Links for inspiration

Routes from others

Bikecentric Chicago

The Chainlink – news, resources, forum, community

Chi.Bike – webapp for mass events, city info, route plotting…

Active Transportation Alliance – events, advocacy, and resources

Ride Illinois – news, events, advocacy

Illinois Cycling – news, racing and riding clubs

Northbrook Cycle Committee – track racing at the Northbrook velodrome

TrailLink – Nationwide Rails to Trails Conservancy

Learning on the web

Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™ – historical gems from Neil Gale, Ph.D

Chicago Patterns – architecture, preservation, hidden history

Ultra Local Geography – history at the building and street level

StreetArtNews- Chicago – local artistic activities

The Hop Review: The Comprehensive Brewery List of Chicago – regularly updated

Streetsblog Chicago – news on sustainable transportation and livable communities

Chicago Sojourn – architecture blog focusing on the hidden, forgotten, and obscure

Chicago Architecture – architecture news blog

Forgotten Chicago – history that fell through the cracks

Atlas Obscura Guide to Chicago – 100+ quirky Chicago sights

Curbed Chicago – real estate news

Chicago Landmarks – the city’s official listing

Chicago Building Age Map – Transitized – color coded by era

Encyclopedia of Chicago – Chicago History Museum, Newberry Library, Northwestern University sponsored site

Learning in print

AIA Guide to Chicago – Alice Sinkevitch (edited)

Black Metropolis: A Study of Negro Life in a Northern City – St. Clair Drake & Horace R. Cayton

Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs: A Historical Guide – Ann Durkin Keating (edited)

Cycling in Chicago – Chris McAuliffe

Making the Second Ghetto: Race & Housing in Chicago 1940-1960 – Arnold R. Hirsch

Nature’s Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West – William Cronon

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

Naima B.
10/29/2019
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

Somang L.
8/28/2019
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

Alex H.
7/12/2019
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

John K.
12/28/2018
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

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

Stacie A.
9/25/2023
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

Jason K.
8/16/2022
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

Colin K.
8/17/2021
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

Emily E.
1/25/2019

Airbnb

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!

Bill
April 15, 2019

We had a good time exploring the outer neighborhoods of Chicago with Steve!

Robert
September 10, 2022

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

Maggie
June 21, 2022

Steve personalized my experience to perfection, was a fantastic storyteller and had many interesting things to share about the street art, architecture and history of the neighborhoods we visited. Highly... read more

Teresa
August 6, 2022

Our bike ride with Steve was great! He is very friendly and knowledgeable about Chicago history, architecture and art! We had a very pleasant experience with Steve and would definitely... read more

Susan
September 27, 2019

I found Steve of Chicago Bike Adventures on Trip Advisor. They also have a website: (Website hidden by Airbnb)

I wanted to enhance a four... read more

John
December 21, 2018

Wonderful experience with Steve, highly recommended. The best tour. He tried to accommodate the tour to what we liked the most. Very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and pleasant. We’re planning to... read more

Blanca
July 9, 2023

It was a great day & I'd recommend it to anyone

Robb
September 19, 2019

Steven's Chicago Bicycle Tour is a radiant symphony of urban exploration, where the cityscape becomes a canvas and the wheels dance like notes on a musical staff. His guidance is... read more

Damian
January 31, 2024

Most excellent tour ever. Highly recommend and Steve is extremely nice and informative.

Michael
June 15, 2021

TripAdvisor

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

dazelr
September 17, 2019

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

Steven K
October 1, 2019

Wonderful ride, Steve is a very nice guy who knows A LOT of Chicago, you will really have a good time with him. Such a great experience!

Julio S
September 18, 2018

Thank you Steve for an informative, detailed and unforgettable bike tour through Chicago‘s suburbs, but also for showing us Chicago from a completely different side. The ratio between riding the... read more

Kai H
July 19, 2018

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

ana_rg123
March 1, 2020

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

Kookoocachu
October 18, 2019

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

Costi S
September 7, 2018

This is a great way to see more of Chicago and develop an understanding of the communities and history of the city overall. Steve takes great pictures and shares them... read more

Shannon H
March 1, 2021

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

theworldiswide
September 29, 2019

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

philip_goodman
June 14, 2019

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