Your guide to ride the SC Pedal Parlor 🍺

One of the best parts of my job is testing out the fun, sometimes odd/random activities in town (flashback to our Zapp Scooter excursion) that you’ve always wanted to try – but never had an excuse to – to help you figure out all the dos, don’ts + #protips before you go.

So a few weeks ago, a brave group of four of us rode the SC Pedal Parlor – a bar-on-wheels powered by its pedaling patrons. The two-hour tours come with a guide (hi, Matt 👋) who will steer your pedaling group (fits up to 16 people) to different bars around town.

📆 Booking 📆

To book, you must have at least six people in your group (day-of bookings require 10 people) – but other groups can still join your ride. You can also totally rent the bike out for a private 50th birthday party or bachelorette weekend. Cost depends on how many people you have in your group, but usually ranges $20-22 per person. Book online or call 803-302-7750 to reserve your date (pay in full during booking; or put down a $100 deposit for a private party rental). Tours are rain or shine; no refunds – here’s their cancellation policy.

The tours run seven days-a-week with varying departure times. The routes + bar stops vary, depending on how difficult you want the ride to be + what places you want to hit up. You’ll visit 3~ bars/restaurants in the Vista + Main Street districts, staying at each spot for 20-40~ minutes.

Pro tip: If you ask your guide nicely, you can pretty much go wherever you want within the Vista or Main Street. But it can’t be anywhere he’d be embarrassed to be seen because he hangs out with you at each bar.

👟 Preparing 👟

You pay for your own drinks at each stop. The mobile bar is more a means of transportation than a functioning bar – there is no bartender onboard, and Matt will not be pouring your draft beers as you cruise down Main St. (that’s illegal in S.C.). You can BYOwater bottle/Tervis for hydration, though; plus BYOsnacks – or takeout Whig cheese fries if you’re a cool human.

What do you wear on the Pedal Parlor? Whatever you want, really – but I would not recommend a skirt or a dress. Also, it’s like sort of chilly outside in Cola now so bring a jacket.

This is important: You’re the DJ. Come prepared with a playlist. (We were not prepared for this and had to settle on Justin Bieber Pandora. Sorry, Matt, Brad + Bryant.)

📍 The Route 📍

The whole thing, start to finish, took about two hours. We did the Going Down(hill)! Route, which was the easiest – but you can do tougher routes or DIY one. Our tour met at 1216 Washington St. We then took the block to our first stop...

🥂 Main Street Public House | Apple cider mimosa | $7

🥂 Cantina 76 on Main | Strawberry basil marg | $5.25

🥂 Flying Saucer | Avery Brewery Co.’s Chai High | $6.50 + $1 off for Happy Hour (If you’re an iced chai latte fan, I highly recommend you try this beer.)

After ending the bar hop at Flying Saucer, we got back on the bike for one last joyride and hopped off across the street from Wet Willie’s. (Yep, you start + end the tour at different places – so plan to Uber back to Washington St. or drop off a second car before you start.)

🚍 The Ride 🚍

The time we actually spent pedaling (read: not inside of a bar) amounted to a little over 20 minutes. But if you’re into exercise, or self torture, or whatever – try the harder routes (or I’m sure Matt would gladly take your group the long way from The Whig to Pearlz). 🙄

With our nine-person party (including our strong, muscular men), neither Sam or I broke a sweat nor think we actually helped move the thing forward very much. According to Harvard, Sam + I probably burned ~100-150 calories each – so barely burning off just one of our cocktails – but hey, that’s better than the usual, immobile happy hour. (Maybe we’ll try The Classic next time.)

In fact, our athletic prowess had us yearning for a refreshing green juice after two long hours of pedal to the metal. J.K. – We went to Publico.

Our team post-Pedal Parlor – sweaty + exhausted.

Pedal on,

–Beth