Our goal is to make sure your group has as much fun as possible in a safe environment. This is why we write these blogs to pass our experience of driving hundreds of tours on to you. We realize that as the organizer of your group, you have the hardest job so we are here to try and make it as easy as possible. Here are some great pedal tour pro tips to ensure an amazing cycle boat or pedal bike tour. We have perfected how to have a perfect tour down to a science.
Before Your Tour
Whoever books your cycle boat or pedal bike tour will be sent a confirmation email that explains what we provide, where to go, when to show up, where to park and many other important things. A great idea is to forward a copy of this e-mail to the others going on your tour. The blog entries cover every aspect of a pedal tour in great detail so they should answer all of your questions but if you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out anytime via call, text or email. We drive tours everyday late into the evening so you are not bothering us by reaching out at night. We will call you before your tour to walk you through how the day of your tour will play out and find out about the stops you want to make. Read our other blog entries before this phone call and you will have a great understanding of what to expect during your tour.
What we tell you during the phone call the week before your tour
Be at the starting location 20 minutes before your tour starts. The tour starts promptly on time. Each person in your group will need to sign a waiver. To speed up the process they can complete the waiver on line from the link on your confirmation e-mail, or you can print them out ahead of time (they are printable on our FAQ section) and have each person in your group sign them ahead of time. All sections on the waiver must be completed. By completing this ahead of time you ensure that your group leaves on time. DO NOT drink your own alcoholic beverages on the premise of your starting location, anyone doing that will not be allowed on the tour and we do not want to get started on the wrong note. We count on you the organizer making sure this does not happen.
If you are celebrating a birthday/bachelorette party, don’t forget the decorations. Our Facebook page and picture gallery on this website have some great ideas from prior groups. You are able to bring your own food, snacks, appetizers and candy on the bike to celebrate. Just don’t forget the plates, napkins, & utensils. When decorating don’t forget to bring masking tape to use, balloons need to be on strings (no more than 6 balloons), and when hanging things keep in mind you don’t want them to be in someone’s face. Signs on the back of the bike are a BIG Deal. When groups make signs, all the cars and people on the streets go wild & give you lots of honks & shouts. Signs cannot be wider than a door, so they won’t cover our turn signals. Put holes in the corners and bring string or zip ties to hang them. Your driver will help you decorate. When the tour is done please remove all decorations.
What to wear – We have plenty of storage space on the bike for you to put your jackets, gloves, food, etc. The driver stays with the bike while you go into the bar to keep your belongings safe. You must take your valuables such as phones & wristlet purses with you in the bars. We always tell groups to overdress and be warm. If you get hot, you can always remove clothing. In the summer the biggest thing is proper footwear, NO flip flops or sandals. Flip flops and sandals are uncomfortable to pedal in and fall off. When the bike is moving the pedals keep moving so when your feet inevitably slip off the pedals we don’t want the pedal to come around and hit your foot. If you drop something off the bike, alert the driver & they will stop. Do not jump off the bike to retrieve things, until the bike is stopped. We always love when groups do a theme party whether it be everyone wearing sports jerseys, Hawaiian gear, 80s exercise outfits or wearing white t shirts and bringing sharpies to write on each other with. Let us know so the driver can dress for the occasion. Bring a wristlet versus a large purse.
What to bring with you? – You do not need to bring a speaker as we provide a speaker with a Bluetooth system for you to play whatever you want from your phone. Please make sure your phone is charged. You can bring whatever food, snacks, appetizers and candy that you want. Bring food that is easy to eat on the bike while you pedal. Cupcakes are easier than cakes. Some groups bring huge quantities of food, & sometimes everyone brings the same thing so coordinate what everyone is bringing. You are allowed to bring two 12 ounce cans of beer or two six ounce plastic bottles of wine. We don’t recommend drinking from cups as it can splash you if we hit a bump. NO glass & NO liquor which includes jello shots and mixed drinks in water bottles and NO boxed wine are allowed. Let your groups know all of this because we strictly enforce these rules and you will have to return them to your car. Have everyone bring cash, as it will make it easier for everyone to pay you back and when you go into the bar. There is a time limit in each bar so it is not a good idea to open a tab. It is a time consuming process to close them and we don’t want you to be rushed or late. When you are late getting out of one bar it eats into your time at the following bars. We don’t want you to have to dash in and have to rush at the last bar. Don’t forget to tip your driver. You will see how hard they work at making sure you and your friends have a great experience. They do a lot more than just drive you from point A to point B. People always wonder what to tip the driver and $5 a person is pretty standard. They will let you know what the drink specials are at the bars you pick, call you ahead of your tour to walk you through how the day of your tour will play out, call to order food ahead for you, take group photos and watch over your belongings. Organizers usually collect the tip as part of the tour money and give it to the driver at some point before the end of the tour because when the tour ends it is really hectic & busy. The next tour group will be there ready to leave.
When you show up? The BIGGEST thing you can do to speed up the process is have everyone sign the waiver ahead of time. Please listen when the driver is going over the information about the tour ahead of time. We understand you are here to have fun and are super excited but we need to make sure we let everyone know the safety rules and tell you how to have fun (read my wild stories blog) . As the organizer of your group we will take all the photos on your phone so you can chose what photos you want to send out to everyone else. Please make sure you have storage space on your phone for them. The bike has plenty of storage space for food and snacks, extra clothing and room for a cooler. Now that you can bring your own cans of beer on the bike and wine in single serving plastic containers which you can find at your local liquor store. Remember bring only two alcoholic beverages per person (12oz cans). NO Glass, No liquor which includes jello shots and mixed drinks in water bottles and NO growlers or boxed wine that you would drink out of a solo cup because with all the bumps that will make a mess. We cannot have this on the bike and if you try to bring it, you have to bring it back to your car. On our way back at the end of your tour we will give you a 5 minute warning and a last chug before we need to dispose of your cans and get ready for the next tour.
Pedal Tour Pro Tips
Slice limes for cans of Bud Light Limes and Corona’s
Bring munchies to eat on the bike
Give your group a 5 minute warning in the bar. Finish your drink, don’t get another drink, use the bathroom, close out your tab etc.
Make sure your phone has enough memory/battery for photos to be taken on it
Listen to our alcohol rules
For late night tours don’t try and over decorate because certain things will not be seen when it is dark out
Loiter after your tour, make plans ahead of time so you do not waste time trying to figure out what to do after everyone has had a few drinks
Call a taxi ahead of time so they are waiting for you when you get back (we will let you know what time your group will be back) Your tour ends 2 hours from your starting time so know to send your pick up for then.
If someone cannot arrive on time they can meet us at the first bar and sign the waiver and join your group there
Thank you for taking the time to read Pedal Tour Pro Tips, now when you book a tour you will know how to party and have an amazing experience!