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New Belgium’s awesome explosion of bike craziness, the Tour de Fat, is coming to Portland this August. I’ve attended the last two years of this event and it’s something you don’t want to miss.
Besides the usual downtown bike parade, live performances (including our own Sprockettes, who will be on Tour with them), freak bike rodeo, zany competitions, lots of good beer, and more, this year they’ve got something new up their sleeve.
New Belgium marketing guy Chris Winn (on stage in photo above) wants to find someone who is willing to live car-free for one year. In exchange, the person will receive a custom-fitted, New Belgium commuter bike and more.
Here’s the official word from Winn:
stopped by last year.
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“Would you trade your car for a bike?… We’re talking about weaning yourself off the petroleum teat for the next year of your life… maybe longer…You could save a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to Shimano. You could become a part of the pollution solution…
We’re looking for one dedicated individual at each Tour de Fat stop this Summer to commit to living car-free for one year…We’re asking that you sign over the title to your car and say goodbye to that gas-guzzling monument to inefficiency.
In exchange for this tremendous gesture, New Belgium would like to award you with a custom-fitted, Fort Collins-built New Belgium commuter bike to ride as your rolling badge of courage and honor. You will be a hero to the many disenchanted citizens who are tired of pollution and traffic congestion.”
Winn says New Belgium plans to stay in touch with whoever gets chosen and they’ll chronicle the “trials and triumphs” of the experience to (hopefully) inspire others.
If you’d like to do this, here’s how to apply:
- Submit a video or letter of 2 minutes/1000 words or less describing yourself, and your desire to be car-free. Submit your entry to cwinn@newbelgium.com, and include “I wanna trade my car for a bike in (enter city name here).” in the subject line. Mail videos to:
Chris Winn
New Belgium Brewing
500 Linden St.
Fort Collins, CO. 80524
Sounds like fun. So who’s going to step up?