Barons & Bikes

Rain rain go away! The crazy April showers couldn’t stop our group from enjoying the pedal wagon tour that introduced us to a unique area full of history. I wish that the seat height was adjustable as even average leg length people had a trouble at times peddling. Not a big deal. I did like learning about some of the lesser known homes and businesses in the area. There is so much history and John does a good job of inserting humor and sarcasm.
This type of tour is one you would only need to do once. The bar crawl version this company offers would be great for bachelor/​ette parties.
The wagon needs to have some advertisement on it… like the name of the company and their website…

«Pedal minions!» shouted tour guide John.
That’s part of the whimsical charm found on Cincinnati’s historic Pedal Wagon tour: Barons & Bikes. Presented by the folks at American Legacy Tours, Barons & Bikes takes riders on a trip around Newport’s Historic East Row to hear tales of the Wiedeman Brewery, Mr. Kroger, and horrific tales of dismemberment at local saw mills. The Eastern Row is filled with historic, grandiose houses and Victorian-​style churches. Plus the landscaping is gorgeous with greenery hanging over the streets.
Photography is permitted on the tour, with the front right side being the best place for pictures.
For a new tour, it’s off to a great start. I would like to hear more stories about history, such as the architecture or why the East Row developed the way that it did. It would be more interesting than hearing about where the founder of the Hofbrauhaus goes to church. Also, throw in some information about the debauchery and gangsters. Yes, this company also hosts the Newport Gangster Tour, so it doesn’t want to give the same information on both tours. Some overlapping wouldn’t hurt though; just pick the most interesting or little-​known stories.
Afterwards we were dropped off at our origin at Hofbrauhaus, just in time for lunch. The pretzels and bier cheese are delicious, as was their signature Hefeweisen.
One complaint though: parking.
Upon arriving at Hofbrauhaus, the lot had their Valet service set up. There would be a $ 5.00 charge to park in a lot that is normally free. The attendant mentioned that there is always a charge on Saturdays. On a Saturday morning? Minimal people were patronizing the restaurant at this time, making Valet unnecessary. Folks who are taking the Pedal Wagon Tour should not have to pay $ 5.00 to park in the lot for an hour. Perhaps guests could show their receipt of ticket purchase to park for free?
Cost: $ 20.00 per person
Tour Time: 1 hour
Tips:
— If you must bring a purse, take a small bag. There is no where to store aside from the counter top while you pedal.
— Be sure to wear sneakers.
— There is a 5’3″ height requirement to pedal the bike. The Pedal Wagon does have a few rider seats for short folks. At 5’7″ I was having to stretch a little to reach the pedal at its lowest.
— Tipping the tour guide is encouraged, so bring some cash.