SAN DIEGO – If you enjoy dressing freaky, riding bikes, listening to bands and drinking beer, then Tour de Fat is where you belong. San Diego County Bicycle Coalition warmly welcomes New Belgium Brewing back for its 14th annual Tour de Fat Saturday, Sept. 28 in Balboa Park.
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC), an organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles, encourages San Diego to round up friends, families and neighbors to come enjoy the ultimate day of eclectic entertainment and top-notch beer: all benefiting local bicycle nonprofits.
Saturday, Sept. 28 the event kicks off in Balboa Park at 10 a.m. with a massive bicycle parade weaving through city streets. For the rest of the afternoon, exciting activities and world-class performances will take the stage, including Reggie Watts and He’s My Brother She’s My Sister.
At Tour de Fat people of all ages can ride funky bikes, eat delicious food, relax in the park and participate in unique activities such as the “Thousand Person Dance Contest”, which determines the winner of a 2013 New Belgium cruiser bike. Everyone 21 and older can sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium, including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, this summer’s seasonal, Rolle Bolle, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series.
New Belgium will also award one brave role model $2,250 to purchase a commuter bike and in turn, hand over the keys to their car and pledge to live car-free for one year. Who will it be in San Diego? Car-for-Bike Swappers are chosen after submitting an application describing why they are ready to give up their vehicle for the gift of two wheels here.
“Tour de Fat is something all walks of life can enjoy, where diversity is not only embraced but encouraged,” explains Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition. “One of San Diego’s most exciting and diverse events is hosted by a craft beer company AND benefits the local bicycling organizations? This is San Diego in a nutshell. I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t want to go.”
Tour de Fat is a free event, but all proceeds from beer and merchandise go toward making San Diego a better place to ride bicycles. Last year, approximately 3,500 people participated and raised nearly $30,000 for local nonprofits. This year, all proceeds benefit SDCBC and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association.
Everyone is welcome at Tour de Fat and colorful costumes are highly encouraged.
For more information on Tour de Fat, please visit http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat or ride along on Facebook for their 12-city adventure. To learn more about San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, please visit www.sdcbc.org.
