When people think of party pedal bike tours, bachelorette parties in Nashville usually come to mind. Admittedly, as a local I didn’t think I’d ever try this. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to tag along on a PedalCycle tour, which was a surprise birthday party, and had one of the best afternoons of my summer.
The Experience
During the two-hour tour, your group will cruise around the streets of Beach Haven with your favorite playlist pumping through 4 built-in, Bluetooth speakers, friends laughing and pedaling alongside you, and everyone you pass waving, honking, and taking photos of your rolling party.
The bike makes 3-4 stops depending on how well groups manage their time at each location. “If they run a little bit longer at a place, then we shorten the amount of stops that they make,” Julie explains. “And everyone’s usually really cool with it because they’re having a good time.”
The route showcases some of Beach Haven’s most beloved establishments, each offering something unique:
- Tucker’s Tavern features an impressive rooftop bar that provides great views and atmosphere
- The Sand Bar serves up “the most delicious food” and regularly hosts live music
- Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club is famous for its consistent live music scene – “everyone loves the shell. The shell has live music all the time. It’s always exciting to be there”
- The Black Whale offers its own distinct neighborhood bar vibe
- Bird & Betty’s serves as the perfect finale to the experience
“All these places are staples of the island, and I just think it’s a really fun route,” Julie notes. The selection makes sense both geographically and experientially. Since PedalCycle can’t drive on the boulevard but can cross over it, this particular block provides the most time-efficient and enjoyable experience possible.
My PedalCycle driver, Julie, sees experiences like mine regularly. From the outside, it’s easy to underestimate the experience.
“I think you don’t realize how much fun you’re going to have,” explains Julie, who joined the team for the first time this summer during her off time from teaching. “Everyone’s like, ‘oh, I don’t want to work for it,’ but you’re listening to music, you’re hanging out with your friends, you’re meeting new people, you’re exercising, and you’re outside.”
That’s the magic of PedalCycle. It transforms what could be just another bar crawl into an interactive, social experience that gets everyone involved. The multi-person bike accommodates groups while creating an instant party atmosphere that’s impossible to replicate in a car or on foot. Everyone is involved, even the people you pass on the street.
The Story Behind the Fun
While the concept has been rolling through Beach Haven since 2018, current owner Sal Fiore Jr. brought fresh energy to the business when he purchased it this past June. Having previously expanded operations to Seaside Heights last year, Sal was drawn to PedalCycle for a simple reason: he was looking to be in the fun business rather than running a traditional needs-based or brick-and-mortar operation.
This seemed fun and he knew the old owner, which made the transition natural. When Sal took over, most of the partnerships with bars on the tour route were already established, giving him a solid foundation to build upon. The carefully curated route isn’t random. Each stop is chosen for its location and the fact that they had an outdoor element that complements the PedalCycle experience.
The Vibe is Everything
What truly sets PedalCycle apart isn’t just the bars or the bike, it’s the energy it creates. The bike is a vibe. Everyone on the street is always taking pictures or videos and waving and honking. The music is going. The mood changes when you’re on the bike.
This isn’t an exaggeration. The PedalCycle has become a Beach Haven attraction in its own right. Pedestrians stop to watch, cars honk in approval, and phones come out to capture the fun. You’re not just participating in an activity, you’re creating a spectacle that spreads joy throughout the neighborhood.
The music element adds another layer of personalization and fun. “Some people come with a playlist and they want to connect to the Bluetooth, and they can play the whole time,” Julie explains. “Sometimes they’re just like, ‘I like everything.’ And then you’re just trying to find things that they’re like… it can be really fun trying to figure out what people like to listen to. And then you throw in something that maybe they didn’t realize that they loved. And then all of a sudden everybody’s dancing on the bike and it’s fun.”
When talking about vibes, I need to shout out the group I was with, because their energy gave the tour +100 aura points. (Julie assured me this is what the kids are saying). They organized a game where each seat had an assigned number and they asked everyone on the street to guess a number from 1-10. The person sitting in the seat number they picked had to drink. It was a tough day to be number 7, but the game added an extra element of excitement and brought everyone into the experience.
Designed for Everyone
Worried about the physical demands? Don’t be. All the bars are staples of the island and pedaling is only a little tough when going uphill, but if everyone pulls their weight it’s fine. “If there’s a small group, it does become more challenging. The more people you know, the easier it is. But it’s not a hard thing to do,” Julie reassures potential riders.
For those who want to participate without pedaling, PedalCycle has you covered. There are also seats with no pedals for those who can’t. The bike has four non-pedaling seats total with two on the sides and a bench seat in the back that fits two people. “Sometimes people switch around, you know, you’re not stuck in the same seat” throughout the experience, making it accessible and comfortable for everyone.
The experience even works in less-than-perfect weather. “You can do it in the rain. As long as there’s no lightning or anything like that,” proving that the fun doesn’t have to stop when New Jersey weather gets unpredictable.
Not Just for Tourists
While visitors love the novelty of PedalCycle, it’s become equally popular with locals looking for a fresh way to experience their own backyard. As someone who recently tried PedalCycle for the first time, I can honestly say I had so much fun unexpectedly because it’s not something I thought to do.
Julie herself is a perfect example of the local connection. She’s a full-time teacher who usually did remote jobs during the break. She was “looking for a summer job that would get me outside and meeting people.” After getting sick of being in front of the computer, she discovered PedalCycle on Facebook and fell in love with the concept.
“I said I was going to try it out and I just loved it,” Julie recalls about her conversation with Francesca, who had been driving the bike since around 2016 or 2017. This local connection runs deep. The drivers know the island, understand the vibe, and genuinely enjoy sharing their favorite spots with both visitors and fellow locals.
Why PedalCycle Matters to LBI
In a world of standard tourist activities, PedalCycle offers something genuinely unique. As the only business of its kind in New Jersey, it gives visitors and locals alike a reason to see Beach Haven from a completely different perspective. It’s not just about the bars or the drinks, it’s about the shared experience of being part of something joyful and memorable.
For visitors, it’s an instant introduction to Beach Haven’s personality and hospitality. For locals, it’s a fresh way to experience familiar places with friends. For everyone involved, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from trying something completely different.
Ready to Roll?
Whether you’re planning a birthday celebration, a bachelorette party, a family reunion, or just want to shake up your typical evening out, PedalCycle delivers an experience you literally can’t get anywhere else in New Jersey.
Looking for something extra special? On Friday, August 29th at 7:30pm, they’re hosting an over 30 singles mixer at both the Beach Haven and Seaside locations. Use code “MIXER” for 20% off. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet new people while experiencing the PedalCycle magic.
The combination of exercise, music, socializing, bar hopping, and pure spectacle creates something greater than the sum of its parts. As Julie puts it, “It’s a really good time” – and in Beach Haven, where good times are the whole point, that’s exactly what you want to hear.
Book your PedalCycle adventure and discover why this rolling party has become one of LBI’s most talked-about experiences. After all, when’s the last time your transportation was as much fun as your destination?
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