Saturday October 1st is the return of New Belgium Brewing Co’s TOUR DE FAT! Benefiting both the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Bike Association. The event will feature a bike parade of costumed riders through the streets of wonderful South Park San Diego, followed by a fun filled day in the park featuring music, art and of course New Belgium brews! (To view the official event poster please click here.)
Tour De Fat celebrates all things biking and will help raise money for the local groups SDCBC and SDMBA. The event this year will taking place at a new location, Golden Hill Park. Admission is free for all to Tour De Fat and all attendees are encouraged to break out their wildest costumes and rides for the annual bike parade.
The 2.8 mile bike parade leaves Golden Hill Park at 11am but make sure to arrive plenty early for the start of the event festivities and registration, about 10am. Parade riders will cruise through the streets of South Park up Fern St., down Juniper to 29th St., and back around to the park. To view a full route map please click here. This is what one of the local organizers, Alison Whitney has to say about Tour De Fat 2011. “It’s a family-friendly and green-minded event with free admission. Festival sales and donations will benefit the non-profit San Diego Mountain Biking Association, and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. It’s for all bikes, all types of bikes. You’ll see many versions of art bikes, unicycles, penny farthings, bamboo bikes, etc. Great fun for participants and spectators!”
Once riders return to the park everyone can take part in the festivities including art, music and performances by The Dovekins, Daredevil Chicken Club, YoYo Squared and Free Energy. People attending Tour De Fat will also get to witness the trade your car for a bike ceremony! Where one lucky person will trade in their vehicle, title and keys for a two wheeled pedal powered transportation machine. The commitment is 1 year of commuting by bike. To sign up to be the lucky one, to see what the bike being offered is and for more information please visit the car for bike trade site here. There will also of course be New Belgium beers for all (21 and up) to enjoy. Beer tokens will be sold for 5$ and funds will go towards supporting the SDCBC and SDMBA. Beer garden, music art and performances will be held from 12-5 at Golden Hill Park.
This event is something you must see to believe! Dont miss out on the San Diego Tour De Fat 2011! A great day supporting great causes and great local organizations. We recently got the chance to ask Andy Hanshaw, Executive Director, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition a few questions in regards to Tour De Fat 2011. Here is what he had to say about this awesome event.
1. In your own words how would you explain Tour De Fat to someone who has never experienced the event? – A Bike Festival…with beer. The TDF is a one-of-a-kind traveling festival that captures the imagination of bicycle and beer enthusiasts and supports local bicycling programs and organizations across the country. We are extremely grateful to the folks at New Belgium Brewing for their passion for bicycling and giving back to help the further the bicycling movement.
2. What type of bicycle should someone consider bringing to TDF? – Any and all welcome!
3. Where can people expect to see their donations being used? – as for the San Diego show, funds raised from beer sales will go directly back into local bicycling through our efforts in providing bicycling education programs for adults, advocacy and working with our local government agencies and partner organizations to help improve the overall bicycling infrastructure here in San Diego.
4. What are some of the wildest things you have witnessed at previous TDF? – I recall a funeral for a car once but there’s so much more!
5. How does the car for bike trade work? (see website here for information)
6. If someone wants to make a donation how can they do so? Where can people expect to see their donations being used? – noted above for SDCBC. Donations can be made at the event through purchase of beer tokens (supporting the SDCBC) and merchandise (supporting the San Diego Mountain Bike Association).
7. What kind of beer events and beer areas can people look forward to? – A wide variety of New Belgium Beers will be on hand for attendees to sample. While this is a family-friendly event, attendees who plan to purchase beer tokens MUST provide valid id’s showing that they are of legal age to consume.
Special Thanks to all the great people at the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, San Diego Mountain Bike Association, and New Belgium Brewing Co. Please visit their websites for information on everything they have going on. Visit the official Tour De Fat website for all the event information.