Tags
Beer, Boise Bike Project, community, family fun, parade, SWIMBA, Tour de Fat, Treasure Valley Cycling Alliance.
For those who don’t know, Tour de Fat is the community event for 10 lucky cities across America. Between May and October of each year, New Belgium Brewing Company hosts a one-day celebration of fun, family, and funky bikes. New Belgium is a craft beer brewery based in Fort Collins, Colorado—that is just a hop, skip, and an hour’s drive from Golden, Colorado, home of one of the oldest beer manufacturers in the country by the name of Coors—or to you westerners…Curz.
Cheeky little New Belgium Brewing Company sprang to life in 1991 determined to introduce the American palate to quality beer and to build a company focused on environmental sustainability, commitment to the local community, and honest employment opportunities. Their signature brew, Fat Tire Amber Ale, keeps company with nine other tasty concoctions, and provides the underpinning for the Tour de Fat celebration. The company is 100% employee owned and those owners know how to make a profit and throw a party!
The event launches with a parade loop through downtown Boise; fashion (or not) show and costume contest; games of skill (and no skill); a car-for-bike trade; a dance contest; and of course live music, food trucks, and BEER! Proceeds from the sale of beer go to three local biking organizations:
- Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association
- Treasure Valley Cycling Alliance
- Boise Bike Project (which restores old, discarded bikes and gives them those less fortunate who can’t afford to buy a bike.)
As Mayor Bieter said in his brief kickoff statement, “What do we love? Boise, Bikes, and Beer!” Hell-yah!
A budding Johnny Depp?
Pretty buff uniform, Occifer!
After the parade, thirsty adults storm the gates to the beer.
Dang, I’m thirsty!
The horde’s about to crash the gate….
Rangewriter 
With all the bad news we get about the US in Europe, you do a good job of redressing the balance by showing Americans can be fun.
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Yes, like Russia, we’re a big, complex country. While one pocket of America is busy trying to kill each other, there are plenty of other pockets of blissful attention to recreation and shallow entertainment aimed at dulling the edge of the misery all about.
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Well, doesn’t this look amusing.
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You’d have eaten it up. Er…maybe drunk it up….?
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So sorry I missed this! Next year. Love the pics!
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I hope to see you in the crowd next year, SDS.
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Great pictures of truly great, authentic subjects. You captured the fun in America.
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Yeah, well Americans do love to have fun and they know how to do it…if they have the money. But really, this event is long on imagination and short on expense. Some folks go out and buy fancy outfits online, I’m sure. But a lot of other folks get out the hot glue gun, cardboard, paint, and balloons and have a ball.
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It looks like lots of fun, love the creativity that went into the costumes, the cops on bikes look like ours here,a positive presence plus good to look at. 🙂 Just a while ago the south side has a “Silly Summer Parade” and it brings out all sorts of people including some on their bikes.True, it may be frivilous but most important for bringing together community to have fun and share laughter.
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Yes, communities are made in good times as well as during tragedies. At least that’s the way it should be. More fun, less angst. 😉
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Looks very interesting! Like creative, healthy life
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Thanks.
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I hate parades, but I’d happily watch that group ride by. Were you on your bike, Linda?
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I rode downtown, but parked my bike for the parade. I’ve ridden in it before, but I’d actually rather watch and take pictures than to dress up in drag or whatever. I lack creativity… Funny, I’m not much for parades either, but this one is just a bit different. 😉
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Tour de Fat looks like a really fun event. And then of course, I have to add I do like Belgium beer, so I am probably predisposed… Anyway, you have captured some great images with fun and energetic situations.
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Ha ha. I don’t care for beer at all. But this is a great opportunity to try to point my camera at people. Afterall, they wouldn’t be in a parade if they were camera shy, eh? Even in this venue, people shots are hard for me to cope with. Thanks so much for your kind words.
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Oh what fun ! I want that bike with the “sidecar” for the dog.
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Hah, I can just see Trey and Wendy, tongues lolling in your sidecar!
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I adore the incredible dedication that went into some of the costumes and, even more importantly, into the creation of some of the rides! Out here in Cape Verde, bicycles are a fairly recent occurrence, due to the short distances on these small islands, not to mention the poverty of the local population. They are becoming more common now, especially on “our” touristy island, but we were still a hoot when we brought over our kids’ trailer and chauffered our brood around town. Good times 🙂
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Leading by example, eh? I bet your kids have a grand time on the island, where they can step out the door and play like all kids should be able to play.
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