What is the Tour de Fat in Fort Collins?

Of all things that have been created in Colorado, from the cheeseburger to Crocs, the Tour de Fat, out of Fort Collins, has to be one of the most fun. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands have participated, not only in Fort Collins but across America.

When Was the Very First Tour de Fat in Fort Collins?

The first Tour de Fat took place in the summer of 1999, as the founder of the company wanted to reminisce about bike-riding escapades through Europe on his mountain bike, so he threw a little "bike parade party." According to the Collegian, Jeff Lebsech picked up the nickname "Fat Tire" because of his mountain bike tires.

That "little bike parade party" became an ever-bigger party, year after year, since then. If you've lived in the Fort Collins area since 1999, you have participated in Tour de Fat, or know someone who has, at least once. Costumes, bikes, beer, and raising money for local cycling non-profits.

2017 Was the Biggest Year for the National Tour of Tour de Fat

The Tour de Fat expanded out of Fort Collins during the early-to-mid 2000s, hitting big cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Washington D.C. It was in 2017 that the event saw its most locations: 33. According to FoCoPostCard.com, all of those locations, at that time, were ticketed events with big-name bands, and that "little parade."

FoCoPostCard.com notes that only three cities kept the parade: Boise, Tempe, and (of course) Fort Collins. They make a great point in that parades are expensive to put on, and you can't put them behind a gate and charge people; hence, most cities let it go.

The "Free Entry" Event Has Raised Lots of Money

The Tour de Fat has raised an incredible amount of money for local bicycling non-profits: upwards of $10 million. The money comes from beer and merchandise sales as well as from donations collected during that "litte parade."