Skip to content
  • Home
  • Guided Rides
    • Gift Certificates
  • The Map
    • The Map on the Road
    • Individual Maps List
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • About
    • Contact me
Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

  • Home
  • Guided Rides
    • Gift Certificates
  • The Map
    • The Map on the Road
    • Individual Maps List
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • About
    • Contact me

Tag: douglas

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

Read More

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

1895 Boulevard Bike Ride 1 (5 Photos)

June 15, 2020June 22, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on 1895 Boulevard Bike Ride 1 (5 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on the front of a early 1890s elevated train station with a broad circular roof.

Five pre-1895 structures from CBA’s 1895 Boulevard Bike Ride Map

Read More

Posted in PhotosTagged 1880s, 1890s, bucktown, douglas, lincoln park, loop, washington park

Looking Around 23 (10 Photos)

May 18, 2020June 30, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 23 (10 Photos)
A tour bike standing on the road in fornt of a typeface installation that reads You are beautiful with park trees and a deep blue sky behind.

10 views of Chicago while getting exercise during Covid-19 times.

Read More

Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged 1870s, 1960s, art deco, back of the yards, brick work, closed schools, douglas, dwight white, englewood, ghost signs, grand boulevard, italianate, justus roe, loop, midcentury modern, pocket town, revisecmw, schools, south shore, street art, west town, you are beautiful

A People’s History of Chicago 1 (5 Photos)

January 27, 2020February 10, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on A People’s History of Chicago 1 (5 Photos)
A tour bike standing on front of three buidlings, the middle a three story tan brick with Art Deco green glazed brick details

5 photos from the map’s 102 locations

Read More

Posted in History, PhotosTagged clarence darrow homes, douglas, east garfield park, empty lots, fred hampton, jones college prep, near west side, the loop, west loop, wicker park

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.

Read More

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

Looking Around 18 (10 Photos)

October 29, 2019November 11, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 18 (10 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on the Art Deco stone business facade that reads ACME vertically to the left of the door and INDUSTRIAL above it.

Late September and October sites seen from the bike.

Read More

Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged art deco, aztec, bronzeville, churches, cicero hine, douglas, jas petersen, meeting of styles, midcentury modern, modern, north kenwood, oakland, pilsen, queen anne, schools, street art, the gap, west town

Looking Around 9 (16 Photos)

March 4, 2019May 16, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 9 (16 Photos)
A tour bike leaning next to the red terra cotta entrance of yellow and red brick patterned Rosenwald Apartments.

16 views from late February bike riding.

Read More

Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged bronzeville, douglas, east garfield park, lincoln park, park boulevard, pilsen, the gap, unionstockyards, 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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   Steve är en mysig person fantastisk guide, priset är värt bara för att fÃ¥ hänga med Steve ett tag🙂

    thumb Fredrik
    April 4, 2024

  •   This was a great adventure. Chicago is very bike-able. Steve tailored the tour to my interests and even added information/stops when he noticed something piqued my curiosity or if I... read more asked. Steve is knowledgeable and a great conversationist. We were able to communicate and enjoy the silences. I've gone to Chicago 5+x and there were beautiful spaces he introduced to me. I would recommend this to anyone and would re-book on my next trip.

    thumb Sarah
    September 9, 2018

  •   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

  •   We had an excellent experience on Steve's Chicago Bike Adventure. We all enjoyed the day immensely, felt comfortable and safe, and learned a lot about the neighborhoods, street art, and... read more city. It was such a fun way to experience the area. Steve also provides a bike map of your tour with photos from the day, which is a fun way to remember the experience and learn more about the sites visited. The tour was customized to our interests, and Steve was open to our questions. I would highly recommend the tour, and will probably participate again when I visit Chicago.

    thumb Lisa
    August 15, 2019

  •   The bike trip was great! Got to see many cool locations and learn a lot about the culture and history of Chicago. Steve is very friendly and knowledgeable will make... read more your experience a great one.

    thumb Justin
    October 25, 2019

  •   Steve was great. You are asked to fill out a form before the trip, so that Steve can adjust the tour to specific interests and abilities. Steve was easy to... read more communicate with and gave us a wonderful taste of Chicago on bikes. I would totally do this again and have Steve show us around a different part of Chicago.

    thumb Blake
    April 13, 2024

  •   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

  •   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

  •   Steve is a wonderful host who will personalize your experience. Steve provided great insight into the Chicago neighborhoods and their development. We learned about great spots to go and where... read more the best view is. Would highly recommend!!

    thumb Amy
    October 17, 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 day holiday in Chicago 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
    December 21, 2018

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  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  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  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  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 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

    tripadvisor logo
    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 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  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

Archives

adaptive reuse architecture art deco austin avondale bridgeport bronzeville bucktown church conversions churches douglas east garfield park Frank Lloyd Wright fulton market historic schools history humboldt park lake view lawndale lincoln park literature little village logan square loop maps memorials midcentury modern monuments movable bridges movie locations near west side pilsen prairie school public art public sculpture queen anne schools sculpture street art uic ukrainian village washington park west garfield park west town wicker park

Previous Posts

Search

Archives

  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • May 2022
  • September 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017

Categories

  • Home
  • Guided Rides
    • Gift Certificates
  • The Map
    • The Map on the Road
    • Individual Maps List
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • About
    • Contact me

© All Rights Reserved.

Proudly powered by WordPress | Travel Log by WEN Solutions.