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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Tag: blake jones

CBA Rides 17 (5 photos)

November 27, 2023April 16, 2024 SteveLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 17 (5 photos)
Seen from behind two CBA riders are looking up at a curved modern glass condo skyscraper.

Five shots from this year’s rides.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged birdmilk, blake jones, church conversions, humboldt park, joeyD, jpak4ever, kozmo, lakeshore, matr, movie locations, oinkz, pablo serrano, skyscrapers, sports, street art, ukrainian village, west town, while you were sleeping, worthmann & steinbach, wrigley field, wrigleyville

Looking Around 3

November 21, 2018December 3, 2018 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 3

The third installment of what I saw the past week riding in Chicago.

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Posted in Looking AroundTagged afrokilla, art deco, autin, avondale, birdo, blake jones, east Ukrainian village, james jankowiak, joe miller, lake view, mcpherson, midway place, movable bridges, queen anne, shawn smith, skyscrapers, street art, west garfield park, wicker park, willis tower
A book cover for 100 Things to do in Illinois Before You Die with blue text that says We're in the Book!

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!

    thumb Naima B.
    10/29/2019

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   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 recommend a bike ridding excursion with him. Thank you Steve!

    thumb Susan
    September 27, 2019

  •   This bike tour with Steve was a great way to kick off my visit to Chicago and visit places that were off the beaten path outside of the downtown area.... read more The tour was thoughtfully planned out and allowed us to appreciate the architecture and some of the history of Chicago. Steve is very kind and accommodating, makes you feel safe and comfortable during your ride, takes pictures, and is a great guide. I would do this tour again and recommend it to those traveling to Chicago.

    thumb Rebecca
    June 7, 2024

  •   If you want to see the neighbourhoods of Chicago and get a little exercise at the same time this is the answer. The four hour trip was not strenuous and... read more provided a great overview of Chicago which would be hard to do on your own. FIVE STAR REVIEW!!!

    thumb Lorne
    June 16, 2024

  •   Great tour!! Steve let us customize our tour to explore things our group was more interested in.

    thumb Pratyush
    July 3, 2021

  •   This is my second tour with Steve. He is a friendly, knowledgeable host. Very accommodating and his biking experience creates a safe and comfortable ride. Great way to see and... read more learn about many parts of Chicago!

    thumb Lisa
    July 16, 2021

  •   If you want a personalized and fantastic Chicago tour- book this! Steve was a great tour guide, great knowledge of the area and the history of the area. It was... read more just the two of us and Steve and he was easy to talk to! We got to see the off the beaten path Chicago, definitely something I would get on my own. I cannot recommend this experience enough!

    thumb Leanne
    September 12, 2024

  •   This was one of the best experiences I had on a weekend trip to Chicago. Steve was so personable and charismatic. He personalized our tour to what we wanted to... read more see and experience. Loved his knowledge. He was so calm and patient. I would recommend this!! Great as a gift idea as well. We did this for my son's birthday.

    thumb Carmen
    May 2, 2021

  •   The bike tour with Steve was great! He went above and beyond by sending out a pre-ride survey gauging our interest in specific topics and tailored the tour to what... read more we really wanted to see. Could not have asked for a better experience. Wonderfully safe way to explore Chicago during times of social distancing.

    thumb Emily
    October 9, 2020

  •   Steve was an incredible host with boundless energy and detailed knowledge of the diverse historical sites and landmarks in Chicago. We saw a beautiful cathedral, learned about the devleopment... read more of Chicago neighborhoods, biked across the serene Humboldt Park as well as checked out some street mural art, all quite a delgihtful treat!

    thumb Yvonne
    May 30, 2024

  •   An incredible way to see the City! Winding through alleys, neighborhood streets and parkways Steve shared his diverse knowledge about street art, architecture, local history and community culture. Casual and... read more conversational, our tour felt like a day trip with a friend. I learned about things that were of interest to me. Plenty of stops along the way. The map of our ride with photos was truly a bonus. Thanks for a great day Steve!

    thumb Stacey
    September 10, 2019

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

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    theworldiswide
    September 29, 2019

  • 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
    Colin Knight
    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 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  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 bike and receiving information was perfect!

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Kai H
    July 19, 2018

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

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    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

  • star rating  I had an awesome time cruising around town with Steve. We went to places in Chicago I probably wouldn't otherwise go and learned a ton about the city. I felt... read more safe the whole time and still felt like I was in the middle of everything....More

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    avatar thumb Saltlakemike
    July 28, 2018

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

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    D2057BUshannonh
    March 22, 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  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!

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Julio S
    September 18, 2018

  • 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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