Tour de Fat coming to Austin

This is really more about bicycling than beer, but hey, I love both:

New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat
Wraps up in Austin on October 30

Come ride, dance and experience the ultimate freedom: trading your car for a bike!

Ft. Collins, CO, October 8, 2010 –Clip a card in your spokes and wear your Halloween costume all weekend long…Tour de Fat is back! New Belgium Brewing’s traveling celebration of all things bicycle rolls through 13 cities this year, raising money and sharing bike love. The Tour de Fat finale is once again in Austin, coming to Fiesta Gardens on October 30.

For the fourth year in a row, Tour de Fat is looking for volunteers to accept the swapper challenge. One volunteer in each city will give up their car and receive a hand-built Black Sheep (http://www.blacksheepbikes.com/) commuter bike. The volunteer is chosen after submitting a video or essay describing their desire to live sans-car for a year. To submit an application, log on to http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat.

“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.”

Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds from the Austin stop will go to Yellow Bike Project (http://www.austinyellowbike.org/), Austin Cycling Association (http://www.austincycling.org/index.html) and Austin Ridge Riders (http://www.austinridgeriders.com/). Since its inception 11 years ago, the philanthropic cycling circus has raised more than $1 million on behalf of non-profit organizations.

“A sure sign of fall is the Tour de Fat — a great, traveling party dedicated to bikes and to the people who love bikes,” said ACA President Gilbert Martinez. “Not only is it a great party, but support from the Tour de Fat will help us continue to provide bike safety education to cyclists in Central Texas.”

“At the Yellow Bike Project, we have a huge soft spot for volunteers and donation, so of course we get all googly when the Tour de Fat comes through,” added Pete Dahlberg, Community Coordinator for Austin's Yellow Bike Project. “Over 100 volunteers crop up to make the party happen, and then New Belgium donates the proceeds to local bike non-profits. In between, there's a lot of great variety acts, weird bikes to ride and really good beer.”

“We are very excited to have Tour de Fat return to Austin for the fourth fabulous year!” exclaimed Judi Ronkartz, president of The Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club. “It is an event not to be missed, especially this year on the eve of Halloween. New Belgium’s generosity helps fund all of our Programs which include regular group rides, the Mountain Bike Patrol, Kid Trips and Trail Building and Maintenance projects.”

What: New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat
When: Saturday, October 30, 2010
Where: Austin’s Fiesta Gardens

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:
Yard Dogs Road Show (http://www.yarddogsroadshow.com/)
The Dovekins (http://www.myspace.com/dovekins)
A Honeymoon Cabaret (http://www.daredevilchicken.com/honeymoon.html)
YoYo Squared
Americaine: Stupide

Benefitting:
Yellow Bike Project, Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders

Sustainable Support:
Keep Austin Beautiful (http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/)

Why Tour de Fat is a Must-Attend Event:

• Tour de Fat encourages everyone to embrace their inner-cyclist and ride the streets as a cohesive carnival of creativity. Each show begins with a costumed bike parade that stops traffic and turns heads along the way. (Costumes are highly encouraged!)

• Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste from each tour stop. The waste diversion rate for 2009 was 94 percent.

• Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds go to local cycling non-profits. Since its inception, Tour de Fat events have raised more than $1.25 million for philanthropy.

• All musical acts perform on a solar-powered stage with decorations made from recycled materials, trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils, and all vendors operate off the grid.
  
• This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally…non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.

See http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a shiny new bicycle. Also visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Belgium-Tour-de-Fat/10150099069050417?ref=ts.

Tour de Fat 2010 schedule:
June 26 – Chicago, Palmer Square Park
July 3 – Milwaukee, Humboldt Park
July 10 – Minneapolis, Loring Park
July 31 – Seattle, Gas Works Park
August 14 – Portland, Waterfront Park
August 21 – Boise, Anne Morrison Park
September 4 – Fort Collins, Mothership
September 11 – Denver, City Park
September 25 – San Francisco, Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park
October 2 – San Diego, Balboa Park
October 9 – Tempe, Tempe Town Park
October 23 – Los Angeles, L.A. Historic Park
October 30 – Austin, Fiesta Gardens

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 eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit 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.