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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Month: December 2018

While You Were Sleeping Map

December 24, 2018January 21, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on While You Were Sleeping Map
A tour bike standing in the grassy courtyard of a red brick apartment building with limestone entrances.

A Chicago CTA worker pretends to be the fiancee of a comatose man

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Posted in Maps, MoviesTagged la grange, lake view, logan square, loop, maps, movie locations, portage park

CBA Rides 2 (11 Photos)

December 17, 2018January 14, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 2 (11 Photos)
A CBA bike tour ride looking at a 1890s riugh graystone Queen Anne style corner building with a long diagonal fire escape.

Another week of looking back at the CBA rides from this summer and fall.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged b_line, bridgeport, bucktown, hubbard street, pilsen, street art, wicker park, wrigleyville

CBA Rides (11 Photos)

December 10, 2018December 17, 2018 SteveLeave a Comment on CBA Rides (11 Photos)
Two CBA bike tour riders posing in front of a mural of a dark skinned woman with blue pain across her face, butterfly wings in her hair, an eye in her neck, and a hanging key

Looking back at CBA rides from earlier this year.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged architecture, bridgeport, caught in action, chinatown, logan square, near west side, pilsen, street art, uptown, urban greenery, west town

Gift Certificates

December 4, 2018January 22, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on Gift Certificates
Two CBA bike tour riders posing in front of a road with Chinese style buildings with the Willis Tower skyscraper in the background.

A custom bike ride makes a great gift for the cyclist in your life

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Posted in Gift Certificates

Looking Around 4 (11 Photos)

December 3, 2018December 10, 2018 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 4 (11 Photos)
The bronze calves in red shoes and dog on hind legs of a statue with Italiante two and half stories in the background.

Pics from the bike the past two weeks

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Posted in Looking AroundTagged facades, public art, street art
A book cover for 100 Things to do in Illinois Before You Die with blue text that says We're in the Book!

Yelp

  •   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.

    thumb Colin K.
    8/17/2021

  •   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!

    thumb Naima B.
    10/29/2019

  •   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.

    thumb Amy H.
    4/29/2021

  •   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!!!

    thumb Stacie A.
    9/25/2023

  •   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

    thumb John K.
    12/28/2018

  •   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!

    thumb Alex H.
    7/12/2019

  •   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!

    thumb Emily E.
    1/25/2019

  •   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.

    thumb Somang L.
    8/28/2019

  •   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!

    thumb Jason K.
    8/16/2022

Airbnb

  •   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!

    thumb Danielle
    June 18, 2023

  •   Steve’s tours are informative, approachable, and fun! Even on a hot day, it was a great ride and conversation. Steve tailored our ride based on my interests and I learned... read more so many new things about the art, architecture, and urban development of Chicago. Steve is a teacher and clearly has a love for storytelling and for the city. Whether you are a visitor or a local, this is a great way to get to know Chicago a little better.

    thumb Maggie
    June 21, 2022

  •   Great experience and nice way to experience the city. The gps maps and geo tagged photos at the end of the experience were amazing.

    thumb Ishan
    July 24, 2021

  •   The best way to get to know Chicago and its history. I booked this experience because I wanted to get to know Chicago in its raw self in addition to... read more all of the tourist spots. I’ve visited Chicago 360, two museums, the aquarium and all but this comes in one of the best. I was the only one who signed up that day so Steve really tailored the tour to my interests. The nature, 100+yr old houses, skyscrapers, and hidden graffiti spots in between were all inspiring. I felt like I was getting to know an entirely different city from my previous visits. Steve definitely had a entire history of Chicago encyclopedia in his brain which was a game changer. He did tell me he was a history major and I was truly impressed. The ride was such a breeze despite of my worries because Chicago is mostly flat (thank God). It did rain a bit on and off during the five hours but I didn’t find it problematic at all. Actually, I enjoyed it as a part of the experience. Steve provided a raincoat big enough to cover my entire body and my backpack. He also gave me a big bottle of water at the beginning of the tour. I enjoyed more of these ‘minor’ tours and experience during my stay in Chicago rather than those famous must-dos.

    thumb Somang
    August 17, 2019

  •   Had a great time riding through Chicago neighborhoods and downtown with Steve. Learned a lot of history on the place and enjoyed all of the street art!

    thumb Bill
    April 15, 2019

  •   My boyfriend and I came to visit Chicago for a couple of days and thought it would be best to have a native Chicago dweller give us an introductory tour... read more of the city. Steve was an excellent tour guide and took us to neighborhoods that we never would have explored otherwise. He sent us a (Hidden by Airbnb) survey before the tour, and tailored it to what we indicated we were interested in. In our particular case, we were interested to see the street art around the city, and he showed us some really amazing murals and was able to talk about the pieces and the artists in depth. You can tell he is really passionate about it! The tour ended up just being the 3 of us (Steve, my boyfriend, and me) and it was great because we got a really personalized tour and we were able to do it at our own pace. I'd highly recommend doing this if you're going to Chicago!

    thumb Jen
    November 10, 2020

  •   Steve is very friendly and extremely easy to get a long with; as a solo, female traveler I felt safe with him and trusted him to safely guide me via... read more bike around the streets of Chicago. He showed me unique parts of Chicago that I would have never explored if it weren't for the biking tour. I learned many, many things about the city including its complex historical culture, street art and brewing companies. He even took photos of me at the stops I found most enjoyable (great for the gram!). I definitely recommend this biking tour to anyone who wishes to experience the personal side of Chicago!

    thumb Gaby
    September 11, 2020

  •   Love to bike

    thumb Tommy
    September 16, 2019

  •   This was a great experience that I would highly recommend. It is fun, educational and a great way to see the city. Steve is knowledgeable and engaging. He is a... read more also a great communicator and very patient. Book this trip with confidence that u will have a memorable time getting to know Chicago in an unique way!

    thumb Kathy
    April 23, 2021

  •   Steve was an amazing tour guide. He showed us all of Chicago's neighborhoods and provided an authentic experience.

    thumb Jackie
    August 12, 2018

TripAdvisor

  • star rating  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

    tripadvisor logo
    theworldiswide
    September 29, 2019

  • star rating  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

    tripadvisor logo
    Steven K
    October 1, 2019

  • star rating  Was lucky to have a solo tour with Steve today and saw so much of the city, a lot of which I wouldn’t have had time or the prior knowledge... read more to visit on my own. He takes a lot of care over the itinerary, sending...More

    tripadvisor logo
    philip_goodman
    June 14, 2019

  • star rating  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

    tripadvisor logo
    dazelr
    September 1, 2019

  • star rating  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. …

    tripadvisor logo
    AmyK
    March 1, 2021

  • star rating  If you're looking for a fun, informative bike tour of Chicago with friendly, knowledgeable guide then look no further! I was lucky enough to have a one to one personal... read more tour with Steve the other day. It was clear to me he takes great care...More

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Costi S
    September 7, 2018

  • star rating  This is a great way to see more of Chicago and develop an understanding of the communities and... read more

    tripadvisor logo
    D2057BUshannonh
    March 22, 2021

  • star rating  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.

    tripadvisor logo
    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

  • star rating  Steve was a great tour guide as we biked through Chicago. His pre-ride survey allowed him to tailor... read more

    tripadvisor logo
    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

  • star rating  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! …

    tripadvisor logo
    UrbanChicago
    July 1, 2020

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