impact of event. Kudos to our fearless leaders for coming up with that idea.

Favorite Sweep moment/memory? 

Can I have two?

(2012) I loaded 300 pounds of rice on top of the Xtracycle at the FoodsCo in Portola and and it was unridable due to being too top-heavy. I crashed immediately exiting the parking lot. While I was blocking the lane with my mess a police officer stopped behind me and ... asked if she could help. She took half of my load and delivered it to Food Bank. I don't know how I would have finished without her help. 

(2013) I had loaded up 750 pounds of food on the cargo bike, a trailer and a wagon (17 feet of towing capacity), which (yet again) proved too much for me to pull. The whole system was so unstable I ended up falling several times on the way to the Food Bank. When I just couldn't make it up the incline on Indiana street, 3 other riders in the sweep and a homeless man helped push my monstrosity up the hill.  

Any tips for someone considering racing cargo for the first time?

• Tricycles are required for heavy loads
• Multiple trips are your friend
• Pre-order and pay for your food
• Indiana street is longer, but a much better route if you are heavily loaded 

You've always done really well in the fundraising category. Do you have any strategies or tips so others can also lead successful fundraising campaigns? 

• Your friends, family, and coworkers want to donate. Compel them with your dedication and a good story. 
• Remind them several times, but don't be annoying. Offer a story in exchange for their time and annoyance. 
• Remind them to use their corporate matching funds.
• Bring them in on the fun. I've started a raffle for my donors. $5 donation buys you a ticket, including confirmed corporate matches. After the race I pull a number out of a computerized hat and the winner gets a bike! 

Xtracycle has been a huge and long-time supporter of the Supermarket Street Sweep, and for good reason! They've been pivotal in expanding what's possible on a bike, whether you're adding a trailer to your current bike to haul as much as you can carry from the grocery store, or getting a cargo bike so you and your family can experience the joys of cycling together to school, work, and play. This year, Xtracycle donated a certificate for a Leap Cargo Bike Bolt-On Kit (valued at $599!)! It will be available in early 2017 and one lucky Sweep rider is going to be one of the first to get their hands on one so they can carry even MORE in Sweeps to come!

A huge thank you to Brad and Xtracycle!

To sign up for the cargo race, register HERE! For details on fundraising, read our step-by-step instructions HERE or DONATE to an existing fundraising team!

Have a favorite Sweep story you want to share? Send us an email at supermarketstreetsweep@gmail.com

Rider Profile: Bridget May

Meet Bridget May, a Sweep regular and four-time women's cargo champion!

2010 - 13th Place with 24 lbs

2011 - 1st Place with 111 lbs

2012 - 1st Place with 282 lbs! Photos by: Jonathan Koshi

Name: Bridget May

Sweep Categories: Cargo-Women, Fundraising

What was the race equipment you used? 

I ride a Hunter touring bike, which is pretty sturdy and can handle a lot of weight. I have racks on the bike which I load down with front and rear Ortlieb panniers and I have a Burley Trailer ( I won it, in a previous SMSW; Thank you Burley!), which is attached to the rear triangle.  I really recommend a trailer if you want to be competitive. :) Oh, and I carry a big-ass backpack too. Ouch! 

Why is the Sweep important to you? 

The SF-Marin Food Bank does so much good for so many people and it is really important to remember that not everyone has the good fortune to have enough to eat everyday. The Super Market Street Sweep raises money and food for people in need but also raises awareness of this important issue, hopefully being a friendly reminder to donate to your local food bank.  On top of that it is super fun, especially so if you have a great team of people to ride with who know the city well.

Biggest thing you've learned since the first time you did the Sweep? 

The first time I did the race, I did not have a sense of how much I could carry, or how much the food would cost. I didn’t have a trailer but I tried to carry as much as I could and probably ended up spending about $75.  In later years I got people to donate money to my food campaign and I was able to buy more. Last year I had two fundraising campaigns. One to raise money to buy hundreds of pounds of food and one for money that would go directly to the SF Marin Food Bank.  

Favorite Sweep moment/memory? 

Well I love to win things, so it is a great feeling to physically work really hard and then have praise and prizes showered upon you! But it is also a great feeling to raise money to give to a great organization like the SF-Marin Food Bank and make a real difference in our community.

Speaking of winning, I’ve noticed in the last couple of years the competition in the Women’s Cargo category has gotten fierce.  My days of being on top are probably over but it makes me very happy to see so many strong women coming out to kick butt in the cargo category. I say: Bring it On!  Let’s break some records this year, ladies!!

Any tips for someone considering racing speed for the first time? 

1. Make sure you give yourself enough time! Even though it’s not a speed race you still need to be back at the food bank by the cut off time or you will be disqualified.
2. Don’t lose your receipts!  
3. Riding with a fully loaded bike is very difficult, especially starting out from a stop at at red light.  Don’t put too much weight on the front of your bike, or your bike will become very dangerous to navigate!  Unless your bike has independent steering (like a REAL cargo bike), put most of your weight in the rear of the bike. Trust me.
4. Make sure to drink lot’s of water and eat a little something while you’re riding. It uses up a lot of fuel!

To sign up for the cargo race, register HERE! For details on fundraising, read our step-by-step instructions HERE or DONATE to an existing fundraising team!

Have a favorite Sweep story you want to share? Send us an email at supermarketstreetsweep@gmail.com

Rider Profile: Zach Morvant

Meet Supermarket Street Sweep regular Zach Morvant!

Photo by: Jonathan Koshi

Name: Zach Morvant

Sweep Categories: Speed-Men, Fundraising

What was the race equipment you used? 

When I first raced in 2011, I was on my track bike with a Timbuk2 shoulder bag. Since then I've usually ridden some kind of aluminum road bike. I wear a Chrome Warsaw backpack to hold most of my stuff, and a hip bag to hold my receipts and snacks.

Why is the Sweep important to you? 

I think I'm an incredibly fortunate person, so it's important to try to give back. The SF-Marin Food Bank does a fantastic job of feeding people in our own backyard, and if I can help their mission while having a bit of fun doing it, that's awesome! While I love a good street race, that's why I also started participating in the fundraising category a couple years back. Bringing in 75lbs of food on your back is cool, but if I can raise a bunch of extra cash too, that means more meals for folks who need them.

Biggest thing you've learned since the first time you participated in the Sweep? 

Like any alleycat, routing rules and speed serves – but you need to be paying extra special attention to elevation as the race goes on and your bag gets heavier.

Favorite Sweep moment/memory? 

Oh man! There are so many. Winning the men's speed category in 2013 was pretty rad, because Adam is a consistently dominant and smart opponent. But last year, flying toward the beach mid-race, backpack already heavy with food, and having the sky open up with rain – all while thinking "man, I must really love doing this" – is something I'll vividly remember for a while.

Can you share a tip for someone considering racing speed or fundraising for the first time? 

For speed: Have a good system for keeping track of your receipts! I got disqualified in 2011 for losing one receipt. Never again (I hope). For fundraising: start early! There are a few steps to setting up your donation page and approval can take a day or two, so don't wait til the last minute.

What is the fundraising category?

For every $1 you raise, the SF-Marin Food Bank can distribute $5 worth of food, which can provide 3 meals. To set up a team page of your very own to start fundraising for this campaign, click HERE to register. See this blog post for step-by-step registration instructions.

To sign up for the speed race, register HERE!

Have a favorite Sweep story you want to share? Send us an email at supermarketstreetsweep@gmail.com

Rider Profile: Sean Sevilla

Meet Sean Sevilla, who's been upping his Supermarket Street Sweep game year over year in cargo AND fundraising!

Photo by: Jonathan Koshi

Name: Sean Sevilla

Sweep Categories: Cargo-Men, Fundraising

What is your race equipment for the Supermarket Street Sweep?

I did my first few sweeps borrowing my friend Jacob's Project Rwanda Coffee Bike.  He did a lot of work supporting this organization through fundraising and direct volunteer work while it was active, and had a sample cargo bike they had disseminated to coffee farmers in Rwanda.  That thing was a beast and we loaded 400+ lbs. on it.  One year I won the cargo bike category and my prize was a prototype Xtracycle EdgeRunner frame that has since become my steed of choice.

Why is the Sweep important to you?

It's a fun event that supports a fantastic organization.  It's a great way to engage the bike community into helping those in need (while having a lot of fun on the side!), and it's something I look forward to supporting every year.

What is the biggest thing you've learned since the first time you participated in the Sweep?

How not to load 600 lbs. on a single bike at once and carry it at least 2 miles.  Haven't quite figured that out yet.  Every year I get closer.

Favorite Sweep moment/memory?

Taco-ing my frame while carrying 650+ lbs. for more than a mile from the food bank last year.  I still managed to single-handedly drag the bike to the food bank under the time limit, but I trailed a path of beans down a few streets in San Francisco!

Can you share a tip for someone considering racing cargo or fundraising for the first time?

Borrow a Bikes-at-Work cargo trailer from someone you know!  These can easily carry 400+ lbs. of food without breaking a sweat.  Also, go through the listed stops on the manifest as fast as you can since carrying that last load of cargo from your last store back to the food-bank can take more than an hour.

What is the cargo category?
Individual cyclists bring back the heaviest load of food from the designated grocery stores. The top five men and women will win awesome prizes! If you want to try and place in the top 5, you must first buy the minimum amount on your manifest and you MUST have receipts for these purchases. Then you can buy extra food from any store; it doesn't have to be places on the list and you don't need receipts for these additional items. You can also make multiple runs to and from the food bank once you've dropped off the required items on your manifest. Just be sure to return to the SF & Marin Food Bank by 4PM sharp or you'll be disqualified!

And fundraising helps, so get your friends and family to give you money so you can do more shopping! However, glass or perishable items WILL NOT be accepted. Please don't buy bulk items (e.g. rice from a bulk dispenser that you bag yourself) as the SF & Marin Food Bank doesn't accept them; only pre-packaged items are allowed. 

Ready to give the cargo race a go? Register here!

Do you have a favorite Sweep story to share? Send us an email at supermarketstreetsweep@gmail.com