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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Tag: chinatown

Chicago Marathon 2023 Route Pics

October 2, 2023October 10, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on Chicago Marathon 2023 Route Pics
A tour bike leaning on the painted metal fence of a heavily panted colorful gingerbread Queen Anne home.

Sites along the 2023 Chicago Marathon

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Posted in PhotosTagged burnham & root, chinatown, church conversion, douglas, former firehouses, gingerbread, grant park, jc rivera, kobra, lincoln park, movable bridges, near west side, old town, pilsen, public art, public sculpture, river north, streetart, streeterville, thegap, uic

Gift Certificates

December 2, 2019January 13, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Gift Certificates
A CBA bike tour rider in the foregrund with a colorful flower garden in the back.

Gift a custom bike ride to the cyclist in your life!

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Posted in Gift Certificates, Tours in ActionTagged bridgeport, chinatown, Frank Lloyd Wright, logan square, movable bridges, my dog sighs, parks, sentrock, west town

Mapping Lee Bey’s Southern Exposure

November 18, 2019December 16, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on Mapping Lee Bey’s Southern Exposure
A tour bike standing in front of one side of the mid century modern steep roofed triangle windowed St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

A map of 60+ overlooked Chicago South Side buildings and parks.

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Posted in Architecture, MapsTagged brighton park, bronzeville, chatham, chinatown, douglas, englewood, hyde park, pullman, roseland, south chicago, south side, washington park, west pullman

CBA Rides 5 (10 Photos)

August 5, 2019September 9, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 5 (10 Photos)
A CBA tour rider watching CobreArt putting up a ;arge mural of Quincy Jones.

10 pics of mid-summer CBA rides in action.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged 18th street bridge, armour patch, art deco, bridgeport, burnham & root, chinatown, cobre, colin van der sluijs, east garfield park, greetingstour, hebru Brantley, lacuna lofts, logan square, megzany, movable bridges, palmisano park, pilsen, river north, street art, unionstockyards, wicker park

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
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

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   Steve was really patient and knowledgeable. I’m amazed by the amount of details he dishes out in his explanations. Really worth the time and money!

    thumb Jan
    August 5, 2022

  •   A truly immersive and tailor made Chicago experience. Taking a cycling tour in December seemed like a risky idea - and in fact it was a pleasant, comfortable, and insightful... read more ride

    thumb Nick
    December 8, 2019

  •   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

  •   Had a great time riding with Steve touring the city. I felt safe 100% of the time. He is very knowledgable about the city's history, culture, and route. Once you... read more book a session a survey will be sent to you to determine what location you want to see. As a side note doing a bike tour as the best way to get to know the city in my opinion.

    thumb Torrance
    April 15, 2022

  •   Great experience! Steve is knowledgeable and a great storyteller.

    thumb Doretha
    June 24, 2022

  •   Steve is amazing and has a great knowledge about Chicago as a whole and the neighbourhoods especially. Being new to Chicago, I had a great time exploring and left with... read more a good level of knowledge about the place. Would recommend this tour to anyone. Thanks Steve!!

    thumb Binu
    February 29, 2020

  •   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

  •   The bike tour with Steve was great. A great way to explore a bit more than downtown Chicago and connect better with the city. Steve knows the region and its... read more history very well and he was a great guide. After the tour, he sent me a map with our route and some great pictures. Totally recommend this!

    thumb Livya
    June 11, 2023

  •   Steve is extremely knowledgeable about Chicago and could answer all of our questions. He adapted perfectly to our expectations, I had a wonderful time and hope to do another route... read more with him the next time I'm in Chicago. Also the bikes he lend us were in great shape.

    thumb Madeleine
    July 31, 2023

  •   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

TripAdvisor

  • 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  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  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  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  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  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 a drink!

    tripadvisor logo
    ana_rg123
    March 18, 2020

  • 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

  • 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

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    avatar thumb Super8Connoisseur
    May 5, 2019

  • 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  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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