Ft. Collins, CO, March 27, 2012 – New Belgium Brewing today announced the much-anticipated Tour de Fat 2012 schedule. Now in its 13th season, Tour de Fat brings together passionate bike lovers for a day of two-wheeled revelry while raising money for local nonprofits. Tour de Fat is a thrilling rite of passage that includes an unparalleled costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, dazzling entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests and much more. Coming to 15 cities across the country, New Belgium has added Atlanta and Washington, DC to this year’s lineup.

In 2012, Tour de Fat, which is a free event, will exceed the $2 million mark for money raised for local nonprofits through beer and merchandise purchases. Funds generally go to organizations in the world of bike advocacy, with money spent in a wide variety of ways, including trail maintenance, safety education, lobbying for better bicycle communities and a wide variety of other impactful initiatives.

The pinnacle of Tour de Fat is the ceremonious car-for-bike trade. At each Tour de Fat, one person becomes the center of the show as he or she gets up on stage, hands over car keys, and pledges to live one year car-free. Tour de Fat is now seeking volunteers to accept the swapper challenge. Each car-for-bike swapper will choose a local bike shop to help them turn their $2,250.00 budget into their ultimate car-replacement commuter bike. The cars will be auctioned by Vehicles for Charity, with proceeds to benefit local cycling organizations.

Swappers are chosen after submitting an application that describes why they are willing to trade in their vehicle for a shiny new bicycle. To submit an entry, go to the New Belgium Tour de Fat Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat), click on events and your city of choice, and upload your application video. Applications may also be written and sent to: trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com.

“This is a big year for Tour De Fat as we added two terrific cities to the roster and look to surpass $2 million in funds raised for organizations that do great things for bicyclists and beyond,” said Matt Kowal, Tour De Fat Impresario. “In addition, our community of car-for-bike swappers is about to grow, which is a highlight of our whole year. Bike advocacy should always be this much fun.”

A few tidbits about Tour de Fat:

Start sewing, collecting and dreaming up something to wear as Tour de Fat encourages embracing your inner costume-loving self. Come dressed up to help put on the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed in each city.

Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. Bring only what you need and watch for proper receptacles. We’ll do the rest!

All performers grab your attention from alternatively empowered stages decked out in recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.
This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally. Non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.

In 2011, Tour de Fat traveled to 13 cities, attracting a total of 69,550 festival attendees and 41,150 parade cyclists. In addition, the festival raised $331,428 and boasted an impressive 90 percent diversion of waste from landfills.

See https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a fancy new bike. To see a video from last year’s season click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekxuu5j9BVk.

Tour de Fat 2012 will cycle through each of the following cities:

Nashville, TN – June 2 – Centennial Park
Washington, DC – June 16 – Yards Park
Durham, NC – June 23 – Diamond View Park on the American Tobacco Campus
Atlanta, GA – June 30 – Historic 4th Ward Park
Milwaukee, WI – July 14 – Coast Guard Event Area, McKinley Park
Chicago, IL – July 21 – Palmer Square
Minneapolis, MN – July 28 – Loring Park
Boise, ID – August 18 – Ann Morrison Park
Fort Collins, CO – September 1 – Civic Center Park Area
Denver, CO – September 8 – City Park
Los Angeles, CA – September 15 – Los Angeles State Historic Park
San Francisco, CA – September 22 – Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park
San Diego, CA – September 29 – Golden Hill Park
Tempe, AZ – October 6 – Tempe Town Lake
Austin, TX – October 20 – Fiesta Gardens

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

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“My nephew, Kellan, is getting a bike for Christmas this year. I am pretty sure that he asked “The Mall Santa” for the bike and if he is good, he will get his reward. (If you get this story before the holiday, please do not let the cat out of the proverbial bag.)

Hearing about his pending gift has jolted my memory, reminding me of a distant experience that involved my first bicycle. Before training wheels, there was really nothing to get me around in the ways that I wanted to as a kid. I had my Krazy-Kar, which spun around in “krazy” circles in the same ole place. The spiral design, that covered its plastic wheels, went round and round as I pedaled fervently, making me dizzy and tiring me out. I think the Krazy-Kar manufacturers designed it to preoccupy children so that parents could have a break.

I can’t recall having a tricycle but did finally graduate from Krazy–Kar to a bike with training wheels. In all of its glory, the banana seat, a brilliant blue with metallic silver sparkles, the deep “U” shaped handlebars with royal streamers coming off each end, the blue flag that extended behind me, and the Mickey Mouse bell, all made my Schwinn mine. These Schwinns became staples for kids like me. Owning a Schwinn was a kid right of passage. My younger brother, Jon, had a yellow one. Together, we grew older, but not wiser with these bikes beneath our tushes, as we took turns acting out Fonzie and Cha-Chi roles from the Happy Days sitcom. Looking back, the experience of owning a bike that offered new found freedom was a small step in the process of becoming a man. Today these funkadelic bikes are collector’s items, auctioned on eBay for big bucks. I wonder where my Old Blue Schwinn is now…

Finally, that day came when the training wheels came off my Schwinn. As my Dad took the wheels off that had supported me during that “training period,” I was both excited and scared. I was unsure of my ability to ride solo. I was to be the first of the Rosin children to take on the challenge. My younger brother and sister looked on, as I truly became a “big brother” to them. I could read their tiny minds, “Wow. Danny is cool. I only wish I was old enough/big enough/tough enough to ride without training wheels!” I was gaining some sibling respect. Riding a bike without training wheels was, at the time, atop the list of importance for the kids in my family. Being the eldest, I always has the privilege to try just about everything first…adult things like staying awake until 8:30 to see “Ba-Ba Black Sheep” while my younger siblings had to go to sleep. I did not deserve these things; I only received them because of my age. It was good to be the King.

My royal blue Schwinn, sans training wheels, was taller than I had remembered it when it had training wheels, even though it was the same bike. My crotch was painfully smashed against the top “man” bar and as my toes, outstretched as far as possible in my Keds, barely touched the ground. My Dad held the bike up as I tried to position myself comfortably. He acted as my training wheels for a period of unsuccessful biking attempts. And finally, after a lot of patience and ego bruising, I took off on the open neighborhood street, by myself, WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS!

As a smaller kid, I had learned to seize the bull by the horns. I opted not to just ride up and down the driveway or even around the circle that fronted our home. I took off beyond my parent’s comfort zone.  Never had I escaped the close proximity of our home without the hand of an adult or within immediate walking distance. If they made electronic “zap” collars with invisible fences for kids, I am sure that my parents would have had me wear one. On a nice lot with a beautiful magnolia (climbing) tree that backed up to The Elizabeth River, our house at 4309 Duke Dr., should have been enough for any kid. I spent a lot of time in the mud puddles collecting tadpoles. We captured lightening bugs all around the house, and to the North, I was allowed to only go so far as the end of our short pier to drag up the always empty crab pots. Never once do I remember jumping in Elizabeth’s river. I had always wanted to explore what was beyond our property.

I really never went far until my Dad let go of my bike, and symbolically, whether he realized it at the time, he was, in a sense, letting go of his parental reigns on me.

I pedaled fast for fear of falling. I was so busy looking at the back tire’s lack of training wheels that I almost wrecked many times. It seemed as if I rode 20 miles that afternoon. In reality, I had only ridden around our small neighborhood, but it was beyond anywhere near I had been alone. It was about four blocks away from our house, which seemed like 5 miles, that I rode my Schwinn up onto a neighbor’s lawn. I was eyeballing a nice, hilly area that swooped down by a canal and then back onto the main road. The stuntman/daredevil/wannabe inside me yearned to take this hill on. I had been riding for 30 minutes or so, without incident, and felt on top of my newly found independent world. As I took on the steep hilly challenge, I rolled quickly down the slope and towards the canal, gaining speed and an adrenalin rush I had never felt before. I was out of control, reckless, like on the ski slopes and mountain bike trails of my world today.

What happened next has never been repeated due to what was, then, my first real slice of humble pie…I lost my footing and I fell off of my bike and tumbled down the hill. In pain, I picked up my Kenievel bones up and retrieved my bike which was just above my head on the hill. I hobbled down to the base area near the road, hoping that no one had seen my fall. Finding the flat surface on the street, I attempted to get back on my bike and ride it homeward bound. I was unsuccessful in every way imaginable. I was too short. I prayed no one had been watching my lame attempts to simply get on a bicycle. I was determined to get on the bike by myself and ride home with pride. Nearby was a small neighborhood power hut. For over 30 frustratingly sweaty minutes, I tried every way I could, by using the side of the hut for privacy and to give me the leverage needed to help get me on my bike. To no avail. It was getting dark. Assuredly the parents were worried. I had to throw in the towel. I walked my bicycle home, head hanging low, ego bruised, again.

Upon arrival, I was welcomed home, unconditionally. No one ever asked why I had scrapes and bruises and I never told. And that next day, I was back, canvassing and exploring the neighborhood and beyond on that blue banana seat Schwinn. I took on that hill that beat me that first day as often as I could, sometimes conquering it, and on other attempts, busting my ass. I found a cinder block in the shallow area of the canal that I was able to use to help me get up those times I fell down that fateful hill. The block was a saving grace and served as a “stepping stone” until I grew tall enough to get on the bike on my own.”

 It was with my bike that I found a true taste of freedom.

The festive holiday season is the best time of year to donate to the Triangle Spokes Group. Here are three great reasons to get involved and donate to the organization that gives bikes to local kids on Christmas:

1. Triangle Spokes Group benefits the local community. We often learn about the importance of investing in one’s local economy. Triangle Spokes Group benefits children right here. Make a difference for children who call the triangle home! Triangle Spokes Group receives very few donations from folks who do not live here. Plus, 100% of donations go toward the purchase of new bikes. Our board is completely volunteer and there are no overhead costs!

2. Triangle Spokes Group is a fitness-focused organization. The nation is now faced with an alarming epidemic of childhood obesity, a public health crisis that tends to target lower-income families. In addition to a less healthy and lower quality of life, childhood obesity is now a factor some employers consider when relocating. Childhood obesity has also been identified as a threat to national security due to record low numbers of eligible military applicants. Access to more physical activity can help. Make a donation to Triangle Spokes Group to give a less fortunate child a bicycle he or she can ride everyday and pass on to younger siblings.

3. Triangle Spokes Group can be an educational experience for your family. By donating to Triangle Spokes Group, you can incorporate the values of thankfulness and charity to your children. Extended family and grandparents can also get involved. Make Triangle Spokes Group a new holiday tradition this year. We understand how busy you are and no amount is too small.

Check out this video of how Triangle Spokes Group is helping children get bikes!

Serving not just as a networking opportunity for all marketing, advertising, communications and PR professionals across the market, this popular holiday event will also directly benefit the Triangle Spokes Group, a locally based non-profit organization. Throughout the year, the Triangle Spokes Group raises money to buy new bicycles for need-worthy children throughout the area, and then delivers them just in time for the holidays.

“Triangle Spokes Group is so thankful and excited to be part of this year’s Merry Mingle”, said co-founder, Jenn Nowalk. “We would not be able to deliver bikes to less fortunate kids each year without the support of the Triangle, so this is a great opportunity to expand our reach, partner with some innovative organizations and raise money to help us reach our goal—our biggest goal yet—of 500 bikes this holiday season!”

Tickets to the event are $10 for members of the hosting organizations, $15 for nonmembers and $25 for everyone at the door. All proceeds will go directly to the Triangle Spokes Group. For more information or to RSVP to this fundraising event, please visit www.merrymingle.org

A special thank you to our sponsors DocuSource, Spy Raleigh, The Oxford, Brand Fuel, Sparktivity, Magnet Video and Fragment for helping make this event possible.