Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on July 11, 2013 at 2:15am

That may work if you are willing to hang around the fringes. But in front of the stage it does get too busy to carry your bike around, and at the second stage you can't really see the action without sitting down in the stands. Then there usually is a little tent where shows are taking place. No bikes allowed inside.

So yes, if you want to miss out on all the fun, then do carry your bike around all day. ;)

kiltedcelt said:

I'll be in attendance, but I'm wondering  - is parking your bike mandatory, or can you keep it with you, assuming you don't mind maneuvering it around all the other people in attendance?

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 11, 2013 at 4:02am

Exactly! Unlike most festivals, historically there has never been a fence or anything funneling attendees through any kind of checkpoints at which you'd be denied entrance with your bike. That is one of the many aspects of Tour de Fat which make it hands down the best summer festival we get in Chicago. (it is sad that our best festival is not of local origin...)

That said, as the Dupp notes, it can get pretty crowded around the stages so if you must drag your bike around with you, please be mindful that you will be nearly as annoying to your fellow festival goers as someone pushing a god forsaken stroller - and you won't have the benefit of the adorable child(s) to make up for it. (I assume.)

If your bike is so valuable that you can't bear locking it up for a few hours at a park in broad daylight with hundreds of other bikes and cyclists around, then I might suggest that you look into getting an additional bike - more of a beater that you can ride more and worry about less. 

Duppie 13.5185km said:

That may work if you are willing to hang around the fringes. But in front of the stage it does get too busy to carry your bike around, and at the second stage you can't really see the action without sitting down in the stands. Then there usually is a little tent where shows are taking place. No bikes allowed inside.

So yes, if you want to miss out on all the fun, then do carry your bike around all day. ;)

kiltedcelt said:

I'll be in attendance, but I'm wondering  - is parking your bike mandatory, or can you keep it with you, assuming you don't mind maneuvering it around all the other people in attendance?

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Permalink Reply by Carmelita Sams on July 11, 2013 at 12:45pm

Thanks for clarifying that Duppie!

Duppie 13.5185km said:

That may work if you are willing to hang around the fringes. But in front of the stage it does get too busy to carry your bike around, and at the second stage you can't really see the action without sitting down in the stands. Then there usually is a little tent where shows are taking place. No bikes allowed inside.

So yes, if you want to miss out on all the fun, then do carry your bike around all day. ;)

kiltedcelt said:

I'll be in attendance, but I'm wondering  - is parking your bike mandatory, or can you keep it with you, assuming you don't mind maneuvering it around all the other people in attendance?

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Permalink Reply by Carmelita Sams on July 11, 2013 at 12:47pm

Another great response, thanks Tony!

Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) said:

Exactly! Unlike most festivals, historically there has never been a fence or anything funneling attendees through any kind of checkpoints at which you'd be denied entrance with your bike. That is one of the many aspects of Tour de Fat which make it hands down the best summer festival we get in Chicago. (it is sad that our best festival is not of local origin...)

That said, as the Dupp notes, it can get pretty crowded around the stages so if you must drag your bike around with you, please be mindful that you will be nearly as annoying to your fellow festival goers as someone pushing a god forsaken stroller - and you won't have the benefit of the adorable child(s) to make up for it. (I assume.)

If your bike is so valuable that you can't bear locking it up for a few hours at a park in broad daylight with hundreds of other bikes and cyclists around, then I might suggest that you look into getting an additional bike - more of a beater that you can ride more and worry about less. 

Duppie 13.5185km said:

That may work if you are willing to hang around the fringes. But in front of the stage it does get too busy to carry your bike around, and at the second stage you can't really see the action without sitting down in the stands. Then there usually is a little tent where shows are taking place. No bikes allowed inside.

So yes, if you want to miss out on all the fun, then do carry your bike around all day. ;)

kiltedcelt said:

I'll be in attendance, but I'm wondering  - is parking your bike mandatory, or can you keep it with you, assuming you don't mind maneuvering it around all the other people in attendance?

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on July 11, 2013 at 7:07pm

You could but you'd be the jerk in everyone's way.  There is usually plenty of secure parking.

kiltedcelt said:

I'll be in attendance, but I'm wondering  - is parking your bike mandatory, or can you keep it with you, assuming you don't mind maneuvering it around all the other people in attendance?

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 12, 2013 at 1:55am

If you volunteer at The Chainlink table you can store your bike there while you are there.  Before and after just ask the other volunteers if they are ok with you leaving the bike there.

>>>Sign up for a time slot here 

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Permalink Reply by Carmelita Sams on July 14, 2013 at 2:32am

Glad you enjoyed the event. I'm just a tiny little part of the "all" but your thanks is greatly appreciated!

h' 1.0 said:

what a great event! Thanks to all who make it possible.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on July 14, 2013 at 4:44am

My 3rd year at TdF. Was great as usual. Best improvement over previous years? Finally enough food choices.

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Permalink Reply by Jared on July 14, 2013 at 4:53am

The assortment of food trucks was nice this year.  Sort of thought it strange that the organizers never had any food vendors.

Duppie 13.5185km said:

My 3rd year at TdF. Was great as usual. Best improvement over previous years? Finally enough food choices.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 15, 2013 at 3:05am

There were some food trucks last year also, but yes, more this year. My vote for best improvement was the Lips of Faith beer tent with kegs of limited production ales. The Pluot (pluot is a hybrid of plum and apricot) was great, as was the Paadebloem - (Dandelion Greens, Grains of Paradise). I also loved the Rampant IPA. The line for Lips of Faith was kind of long, but it moved fast and by definition everyone in the line was interested in beer, so the conversations were great. 

My vote for "was better last year" was the headliner. Los Amigos Invisibles last year was a transcendental life changing experience. Reggie Watts was funny, but he was pretty non-compelling. I didn't even stick around for the end of his set. 

Jared said:

The assortment of food trucks was nice this year.  Sort of thought it strange that the organizers never had any food vendors.

Duppie 13.5185km said:

My 3rd year at TdF. Was great as usual. Best improvement over previous years? Finally enough food choices.

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Permalink Reply by Eli on July 15, 2013 at 8:42am

Next year it would be nice if the last call were included in the published schedule. We arrived thirsty after riding over from Edgewater at 4:35 (the earliest we could make it), hoping to catch the tail end of the festival, only to discover that no beer was being served after 4:30.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on July 15, 2013 at 8:48am

+1 on the kudos - this is my 5th? 4th? TdF and once again it's my favorite Chicago summer fest, too (hi Tony), but man, this year was CROWDED! I've never seen so many normal-looking people there...weird. 

I hope West Town made lots of cash!

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