America’s finest bike and beer sideshow returns to America’s Finest City on September 29th in beautiful Golden Hill Park. This event is something you must see to believe! We have all the info you need, plus an interview with the face of the tour, Matt Kowal!
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Ale, Shift Lager, Ranger IPA and many other craft beer favorites, all began in a basement in Fort Collins, Colorado back in 1991. Owner Jeff Lebesch, who took off on a bike tour through Belgium traveling from brewery to brewery, came home to Fort Collins with a big dream. Jeff and his wife, Kim, decided one day to pack up some of their home brew, a pad of paper and a pen, and hike into Rocky Mountains National Forest to put their dream idea down on paper. Some of the ideas included, produce world-class beers, to promote beer culture and to teach responsible enjoyment of beer. Creating social, environmental and cultural change as their business model, and of course, have fun. While keeping true to all of their goals, New Belgium Brewing Company presents to you, Tour De Fat.
Tour De Fat, now in its 13th year, is a traveling bike and beer sideshow hitting 15 American cities in 2012. Through the event, New Belgium Brewing Company shares some of their passions with the world. Some of these passions include promoting a healthier life through bike riding, teaching bike education, bike awareness and self-sustainability, and by helping local advocacy groups who support the goals of creating social, environmental and cultural change in their respective communities.
Described by event organizers as, “A ballyhoo and bikes and beer!” Tour De Fat is a free, carnival sideshow type event, with the goal of connecting people through bikes and beer, while also raising money for local bike advocacy groups. In 2011, Tour De Fat traveled to 13 U.S. cities, attracting a total 69,550 attendees and raised a staggering $331,428 for bike groups in the cities that hosted the tour. The funds raised during San Diego’s event will go towards San Diego Mountain Biking Association, and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. Alison Whitney, Volunteer and Social Coordinator for the San Diego Mountain Bike Association tells us that the funds they receive from the event will go towards their advocate efforts to increase multi-use trail access, as well as go towards creating a progressive bike skills park here in San Diego. The progressive skills park will be a designated area where all levels and ages can practice basic through advanced skill sets in a controlled environment, groomed for the safest and most fun experience. She also states, “We will have a fund thermometer on our website following Tour De Fat to show how much money was raised over the course of this year and last year.” She continues to say, “The first two years’ funds went towards trail building, purchased new tools, advocacy efforts and skills clinics for members.” If Tour De Fat is a free event, how do they raise funds you ask? Money is raised through merchandise sales, donations and of course the sale of beer tokens. For $5, festival attendees can purchase event specific merchandise, including New Belgium Brewing Company bike bells, bicycle license plate frames, event t-shirts and more. Funds will also be raised through donations before the bike parade begins. Of course there will be the $5 beer tokens sold at the event. Each token is good for one freshly poured, world-class craft beer by New Belgium Brewing Company. Again, all funds raised through any of the mentioned methods will go directly towards bike groups in San Diego. Matt Kowal the face of Tour De Fat says, “This is a big year for Tour De Fat, as we added two terrific cities to the roster and look to surpass $2 million in funds raised for organizations that do great things for bicyclist and beyond.”
The event gets underway in Golden Hill Park at 10am, when the bike parade registration begins. Tour De Fat’s legendary costumed bike parade leaves for its voyage throughout the city of South Park at 11am. Participants are not only highly encouraged, but expected, to dress in the craziest and most fun costumes they can come up with for this annual bike parade. Organizers say, “We want to add the fun component of riding in costumes to harken back to when we were kids, and riding just put a smile on your face.” The 3.5-mile parade route is a mostly flat ride, easy for riders of all ages and experience. Once the parade returns to Golden Hill Park, guests will be transported into a vaudeville world, filled with dazzling entertainment, live music, bike games and contests and a sideshow tent filled with surprises you must see to believe. Whitney also shared that guests can look forward to interactive art made from recycled kegs, air tanks and other items that attendees are invited to play with. Art bikes that look to defy science, and a porta potty turned into a karaoke machine. Performing on the Main Stage this year will be Devotchka, The Cleverly’s, Yo-Yo People and Ssssnakenstein. Of course, don’t forget about all the delicious New Belgium Brewing Co. beer that will be available. Selections for this years event include, Ranger IPA, the seasonal Red Hoptober, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Trip 13, Shift Pale Lager and of course- Fat Tire. “Bike advocacy should always been this fun,” says Matt Kowal.
The headliner of Tour De Fat would definitely be the ever popular car for bike trade. At each Tour De Fat, one person becomes the center of attention as he or she trades in their car for a brand new ultimate car-replacement commuter bicycle. The willing participant will pledge to live car free for one full year. The San Diego car for bike trade participant will receive a $2,250 budget for a local bike shop of their choice to build their brand new two-wheeled powerhouse commuter. The car will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will be given directly to the above mentioned bike groups. Tour De Fat is now seeking a volunteer for this opportunity. Interested applicants may visit the official webpage for more information, or email trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com
Our good friend Alison Whitney was the car for trade participant in 2011. When asked about her experience she had this to say. “I started this endeavor as a way to practice more of what I feel is important– self-sufficiency, helping others, bettering the community. I thought this was particularly daunting in San Diego but quickly found it’s not impossible despite the sprawl. It’s made me use and estimate time more efficiently and live life at a livable pace. I’m no longer racing from one place to another and packing my life with errands and inevitably trips to the gas station. I’ve been able to take in my surroundings better — so much about my city I’ve embraced and noticed that I hadn’t realized before. Along with time and gas economy, this has truly helped my personal economy. I don’t have to have a gym membership or throw money away on car maintenance, insurance, and gas!” You can read all about her year on two wheels, on her bike blog.
Event organizers would like people to know that Tour De Fat is not to be mainly focused on beer. Organizers take pride in the fact that Tour De Fat is a family friendly event, with activities geared towards guests of all ages. Tour De Fat is about bike awareness and sustainability. Stages are created from and covered with recycled materials. All trucks used in the transportation for the event run on bio fuel sourced from waste oils, and in an effort to preserve energy, all vendor booths are not powered by the local power grid. In addition, the sound systems used for the Tour all run on solar power. In 2011, Tour De Fat was able to keep 90% of waste out of local landfills. Organizers look to leave the smallest environment imprint possible, while composting and recycling waste discarded at each event.
Make sure to get out to Golden Hill Park on September 29th. This is an event you do not want to miss.
Please enjoy this quick interview we had with Matt Kowal of New Belgium Brewing Company, and the face behind Tour De Fat. Followed by pictures from last years Tour De Fat event in San Diego.
How would you describe Tour De Fat to someone who had never heard of the event?
The TdF is a celebration of all things pedal powered. We start the day with a costumed bike parade then return to the park for music, beer and bicycle revival-ation. THe idea is to get you remembering the feeling of a kid in your under-oos in love with getting around under your own power. We hope the feeling lasts past the day and inspires!
When was Tour De Fat created? What was the original idea and how did it come to life?
13 years ago it was born of a notion that Motorcycles had their rallies and we wanted that community event, too!
Do the original goals of Tour De Fat still live on in the tours today?
You bet, bigger and weirder than ever – Over 2 million $ raised!!
What are some of the key points Tour De Fat wants to teach the world through the tour?
Enjoy what unites us across all subcultures of biking and to enjoy craft beer and good music and art.
If someone wants to teach the ways of Tour De Fat – What are some things they can do to impact their community?
Pee in the shower, it saves a couple gallons every time you do ! : ) Kidding aside, we try to keep it light and recycle and compost all we can. We think that having fun is the best way to lead by example – give lots of high fives as you ride, but don’t crash!
Answer me this – Why do bikes, bands and beer go together so perfectly well?
Well, within reason, there is nothing better than some cold ones after a long one. (Beer after a ride that is) – It has all the necessary nutrients to make you feel good and think you are smart. It also makes other people at the festival more attractive.
Please finish this sentence… People must attend Tour De Fat because…
If you want to have a ball making money for your local bike group: dressing up weird, riding your bike to listen to great music and laughing your butt off at a park is WAY MORE FUN than a 5k, bake sale or buying crap you might not need at a silent auction.
Huge Thank You to Matt Kowal, New Belgium Brewing Company and Alison Whitney with the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. For official information, please visit the Tour De Fat Facebook page, or official website. All photos taken by J.J. Miramontes and used with permission.