Tour de Fat September 3rd Fort Collins
August 11, 2011 | 
Author Come Enjoy Bikes, Beer and Benevolence while supporting Overland Mountain Bike Club, Bike Ft. Collins
and Ft. Collins Bike Co-op
New Belgium Brewing is bringing Tour de Fat, its traveling celebration of things bicycle, home on September 3. In its 12th season, Tour de Fat is more than an event; it’s a rite of passage that includes a costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, eye-popping entertainment, local food, crazy bike contests and much more. Last year, the Ft. Collins Tour de Fat stop had approximately 15,000 attendees and raised more than $52,000 for local non-profits.
A highlight of every Tour de Fat stop is the annual car-for-bike swap and we’re still looking for a swapper to represent Ft. Collins in this challenge! At each Tour de Fat stop, one person hands over his or her car keys and commits to one year of living car-free. Each car-for-bike swapper will receive a hand-built Black Sheep (http://www.blacksheepbikes.com/) commuter bike in return for his or her car.
Volunteers are chosen after submitting an application describing their desire to live sans- car. To apply, go to New Belgium’s Tour de Fat Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat), click on events and your city of choice, and upload your application in one of three formats: video (two minutes or less, please), photo or the written word.
“Ft. Collins is where this cycling carnival first came to life, so it’s always fun when we get to bring it back home,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesman for New Belgium. “People who haven’t witnessed Tour de Fat don’t quite know what to expect, but that’s what we love. It’s an uninhibited day of quirky costumes, bikes and entertainment while supporting our non-profit friends.”
Here are details about the Ft. Collins event:
Date:
Saturday, September 3
Parade Registration:
9:00 a.m.
Ride Times:
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Entertainment:
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location:
Civic Center Park – North Howes Street and La Porte Avenue
Benefitting:
Overland Mountain Bike Club (http://www.overlandmtb.org/)
Bike Ft. Collins (http://www.bikefortcollins.org/)
Ft. Collins Bike Co-op (http://fcbikecoop.org/)
Sustainable Support By:
Zero Hero (http://www.zeroheroevents.com/)
Performances By:
The Daredevil Chickens Club – www.daredevilchicken.com
The Dovekins – www.myspace.com/dovekins
YoYo Squared – http://www.yoyoshow.com
Los Amigos Invisibles http://beta.amigosinvisibles.com/
The Claptet – http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Claptet/235723659784548
Matt Skellenger – http://www.mattskellenger.com/
Sambadende – http://www.sambadende.com/
That 1 Guy – http://www.that1guy.com/
Price:
Admission – Free
Parade – Suggested donation of $5 or more
Beer – $5 for a 16 oz. pour
A few tidbits about Tour de Fat:
Tour de Fat encourages everybody to team up and present each city with the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed. (Hint: No one stands out like the guy who was too cool for a costume!)
Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. The waste diversion rate for 2010 was 91 percent.
Tour de Fat is free to attend, but beer and merchandise proceeds go to local cycling non-profits. During its lifespan, Tour de Fat events have raised more than $1.75 million for philanthropy. Last year Tour de Fat raised $331,428.
All musical acts perform on a solar-powered stage decorated with recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.
This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally…non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.
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