|
Tour de Fat: a ballyhoo of bikes and beer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Greyson Howard/Tahoe World
|
|
Thursday, 20 July 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 Bikes, bands, and beer, what could be better?
New Belgium Brewing Company pedals its Tour de Fat road show to Truckee on Saturday, July 29 for a day of fun and fundraising.
“The vibe for this thing is all about having fun and goofing off,” said Chris Winn, event evangelist for New Belgium Brewing Company.
Last year’s Tour de Fat was a big success, but Winn expects more bikes, more people, and more crazy costumes this year.
Bicycling is a big part of the event and a big part of New Belgium Brewing Company, Winn said, and many of the events will reflect that; including a vintage bicycle contest, decorated bike contest, custom bike contest, a bike limbo, a parade through town that kicks off the event, and a “slow race” in which “people compete to ride as slow as possible from one end of the course to the other.”
There will also be a fleet of custom bicycles to check out.
“We have a new crop of art bikes for people to ride, we have a mad scientist of a bicycle builder who has created these mutated bicycles,” Winn said.
“We try and cross-pollinate the bicycle community in each town,” he said.
But the event isn’t just for cyclists and beer connoisseurs.
“Even if you don’t like beer and bicycles, we have an amazing concert, it’s the rebirth of Vaudeville, plus it’s a charity.”
Last year the Tour de Fat’s visit to Truckee raised $4,000 for the Truckee Trails Foundation, and $350 for the Truckee Donner Land Trust, and this year the Truckee Trails Foundation will be back with the Truckee River Watershed Council for the festivities.
“It’s huge, we’re a small non-profit with virtually no overhead and all our money goes to pursuing new trails, so having that type of unrestricted funds is really important,” said Leigh Fitzpatrick, the executive director with Truckee Trails Foundation.
 The proceeds will allow the two organizations to build new trails, preserve and restore the river and meadows, and host Truckee River Day and Truckee Trails Day.
On top of the festivities and fundraising, the Tour de Fat also strives to be a zero-impact event environmentally.
“We’re really impressed by New Belgium in keeping the environmental impact of the event so low,” said Lisa Wallace, the executive director of the Truckee River Watershed Council.
Last year 85 percent of the total trash from the Tour was kept out of landfills through recycling and composting, but this year New Belgium’s Winn hopes to hit the 95 percent mark.
“The beer cups are made of a compostable corn resin, the sound comes from a solar powered stage, and the trucks run with 100 percent biodiesel; we are trying to be as off the grid as much as possible,” Winn said.
Details:
What: Tour de Fat
When: Saturday, July 29
Where: Truckee River Regional Park
Time: 11 a.m. - Cruiser Bike Parade; noon to 6 p.m. - Bands and Beer
Bring: Your bike, the wildest costume you can put together, a smile and your happiest attitude ever!
Bands:
• MarchFourth Marching Band
Check ‘em out at www.marchfourthmarchingband.com and make it a date!
• The Reals (www.thereals.net)
Don’t miss their brilliant compositions and vibrant textures!
 Sideshows:
• The Handsome Little Devils (www.handsomelittledevils.com/)
These media darlings are no small production. Check out their site and then come see them in action.
• The Yard Dogs Road Show (www.yarddogsroadshow.com)
A traveling cabaret that brings the old-fashioned circus with burlesque and theater and fuses it with today’s pop culture.
For more information on Tour de Fat, please visit www.newbelgium.com.
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 six year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, 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.
Photos by Ryan Salm and Paul Raymore
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 July 2006 )
|
|
|
