Would you trade your car for a bike? That’s what the folks behind the Tour de Fat want to know. New Belgium Brewing’s now-annual cycle celebration is pedaling to Seattle this Saturday — and they’ll be taking a car off the hands of one (lucky?) local driver and handing him a cool commuter bike in return. (Patrick explains why he wants to reduce his wheelprint from four to two.)
So what else does the Tour de Fat offer aside from the car/cycle swap-o-rama? A six-mile bike parade leaves Gas Works Park at 11 a.m. — think Solstice cyclers … but more fully clothed. Beginning at noon, festivities will include musical and circus acts, dance troupes, and drum corps.
All the while, the New Belgium beer will be flowing (Fat Tire, natch), and all proceeds go toward local bike advocacy programs. The closing ceremony will celebrate the courageous car swapper as he signs over his pink slip to charity.
Check out a short video from a previous Tour de Fat in New Belgium’s hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado:
Three years ago, we featured an essay from a suburban mom in Normal, Ill., who went carless. And the Tour de Fat team seems to think just about anyone can do it — so how about you? Would you trade your car for a bike?