For the Seattle bicycling community, the arrival of Tour de Fat is something like the circus coming to town.
The festival at Gas Works Park on Saturday is just one of the bicycling events in the Seattle area this weekend. Others include the return of the Seattle Century and a bike collection drive in West Seattle for the Village Bicycle Project.
Tour de Fat
This is at least the sixth visit to Seattle by Tour de Fat, a celebration of the bicycle put on by New Belgium Brewery, the makers of Fat Tire beer.
As always, the festival starts with a parade of decorated bicycles around the Fremont neighborhood followed by lots of entertainment and beer. There's also the “slow bike riding” contest and the giveaway of a bicycle to a person who has agreed to do without a car for a year.
The acts include Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, The Dovekins, A Honeymoon Cabaret, Jonathan Burns, and Americaine Stupide.
The events run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday at Gas Works Park. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Bike Works are the local beneficiaries of the festival. Full list of Tour de Fat events. Full Tour de Fat calendar.
Seattle Century
For the second year, the Seattle Century rolls out of Magnuson Park in Seattle this year.
There are 50-and 100-mile routes offered this year, and organizers are boasting they've improved the courses by removing the need to ride on Interstate 90 and including an optional loop to Snoqualmie Falls.
The ride takes in the local lakes and rolls out as far as Carnation and Duvall. Provisioned rest stops are available every 12 miles.
On-line registration ends soon, but day-of-event registration is available. The century loop opens at 6 a.m.; the 50-miler at 9 a.m.
Bikes for Africa
The Village Bicycle Project is sponsoring a drive for used bikes over in West Seattle on Saturday.
This is a worthwhile project and a great way to clean out the garage. Local bicycling blogger Tom Furtlanger reminds us:
“A bicycle can truly have a transforming impact on the life of someone who lives several miles from their school, work, clinic, or water source: cycling reduces their time in transit, and increases the load they can transport.”
There are many places to donate used bicycles, and it's great that we have one of them right here in the Northwest. The Project recently celebrated sending a shipping container full of bikes to Ghana, its 100th shipment.
Any and all bikes are accepted. You can drop them off at the West Seattle YMCA, 4515 36th Ave., SW from 9 to 5 on Saturday.
Other activities
As the last Friday of the month is coming up, the Critical Mass will be expected to head out from Westlake Park for a ride around Seattle at 6 p.m. Friday. I hear some riders from the World Naked Bike Ride are expected to show up.
On Saturday, the 5th annual Tour de Whatcom takes off from Bellingham for three rides, 105, 50, or 25 miles. Check the Tour de Whatcom website for details.
On Sunday, don't forget that the Seattle Parks & Recreation Department will be closing Lake Washington Boulevard to car traffic again for Bicycle Sundays. The area from Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park will be car-free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
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