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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Category: Public Art

Public Sculpture 2 (5 Photos)

July 7, 2020August 4, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Public Sculpture 2 (5 Photos)
A tour bike standing next to a giant shiny copper disc with rough textured center.

5 more sculptures from CBA’s Public Sculpture Map

Read More

Posted in Photos, Public ArtTagged hyde park, IIT, north center, river north, sculpture, washington park

Public Sculpture 1 (5 Photos)

November 11, 2019November 18, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on Public Sculpture 1 (5 Photos)
A tour bike leaning in front of a sun dial sculpture with the Chicago skyline in the background.

Photos from CBA’s Public Sculpture Map

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Posted in Photos, Public ArtTagged art, bronzeville, grant park, henry moore, josh garber, lake view, magdalena abakanowicz, mary brogger, museum campus, richard hunt, smith park

Monuments and Memorials Map

June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 SteveLeave a Comment on Monuments and Memorials Map

Chicago has its fair share of statues that ask us to remember an historic event/personage determined to be worthy of remembering.

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Posted in Art, Monuments/Memorials, Public ArtTagged history, memorials, monuments, presidents, public art

Public Sculpture Map

March 23, 2018April 25, 2018 SteveLeave a Comment on Public Sculpture Map

Over 100 more or less permanent public art sculptures make Chicago an art gallery you can bike through.

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Posted in Maps, Public ArtTagged maps, public art, sculpture
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 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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   This is an excellent way to get to know Chicago. Steve uses a survey to learn what you want to see, so put some thought into it. Steve knows... read more SO MUCH about the area! Ask him questions and be amazed. Bring lots of water, 2 water bottles, and easy to eat snacks for quick energy during the bike breaks. Don’t hesitate to ask for something specific, Steve adjusted on the fly when I asked for something. Traveling bike bike was so much fun!

    thumb Shayla
    August 23, 2021

  •   What a great way to see the city and surrounding neighborhoods.
    We saw so much and really enjoyed learning the history of the neighborhoods.

    thumb Al
    September 13, 2023

  •   Steve's a friendly, knowledgable and fun guide and I very much enjoyed the tour with him! He personalises the tour well and I wish I had the time to do... read more another tour with him! Defnitely recommend!

    thumb Nora
    May 23, 2023

  •   We had a fantastic time with Steve! He is super friendly, knowledgeable, easy going and accommodating. Our tour was just the right amount of riding and discovery. I was in... read more town visiting a friend and she enjoyed the experience just as much as I did even though she has lived in Chicago for 10+ years. I would recommend Steve’s tour to both visitors and locals interested in learning more about the great city of Chicago!

    thumb Marcella
    November 10, 2018

  •   Was great tour seen lots of interesting things and great knowledge from s Steve very interesting Would recommend this tour. Cheers

    thumb James
    May 24, 2022

  •   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.

    thumb Laura O
    May 28, 2019

  •   Steve was great. The tour was very complete, he took us to all the cool neighborhoods of Chicago. We saw lots of street art, architecture, and many more things. I... read more have been living in Chicago for 5 years, and still managed to see a lot of new things. Had a lot of fun. Thanks Steve!

    thumb Maria
    October 9, 2020

  •   There's no better way to get to know the city than with Steve. I highly highly recommend if you're here visiting and want to see as much as possible. Awesome... read more tour with a great tour guide

    thumb Connor
    May 8, 2021

  •   Steve is knowledgeable about Chicago and an experienced bicyclists. He's considerate of your needs. He has a pleasant, warm smile and laughs easily. As a teacher, he uses his love... read more of history to enhance the experience.

    thumb Meadow
    August 21, 2019

  •   Amazing experience! Made for who would like to know more about Chicago than the usual landmarks. I would advise it to everybody

    thumb Riccardo
    June 13, 2022

TripAdvisor

  • star rating  Excellent experience and would highly recommend. Steve, the owner and guide, was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and tailored the tour to our interests.

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb SLC3333
    May 28, 2019

  • star rating  Very knowledgeable of the city of Chicago. Very considerate and safe lead bicyclist. Great way to explore the city! Highly recommend.

    tripadvisor logo
    Meadow C
    August 27, 2019

  • 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 to arrange good weather for the tour! :)

    I highly recommend Steve and Chicago Bike Adventures...you'll have a blast!

    tripadvisor logo
    theworldiswide
    September 30, 2019

  • star rating  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

    tripadvisor logo
    ana_rg123
    March 1, 2020

  • star rating  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

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Super8Connoisseur
    May 5, 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  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.

    tripadvisor logo
    316drewr
    August 24, 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
    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

  • star rating  I spent an amazing 4.5 hours touring Chicago neighborhoods with Steve. He knows an amazing amount about the art, architecture, and history along the ride. He totally customizes the tour... read more based on your interests. After the trip he provided me with a detailed map of the route with photos of some of the stops and with informational links. A+ experience.

    tripadvisor logo
    ColinKnightMD
    August 17, 2021

  • 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

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      • Christian Scientist Churches
      • Church Conversions
      • Disused Firehouses
      • Frank Lloyd Wright
      • Green & White Brick
      • Historic Public Schools
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      • Movable Bridges
      • Preservation Chicago
        • 7 Most Endangered Structures of 2017
        • 7 Most Endangered Structures of 2018
      • Southern Exposure (Lee Bey, 2019)
      • Worthmann & Steinbach
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        • Native Son (Richard Wright, 1940)
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