This weekend, Milwaukee will host two major bike events: the Riverwest 24-hour Bike Race (Riverwest24) and the Tour de Fat in Bay View.
The Tour de Fat is a traveling cycling festival created by the New Belgium Brewing Co. to raise money for non-profits like the The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin while celebrating the eco-friendliness of the bicycle.
This year, it takes place on Saturday, July 30, in Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave.
Parade registration begins at 9 a.m. The ride is from 10 to 11 a.m. and entertainment runs all day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the event is free, but a $5 or more donation is suggested for anyone riding in the parade. There will be beer available for $5.
The Tour de Fat will make stops in 13 cities. It features wild costumes, decorated bikes, a bike parade and performers. This is not a particularly kid-friendly event and participants cannot bring dogs or alcohol into the park.
The entertainment includes a variety of quirky performances, including the Yo-Yo People at 11:25 a.m.; The Bicycle Dating Game at 1:20 p.m. and a Car-For-Bike Trade at 2:40 p.m.
The Riverwest24, also known as the RW24, is a 24-hour bike race in the Riverwest neighborhood. This year, it takes place from 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July, 30.
The event sold-out in six hours during the May registration with 600 registered riders. The race includes solo riders and teams. Some wear costumes and all are required to follow traffic laws, wear helmets and have bike lights.
The 4.6-mile course which loops through the streets of Riverwest, features multiple block parties and celebrations along the way. It's a fun weekend just to hang out in Riverwest and soak up the celebratory vibe.
"The Riverwest24 compels participation, from cheering on riders to handing out snacks and water, to helping run the ride as a volunteer. The neighborhood culture needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated," says one of the organizers, Steve Whitlow.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
