Tour de Fat in Full Force

New Belgium Brewing Company, the third largest craft brewer in the US, has kicked off the Tour de Fat this year, beginning in Chicago. The Tour is in its 8th year and continues to make an impression with parades, entertainment, bicycle skill contests, and, of course, beer. The Tour began as a means of increasing awareness and participation in cycling as a sustainable form of transportation.

The Tour, which has already hit Chicago and San Francisco, is scheduled to hit Truckee, CA, this weekend. The remaining schedule is:

Aug. 02: Seattle, WA
Aug. 16: Portland, OR
Aug. 23: Boise, ID
Sept. 06: New Belgium Brewing (Ft. Collins, CO)
Sept. 13: Denver, CO
Sept. 20: Durango, CO
Oct. 11: Tempe, AZ
Oct. 18: Austin, TX

Tour de Fat is free to participants. Sales of beer and merchandise benefit local cycling non-profits. Last year, the event raised more than $245,000.

What else is happening? Find out after the jump.

Each show opens with a costumed bike parade. “Tour de Fat is a time to celebrate self-expression and all things ridiculous, so alter-egos and costumes are highly recommended and will be rewarded,” said Chris Winn, Tour de Fat’s coordinator and event evangelist. “In the name of group participation, we treat this event like a potluck…everyone can contribute to the event in their own way. That is what Tour de Fat is all about.”

Tour de Fat tries to be as carbon neutral as possible. The Tour composts and recycles waste from each tour stop; the goal for for waste diversion is 95%. The stage is solar powered, trucks and transport use B100 biodiesel fuel, and vendors will operate “off the grid.”

Keeping the enviro theme going, one volunteer in each city will commit to live car-free for one year as part of the Car-for-Bike Trade Program. The volunteer agrees to sign over his or her car title in exchange for a custom-fitted New Belgium commuter bike.

You can also sign up to win a trip to Tour de Fat in Fort Collins, Colorado (not applicable in California). For details, check out the New Belgium web site.

Sounds like great fun! I’m bummed that they’re not coming closer to Philly – the east coast venues are pretty limited. Are you planning on attending?

(Image used with permission from New Belgium Brewing)