VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION IS LIVE! Life is full of responsibility, cubicles, traffic and the usual, expected weekend activities.
TIME TO SHAKE IT UP!
New Belgium is giving you the opportunity to do something different with your weekend while your presence contributes to the growth, success and capability of BikeDenver, your local bicycle advocacy organization. “At BikeDenver, we promote and encourage bicycling in Denver and work to make Denver a safer place to ride,” said Piep van Heuven of BikeDenver. “Take it from us, Tour de Fat is the FUNniest FUNdraiser of the year, and event proceeds will help fund BikeDenver programs and advocacy efforts that improve policy and infrastructure for you and your bicycle.” So, we’re not telling you that your usual weekend is boring, we’re just hoping you’ll decide to fun-ergize your Saturday, September 8th with us at this wild bike circus. It’s got everything you need. Bike parking. Music. Costumes. Friends. Beer. and of course…bizarre bikes to ride in the bike circus!
Now in its 13th season, Tour de Fat, which visits just 15 cities in the U.S., brings together passionate bike lovers for a day of two-wheeled revelry while raising money for local nonprofits. Tour de Fat is a thrilling rite of passage that includes an unparalleled costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, dazzling entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests and much more. Have you been? Have you heard about the fun from friends? You really have to be there to see it for yourself.
This year, the parade route has been carefully and lovingly constructed by Brad Evans and The Denver Cruisers, so you know it’ll be a good time. “As this year’s Official Parade Marshall in Denver, the minds behind the Denver Cruiser Ride have spent numerous sleepless nights planning an amazing parade route that will take participants through parts of town that rarely see any bicycle action,” said Brad K. Evans, fearless leader of the Denver Cruiser Ride. “We’ve literally turned the route upside-down from years past. We considered each turn and curve on the route through the streets of downtown to maximize each parader’s experience, creating an organized, safe and interesting route which leads right back to the pearly gates of the wonderful and fun Tour De Fat event at City Park.”
Denver has one of the best Tours every year because we truly know how to have fun with our bikes! You know what else we do really well? Volunteer. We are so proud of our people because we understand the importance of getting our warm fuzzies from lending a hand to the organizations that make our city and our lives better. These volunteer spots go super fast because it’s such a blast, so don’t wait around too long. Sign up right now to get the best gig! (You can’t lose though, it’s all fun. Close your eyes, point at your screen and sign up for whatever job your finger found. Look, your day is more fun already!)
CAR FOR BIKE TRADE
Yup, you read that correctly. In each city every year, New Belgium asks for volunteers to swap their car for a sweet, new bike. The lucky volunteer who is chosen agrees to give up their car and commit to commuting by bike. In exchange, New Belgium is giving the volunteer money to buy a killer new bike from the shop of their choice! What’s the point? We all want less cars and more bikes, and what better way to encourage loads of people to try it than seeing someone else do it with a wickedly big smile on their face. Find out more from New Belgium.
“The car-for-bike swap is the pinnacle of the day, illustrating one person’s true belief in all that a bicycle can offer,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesman for New Belgium. “Bikes represent freedom, fun and fitness while helping the environment. It’s a way of life that we live and share at New Belgium.” Visit the Facebook Page for more info on the Car-For-Bike-Trade!
Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds from the Denver stop go to support grassroots bicycle advocacy through BikeDenver. Since its inception, the philanthropic cycling circus has raised more than $1 million on behalf of non-profit organizations around the U.S.
So, to review:
What: New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat
When: Saturday, September 8, 2012
Where: City Park: West Side
Tentative Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Bike Parade Registration
10:00 a.m. Bike Parade Launch
11:00 a.m. Performances Begin
12:20 p.m. The SLOW RIDE
1:30 p.m. The Great Bike Story Contest for New Belgium Cruiser Bike
2:35 p.m. Car-for-Bike Trade Celebration
3:50 p.m. Faux Finale
3:55 p.m. Faux-Real Finale
4:00 p.m. Curtain Closes
Acts:
The Dovekins (http://www.myspace.com/dovekins)
A Honeymoon Cabaret (http://www.daredevilchicken.com/honeymoon.html)
The California Honeydrops (www.cahoneydrops.com)
Scot Nery (www.jugglegood.com)
Americaine: Stupide
Here’s some other stuff you should know about Tour de Fat
- It’s all about the costumes! Start sewing, collecting and dreaming up something to wear as Tour de Fat encourages embracing your inner costume-loving self. Come dressed up to help put on the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed in each city.
- It’s easy bein’ green! Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. Bring only what you need and watch for proper receptacles. We’ll do the rest!
- Thinking big! All performers grab your attention from alternatively empowered stages decked out in recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.
- It’s a festival for all! This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally. Non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.
See https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a fancy new bike.
Tour de Fat 2012 cities:
Nashville, TN – June 2 – Centennial Park
Washington, DC – June 16 – Yards Park
Durham, NC – June 23 – Diamond View Park on the American Tobacco Campus
Atlanta, GA – June 30 – Historic 4th Ward Park
Milwaukee, WI – July 14 – Coast Guard Event Area, McKinley Park
Chicago, IL – July 21 – Palmer Square
Minneapolis, MN – July 28 – Loring Park
Boise, ID – August 18 – Ann Morrison Park
Fort Collins, CO – September 1 – Civic Center Park Area
Denver, CO – September 8 – City Park
Los Angeles, CA – September 15 – Los Angeles State Historic Park
San Francisco, CA – September 22 – Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park
San Diego, CA – September 29 – Golden Hill Park
Tempe, AZ – October 6 – Tempe Town Lake
Austin, TX – October 20 – Fiesta Gardens
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About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.
BikeDenver is Denver’s bicycle advocacy organization. BikeDenver promotes and encourages bicycling in Denver and works to make Denver a safer place to ride your bike. Why? Because more bicycling has great benefits for you, and for Denver! www.bikedenver.org
