My Favorite Thing is Monsters 1 (5 Photos)
Five photos from CBA’s My Favorite Thing is Monsters map
Guided Rides
Sign up for half/full day custom bike rides through Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Sights you could see on a CBA guided ride
Check out CBA Maps and the blog for more inspiration
- All
Guided Rides
CBA's custom neighborhood bike rides of Chicago. Are...
CBA Bike Tours
All CBA rides are custom planned according to riders' responses to the pre-ride questionnaire. However, we do have some pre-planned general tours to get people thinking.
Airbnb Reviews
-
My group had an amazing time. I’m moving to Chicago soon and Steve was a great resource about the history of the area, along with creating a great route that... read more showed the things important to me like parks, neighborhoods, and restaurants. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to become more intimate with the city. We were able to cover a lot of ground at a very easy and relaxing pace, and see some pretty cool spots.
Zachary
May 14, 2023 -
Steve tailored the tour to meet the expectations and abilities of all riders, and he was a terrific resource, showing us everything from neighborhood architecture to murals and parks. I... read more learned so much in just a short time, and Steve’s cheerful demeanor was just icing on the cake. Five stars. Well worth the time!
Maggie
October 13, 2022 -
Steve is super friendly and patient, especially considering I was late for the tour. Not only does he have an impressive array of bikes to choose from, but he also... read more ensured that we felt completely at ease and knowledgeable about operating them before embarking on the tour.
Prior to our ride, Steve provided us with a general overview of the tour. Throughout the journey, I felt secure and comfortable riding with him as a guide.
The neighborhoods we explored were pretty cool and showed the charm (and changes) of the city. I wish we could have explored more but the time constraints limited us.
Another thing I wish for was the inclusion of a couple of stops at unique Chicago stores.... like a bakery, small bites, and/or merchandise (i.e. Thrift store).
Overall, good experience and the couple who attended with me made it even better!
Danielle
June 18, 2023 -
Steve has a wonderful in depth knowledge about Chicago and if he didn't know about a specific landmark or building, his curiosity will not allow him to sleep until he... read more finds answers (thanks to his previous librarian career). In short, Steve's bike tour > architecture boat tour any day!
Helen
September 17, 2019 -
One of the best tours of any kind I've ever taken. Steve's thorough approach begins even before you meet, with a survey to determine what topics and sites you want... read more to cover, as well as your biking speed and style. We met on time, and the hours flew by. I learned so much and didn't want the tour to end. Chicago, for one, is a biking heaven (I live where it's mountainous) and architectural treasure chest, and to have Steve's wide-ranging and deep expertise to tap on whenever I had a (Website hidden by Airbnb) was my ideal of the perfect tour. The route he created to match my interests showed me things I'd heard about, and many I didn't think to ask about (like that Mies van de Rohe had designed the campus of IIT). The bike loaner was great too.
Laura O
May 28, 2019 -
What a great ride we had. Despite the playful weather. Steve is great guide and a fun storyteller. And a nice person in general. He taylored the ride to... read more our request. Strong recommendation.
Florian
April 1, 2023 -
Amazing!!! Very well thought out, a great balance of educational, entertaining, and a great workout! Steve personalizes the experience for you and allowed for us to see amazing architecture, interesting... read more anecdotes, and beautiful murals. One of the best Airbnb experiences for sure!
Tiffany
July 18, 2022
Yelp
-
This was by far the best day of my vacation in Chicago. A bike tour is the best way to see a city, and Steve's street art bike tour was... read more such a great experience. We saw great popular murals and tons of never seen or known about before. Steve knew the answers to all my questions about the artists, the collaborations, the backgrounds of the pieces and more. On top of that I felt very safe the whole and trusted his urban biking skills. It was truly a memorable experience and I can't wait to take my friends with me next time I go!
Naima B.
10/29/2019 -
Steve is great and love the tours. My wife took me on one a couple years ago and we went again while some friends were in town last week. Great... read more way to see the city and each tour is customized based on what you are interested in learning about and how far you want to go. Highly recommend!
Jason K.
8/16/2022 -
My friend from out of town wanted to visit me in Chicago for my birthday. Instead of going out to a fancy dinner, we decided to go on an... read more adventure with Chicago Bike Adventures. It was a great! I live in Chicago and love to bike. I wasn't sure if I would see anything new or unexpected on my trip because I live here, but I certainly did! Steve is extremely knowledgeable and knows about all the hidden gems! He customized the tour for just me and my friend and one other woman that joined us that day. It was great to be able to see all of the things I wanted to see (like street art, history, and planning stuff) and not get into the things I didn't care as much about. I'm sure there are many more customized adventures that he is prepared to give!
We saw a lot of really fantastic street art. We also stopped by a brewery in Pilsen, Lo Rez. I highly recommend it! Steve was extremely knowledgeable about all of the things and places we visited. He was also very approachable and fun to ride with. He even lent someone a pair of socks so she could be a little warmer on the ride. Great guy.
It was great how Steve knew which route to take. He clearly did a lot of research in finding the best way to get around. I ride my bike in Chicago so I know how difficult it can be getting around if you don't find a bike lane, or a less busy street. The ride that day was very pleasant and stress free.
Oh! I should mention that it was 33 degrees when we did this trip and I still loved it! We bundled up and kept warm by moving.
I would definitely recommend this for a visitor or a local!
Emily E.
1/25/2019 -
A fantastic bike tour, personally tailored to your interests. We did a 3-hour ride with a group of four who signed up together, but you can also sign up alone... read more and be paired with others.
Steve is a friendly and knowledgeable guide. We had a rider who hadn't ridden a bicycle in years and Steve's loaner bike and helmet worked out great.
Highly recommend the "bike the boulevards" route and on through Pilsen and Chinatown. Great history and architecture.
Thanks, Steve!
Alex H.
7/12/2019 -
Steve created a wonderful memory for us while on a short trip to Chicago. Our group of girls had a mix of biking experience and he went out of his... read more way to ensure we all felt comfortable. This tour was a comfortable pace filled with local art and history of each space. The ability to ride through the city made us feel like a local even though my riding skills may have indicated otherwise. Thank you Steve for making us feel like a priority to you and your city. Would love to come and do this again.
Amy H.
4/29/2021 -
I spent an amazing 4.5 hours riding 15 miles on a totally customized bike tour with Steve. He knows so much about the art, architecture, and history along the way... read more (he is a retired teacher so it's not surprising.) After I got home he even provided me with a detailed map of the ride that included photos of me along the way with informational links about the scene shown. A+ experience.
Colin K.
8/17/2021 -
I found Steve of Chicago Bike Adventures on Trip Advisor. They also have a website: https://chicagobikeadventures.com/about/
I wanted to enhance a four day holiday in Chicago... read more with something more interesting than the usual Red Bus or Architectural River Tours which, while worth doing, are things I had done before. Steve's tours involve riding cycles around the northern neighborhoods of the city for 5 hours while he explained the sights. Before the tour, you are sent a questionnaire which asks about your size, bike riding expertise, and interests: History, architecture, sports, churches, etc.
I chose a cold day in December and was the only person on the tour which meant I got Steve all to myself. When I arrived a the beginning of the tour, Steve was waiting with a helmet and a well tuned bicycle adjusted for my size and ready to go.
We started with a tour of the immediate neighborhood. As we rode He explained the local history and pointed out landmarks. The pace was just right, we kept moving to stay warm, it was about 30 degrees F, with stops at various points of interest. Steve teaches in the Chicago schools when he is not giving bicycle tours and we got along famously. As the tour went open we explored the University of Illinois, street art, the trendy new neighborhoods that are attracting tech workers and historical sights going back 100 years.
One of the best things about a small group tour is the ability to get to know a local, ask questions and get a sense of what it is like to live in the city you are visiting. This is much better than hearing a recording of the points of interest as you drive by on a bus filled with other tourists.
Later Steve took me to a local taco place for lunch. The food was very tasty and we continued our discussion of Chicago, one of the most interesting cities I know.
After 5 hours and 12 miles of bike riding I was tired and very happy to have taken the tour. I suspect you will be just as satisfied if you take one of Steve's bike tours. Although the route is chosen carefully to minimize congested streets, you will be riding in a big city for hours so you should be comfortable riding a bicycle in traffic.
John Kelly
John K.
12/28/2018 -
If you want to get to know Chicago more personally, try this out. This was one of my favorite experiences during my three day stay at Chicago. I did all... read more the tourist must-dos but it was nice to bike around neighborhoods and to feel what exactly the locals see everyday. Steve was great with everything from picking out/adjusting a bike for my size to explaining fun little details of Chicago. If you love being active and want a new experience while traveling, this would be great for you.
Somang L.
8/28/2019 -
Absolutely loved this bike tour with Steve. Our tour was customized to what we wanted to see. Steve included stops in between our requested stops so we could learn and... read more enjoy more about this beautiful city. Steve was patient with us and accommodating to our level of bike riding, making sure we were following behind and letting us know our route ahead. Steve took pictures and put them together on a map showing where we had been. He also included photos from the movie sites we stopped at so we could compare our pictures with the movie. It was awesome! I will recommend Steve to friends and book again!!!
Stacie A.
9/25/2023
Tripadvisor
- Steven K
I read the reviews about how awesome Steve and his Chicago bike tour is ahead of visiting Chicago...and they were all true. Steve is a super laid back guy that... read more knew every inch of incredible Chicago. This was my first visit to the city and after our 5+ hour tour, I felt
October 1, 2019 - ana_rg123
A must if you come to Chicago. You’ll see a different side to the city and Steve will customize the experience for you. See different neighborhoods, learn about the history,... read more take great photos and enjoy a drink!
March 18, 2020 -
Steve did a great job of showing our small group around Chicago. Went to parts of Chicago I would never have found on my own and got a taste of... read more what it is like to be a bicycle commuter in Chicago. I had a different...More
Super8Connoisseur
May 5, 2019 - 316drewr
Steve was awesome! Catered the ride to my pace and showed me tons and tons of street art (just like I wanted). He was easy to talk to, very knowledgeable... read more and very down to earth.
August 24, 2019 - AmyK
Steve was a great tour guide as we biked through Chicago. His pre-ride survey allowed him to tailor the ride to some of our interests. We were super confident navigating... read more the streets with Steve in the front. The street art was amazing as was the ride along the old L tracks and along the lake. Highly recommend. We will be back. …
March 1, 2021 - theworldiswide
Steve is a warm, fun-loving and very knowlegeable tour guide. He took us through several very cool neighborhoods, showed us awesome street art and shared countless interesting details. He is... read more a confident bike tour guide and knows the streets of Chicago well. He even managed...More
September 29, 2019 - dazelr
I highly recommend this bike tour. Steve does a great job of gathering your info before hand and tailoring the ride to you. I was lucky to be the... read more only rider that day so the experience was very personal. Steve does a great job leading you on the bike and I felt very safe
September 1, 2019 - ChicagoUrban
As local residents, we wanted a fun adventure over July 4th (and during the pandemic). Steve created a perfect tour!
We went west for ethnic street art, and... read more south for architectural, social and Black history (Bronzeville, Jane Adams, Ida B. Wells) and musicians (Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Thomas Dorsey, Muddy Waters). Steve is easy and spontaneous as he creates context throughout, tying many pieces together.
We came away with a more intimate connection to our great hometown, Chicago! Hope to do another tour with Steve soon!
July 5, 2020




