It was all about bicycles (all shapes and sizes), beer (New Belgium Brewery), bands (two of them) and babes (The Sprockettes) when the Tour de Fat rolled into Seattle on Saturday.
While the Blue Angels roared overhead, hundreds of bicycle enthusiasts celebrated the gasoline-free culture of the bicycle at Gas Works Park overlooking Lake Union.
The Tour de Fat is on an 11-city swing through the West this summer to raise awareness about bicycling as sustainable form of transportation. Proceeds from the Seattle event go to Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Bike Works. The next stop is Portland on Aug. 16. (Continued below)
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Gas Works Park, with its proximity to the Burke-Gilman Trail, is a great spot for the event. Most cyclists in the area know how to get to that trail; I biked across the I-90 bridge in the morning before it was closed for the air show, bicycle north along the Lake Washington bike route to UW, then headed west to Fremont.
Tour de Fat used the whole center of the park. It featured two large stages, another smaller stage, an area to ride “art bikes,” a few concession stands, and a huge “beer garden.”
Early costumed arrivers were invited for a bike ride out to Golden Gardens, which included a stretch along the newly opened section of the Burke Gilman Trail.
The Tour de Fat entertainment kicked off in the afternoon with The Sprockettes from Portland. I'd never seen them live before, and I loved their act. Think Rockettes with bicycles. Great dancing.
The popular Paper Bird band followed on a stage at the other end. I wandered over to an enclosure to watch folks ride the challenging “art bikes.” Some of these bizarre rides are straight from Dr. Seuss; others from Dr. Demento.
Later on the performers held “Carpocalypse Now,” a funeral procession for an SUV. This served as an introduction for the “Slow-Down or Throw-Down Slow Ride Competition.” In the final heat, the winner had to ride the slowest while finishing a cup of beer; as it worked out the winner was the last man standing.
The four members of Nanda humored the crowd with acrobatics, dance, juggling and a kung fu fight that was interrupted by an actual bloody nose. The MarchFourth Marching Band played some cool, toe-tapping jazz marches and accompaniment to acrobats.
The festival wound up with the awarding of a New Belgium commuter bike to a person who gave up their car to charity and pledged to go car-free for a year.
The New Belgium's Tour de Fat show supports a sustainable economy. The crew travels on biodiesel-fueled buses and the stages are solar-powered. It's waste diversion goal is 95%; even the beer cups are compostable as they're made from a corn-based product.
Upcoming Tour de Fat shows:
Portland – Aug. 16
Boise – Aug. 23
New Belgium – Sept. 6
Denver – Sept. 13
Durango – Sept. 20
Tempe – Oct. 11
Austin – Oct. 18
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