Tour de Fat

Tour de Fat was put together to celebrate the bicycle and raise money for local charities, it also spreads the word on ways to minimize your own personal waste stream, holds games, provides live entertainment, a parade, and contests such as the Car Bike Swap. The Car Bike Swap is exactly what it sounds like, a local person donates his or her car and the proceeds go to charity. In return they are handsomely rewarded with a one of a kind New Belgium cruiser bike so they can live vehicle free for a year, or longer if one chooses to do so.

Everyone comes out in crazy costumes with their bikes decorated, some with custom home-built or modified bikes. They have great live music, dancing, a parade, lots of crazy things to see and cold beer. All the proceeds from the beer also go to charity and other not for profit organizations so you are drinking for a good cause. It is a lot of fun and a good way to meet people who are interested in the same ideals. I personally can't wait to dress up in come crazy get up and ride my bike around drinking some Fat Tire.

Here is some helpful information below in regards to this weekends Tour de Fat. Along with a video from the Chicago stop this past June and the Ten Commandments of Tour de Fat.

Durango Itinerary

Posted on 3rd July 2008 by the rev

Date 9/20/08
Venue La Plata Fairgrounds
Sub Venue Parking Area
Ride Registration 9am-10am
Ride Times 10am-11am
Revival Times 11am-4pm

Benefitting

San Juan Mountains Association www.sjma.org
Trails 2000 www.trails2000.org

Sustainable Support

Fort Lewis Environmental Center www.fortlewis.edu

Performances by:

March Fourth Marching Band www.marchfourthmarchingband.com
Paper Bird www.myspace.com/paperthebird
Squirm Burpee Circus

The Ten Commandments of the Tour de Fat:

1. Put no means of transport before thy bike: Come by bike because not only are bikes fun, but they help stave off some of our most wicked ills: Traffic, obesity, and pollution. Tour de Fat has a solution: ride this day, every day, and definitely when Tour de Fat heads your way.

2. Honor all other bikes: All bikes are good bikes, and all those who ride them are good people. This is the one Bike Festival that cherishes bicycle diversity on our Cruise-ade through town.

3. May every generation come forth: This is a family friendly event. Costumes, bikes and a parade? We were thinking like kids when we created Tour de Fat.

4. Thou shall come as a participant not a spectator: It’s a costumed celebration of human-powered transportation. Muscles not motors, coasters, v-brakes and rotors. Come in your favorite alter ego, because when everybody’s weird, no one is.

5. Thou shalt not bring booze; But enjoy the supplied malted adult refreshments responsibly: Please do not bring any outside alcohol on the ride or into the park. It could result in getting the event shut down…don’t be that guy. And when you imbibe in our tasty brews, remember this is a Bicycle Festival with beer, not the other way around.

6. New Belgium shalt not profit: Our goal is to raise money for bicycle and environmental charities. New Belgium Brewing Company does NOT retain any of the events’ proceeds. Please think of your $5 beer tokens as donations to a worthy cause. All sales are final; beer tokens do not expire and will be accepted next year.

7. Remember the purpose, and bring not your pooches: No canine friends allowed this year. We’re a dog-loving Brewery, but sadly not all municipalities and parks are. Please leave your best friends at home for their safety and the safety of others. Besides, it’s not much fun for dogs with all the noise and crazy people around.

8. Keep the day true with thy good juju: The ride is free, but we suggest a $5 donation to the good bike advocates who are putting it on for you. If you give more, you will not incur flats, mechanical troubles, or dry skin for a while…maybe. This is a celebration of the bike, not an anti-car rally. All tools have their place.

9. Thou shall rise early: Since Tour de Fat is a free show, we sometimes get more folks than we can accommodate. Once we’re full, we will handle overflow like a restaurant or bar: one in, one out. We reserve the right to determine the appropriate crowd size in the name of safety and enjoyment for those inside.

Thou shalt not steal thy neighbors’ bike: Don’t even think of leaving with a bike that doesn’t belong to you. Modern-day horse thieves will be dealt with by angry mob, pitchforks, and torches.