Last year, a “guided rail tour” started making the rounds on social media. This is despite the fact that it sucked.

We’ve all had the experience of seeing something online that looks cool, then going in-person and finding the actual product on offer lackluster. It’s one of the reasons why so many restaurants suck nowadays — the focus is on the image, not the actual thing you’re buying.

Still, we all hold out some hope that the thing we see in the social media videos is going to be close enough to the real thing that we can have a good time. Enter “railbike tours.”

@labucketlist Tag your +1! Book discounted tickets (15% OFF) + learn more at BucketListers.com via our link in bio. Explore the scenic beauty of Southern California on this 2-seater guided railbike tour & stop on the way to get some fresh produce from local farmers markets! Who’s in? : @Jen Z | LA Food & Fun #LABucketList #SantaPaula ♬ original sound - LosAngelesBucketList

Doesn’t this look fun? You get on a railbike and pedal through a scenic landscape, eventually stopping at a farm for some fresh food direct from the soil. What could be better than that?

Turns out, the answer is “a lot of things.” Once people started actually taking this tour, they realized 1) it costs $250; 2) the “scenic landscape” is just the shitty California desert; and 3) the railbikes themselves leave a lot to be desired.

While average reviews on Google are still positive, commenters still have all sorts of gripes about the experience, ranging from its high price to its short timespan (apparently the ride consists of two 45-minute stints, meaning you’re paying about $2.78 for every minute you’re in the railbike). Others have also said that they feel the whole experience is unsafe, as the railbikes have minimal protection and bikers occasionally find themselves crossing open roads.

In short, don’t trust everything you see on TikTok — in case you hadn’t learned that lesson already.

@baileygoesoutside never trusting an IG reel again super weird excursion on our California vacation #losangeles #gonewrong #la #california #vacation #vacationfail #storytime #tripfail #railcar #excursion #vacationmode #cali #railroad #musttry ♬ HOWD THIS GO VIRAL SpongeBob Audio - ٭Ochaco's |ove