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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Tag: hyde park

Former Christian Scientist Churches Map

February 27, 2023March 13, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on Former Christian Scientist Churches Map
A tour bike at front of a tan brick Classical Revival and Prairie Style cruciform corner church.

The 19th century new Christian movement’s rise is evidenced in the Chicago landscape.

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Posted in Architecture, MapsTagged adaptive reuse, austin, black history, christian scientist, evanston, hyde park, logan square, near west side, oak park, riverside, roseland, skokie, west town, wheaton, woodlawn

The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1969) Mapped

February 14, 2023February 27, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1969) Mapped
A tour bike leaning on the black two story arched wooden door of a grey limestone Art Deco armory building with soldier detailing.

Dan Freeman turns his CIA training on the oppressor in Chicago’s South Side.

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Posted in Literature, MapsTagged black history, black literature, bronzeville, hyde park, washington park, woodlawn

Richard Wright’s Native Son Mapped

September 28, 2020October 5, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Richard Wright’s Native Son Mapped
A tour bike standing at the curb in front of two twinned three story red brick apartment buildings with curved corner bays.

Bigger Thomas’ Bronzeville of 1930s Chicago

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Posted in Literature, Maps, Native SonTagged 1930s, african american, book locations, bronzeville, englewood, hyde park, kenwood, literature

Public Sculpture 2 (5 Photos)

July 7, 2020August 4, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Public Sculpture 2 (5 Photos)
A tour bike standing next to a giant shiny copper disc with rough textured center.

5 more sculptures from CBA’s Public Sculpture Map

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Posted in Photos, Public ArtTagged hyde park, IIT, north center, river north, sculpture, washington park

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (5 Photos)

March 9, 2020March 16, 2020 SteveLeave a Comment on Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (5 Photos)
A tour bike standing in front of a red brick two story former 1890 former train station with a five story red brick clock tower

Five photos from CBA’s map of the Upton Sinclair classic.

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Posted in Literature, Photos, The JungleTagged bridgeport, hyde park, printersrow, uic, unionstockyards, university of chicago

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
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

  •   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

  •   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 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

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   This was a great tour! Even though spending 5 hours on a bike touring around Chicago's neighborhoods might sound daunting, this is a tour for anyone with basic fitness... read more and biking skills. Steve was really friendly, had a vast knowledge about Chicago's history and culture, and knew lots of interesting details about the neighborhoods and their histories. The tour was from 10-3 on a weekday, so we missed rush-hour traffic, and Steve's route was mostly through safe and easy-to-navigate neighborhood streets and bike-friendly paths. We stopped often to talk about the neighborhoods, so nobody ever got tired or winded. Chicago is a beautiful, open city with amazing architecture and history, and I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn about some of its neighborhoods outside of the main downtown Loop. Thanks Steve, and thanks Chicago!

    thumb Dominick
    August 12, 2019

  •   This was awesome! When I signed up, I thought this would be good but turned out to exceed my expectations. Steve was super friendly from the beginning and his joy... read more of biking and sharing the city was infectious. There is no way I would've ever seen the places we visited on my own and enjoyed every minute. I've been to Chicago over a dozen times and I learned and saw more during this trip than I've ever seen. He was funny and very smart and his expertise is history showed through his stories, historical information about the city, and knowledge of the changing neighborhoods we went through. He genuinely cared that I was enjoying my time and seeing the things I was interested in. This is the best way to really 'see' the city and travel through the decades. This experience is a must! Thank you, Steve!

    thumb John
    October 5, 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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   Great bike tour, customized it to my interests of art, history, street art, and architecture.

    thumb Ana
    November 22, 2021

  •   Steve is very friendly and extremely easy to get a long with; as a solo, female traveler I felt safe with him and trusted him to safely guide me via... read more bike around the streets of Chicago. He showed me unique parts of Chicago that I would have never explored if it weren't for the biking tour. I learned many, many things about the city including its complex historical culture, street art and brewing companies. He even took photos of me at the stops I found most enjoyable (great for the gram!). I definitely recommend this biking tour to anyone who wishes to experience the personal side of Chicago!

    thumb Gaby
    September 11, 2020

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

    thumb Robb
    September 19, 2019

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

    thumb Robert
    September 19, 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

TripAdvisor

  • star rating  Excellent experience and would highly recommend. Steve, the owner and guide, was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and tailored the tour to our interests.

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb SLC3333
    May 28, 2019

  • 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

  • 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  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  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 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  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  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  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  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

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