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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

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   Steve’s bike tour is the best way to see Chicago. Seeing the street art and murals throughout the city on a bike was truly an unforgettable and immersive creative and... read more cultural experience. I’ll definitely be doing this again, and would love to bring friends with me!

    thumb Naima
    October 28, 2019

  •   I had few expectations since I’d never done a bike tour before. And, I was a little nervous about riding in the road in downtown Chicago, but Steve put me... read more quickly at ease with his years of experience and a well thought out route which included quiet streets and some non-motorized paved paths (just gorgeous). I also learned quickly how bike friendly Chicago is with well-marked lanes and even some protective barriers.
    Not only did the short, interests survey Steve sent me help to inform our trip, but he was very flexible in adjusting to accommodate my desires along the way. The scenery, architecture, views, landscapes, gardens and stories were fantastic.
    Steve is extremely knowledgeable, easy-going and funny. Not only did I have a great time and get some exercise, but I have far deeper understanding and appreciation for Chicago’s history and changing cultural landscape.
    If I’m in the area, I’d love to ride with him again!

    thumb H
    May 23, 2021

  •   I live in Chicago area for 9 years, this is the first time I know so clearly about Chicago. It's a great experience for me, seeing street painting art... read more ,19 century architecture,river crossing downtown Chicago ,etc. This is something I always want to try. Thanks to Steve for such wonderful arrangement and most importantly ,we are all safe home

    thumb Wendy
    June 22, 2019

  •   Steve is the man he showed us some awesome street art spots and gave us some Chicago history along the way. I would highly recommend hitting him up if... read more you’re free on a sunny day.

    thumb Kayla
    June 1, 2021

  •   Going on a bike tour with Steve was a highlight of my long weekend in Chicago. The bike and helmet provided were of excellent quality. Steve completely customized the tour... read more for me. He knows many little details about the architecture, history, and culture of the places along the route. Thanks for a great day, Steve!

    thumb Colin
    August 15, 2021

  •   This was amazing! We would happily do it again the next time we come to Chicago. We really enjoyed seeing the city. He has a wealth of... read more knowledge about Chicago. He is a true history buff! I was a bit nervous about the miles it would take to travel around the city. We went 20 miles but they were slow and at my pace. He will adjust the miles and pace based upon your needs/wants. He was willing to stop anytime throughout our experience to take pictures. He sent us a survey to ask what we were interested in and then tailored the tour to our wants. This would be a great introduction to the city if you have recently moved there or are tourists. He was also knowledgeable about other attractions in town. This was one of our favorite things we did while visiting Chicago!

    thumb Lisa
    July 16, 2019

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

    thumb Pratyush
    July 3, 2021

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

    thumb Michael
    June 15, 2021

  •   I can highly recommend Steve for being punctual, knowledgeable and overall for providing very nice tou (Hidden by Airbnb) ch making our experi (Hidden by Airbnb) ence even more memor... read more (Hidden by Airbnb) able!
    He definitely helped us bring (Hidden by Airbnb) ing colors to our vi (Hidden by Airbnb) sit to Chicago.

    thumb Oleg
    June 6, 2022

  •   Awesome bike tour. Great way to see different neighborhoods of Chicago.

    thumb Anthony
    March 25, 2022

TripAdvisor

  • star rating  Had a wonderful tour around town with Steve. He showed me places where I never ever would have been on my own. Well maintained bikes and a beautiful city! I... read more would definitely recommend Chicago Bike Adventures.

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Nadinevd
    September 28, 2018

  • star rating  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 with you after the tour. Depending on the weather make sure you dress appropriately!

    tripadvisor logo
    Shannon H
    March 1, 2021

  • 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  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...More

    tripadvisor logo
    Kookoocachu
    October 18, 2019

  • star rating  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...More

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Eeaags
    January 25, 2019

  • 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
    ChicagoUrban
    July 5, 2020

  • 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  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 1, 2021

  • 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  This was a great experience! Steve was great, informative, and truly wanted us to have a great time. This is highly recommended and a great way to see the city... read more in a totally different way! His expertise in history exponentially added to the already great...More

    tripadvisor logo
    John R
    November 1, 2019

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