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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Tag: north lawndale

Looking Around 31 (10 Photos)

November 20, 2023December 4, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 31 (10 Photos)
A tour bicycle leaning on a roll up door with a Giant Robot mural on it.

Some shots from a very agreeable Fall

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged art deco, brighton park, chatham, chicago lawn, cicero, detour, east garfield park, garage art, janel young, john airo, lawndale, midcentury modern, north lawndale, public art, public sculpture, queen anne, ravenswood, street art, west humboldt park, wicker park

Chicago Street Art Sampler (10 Photos)

October 10, 2023November 20, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on Chicago Street Art Sampler (10 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on a mural of a Central American First Nation man with a headdress of feathers offering a shell with both hands.

Art in the neighborhoods

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Posted in Photos, Street ArtTagged austin, berwyn, chatham, chris devins, cranio, devon ave, dredske, grand crossing, jappy, jrenda, juan de la mora monsavais, little village, littlevillage, logan square, matr, max sansing, north lawndale, paint the city, sickfisher, west ridge, wicker park, woodlawn

Looking Around 30 (12 Photos)

September 12, 2023October 2, 2023 SteveLeave a Comment on Looking Around 30 (12 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on yellow painted posts in front of a wall covered in yellow painted and unpainted pipes with a Mexican style female skeleton with grand wide hat among the pipes.

Sights from recent rides

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged austin, edgewater, glen ellyn, little village, maywood, midcentury modern, north lawndale, portage park, west ridge, wicker park, worthmann & steinbach

Movie Theaters 1 (5 Photos)

November 7, 2022December 6, 2022 SteveLeave a Comment on Movie Theaters 1 (5 Photos)
A tour bike standing at the curb in front of a one story yellow brick and limestone and tan brick detailed papered up storefront with metal marquee

Five photos from CBA’s Movie Theaters map

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Posted in Architecture, History, PhotosTagged bronzeville, clearing, east village, movie theaters, north lawndale, sheffield neighbors

Looking Around 16 (10 Photos)

September 16, 2019September 23, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Looking Around 16 (10 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on a black plastic trash can in fornt of a roll up garage door painted with a mural of a rectangular figure with arms wide on a tripartite blue, yellow, a red background.

Ten more pictures taken while riding around Chicago this summer

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged chris silva, cicero, former factories, former firehouses, lawndale, logan square, my dog sighs, north center, north lawndale, roscoe village, street art, tri-taylor, wicker park, windows, yollocalli

Former Synagogues Map Update (14 Photos)

May 21, 2019June 17, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Former Synagogues Map Update (14 Photos)
Yellow brick former synagogue now church with a large etched stone entrance and a tour bike in front.

These fourteen pictures have been added to markers on the Former Synagogues Map.

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Posted in Architecture, Map Updates, PhotosTagged african american churches, austin, brighton park, former synagogues, hispanic churches, homan square, lawndale, north lawndale, rogers park, roseland, west garfield park
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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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 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

  •   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

  •   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

Airbnb

  •   This is an awesome way to see the outskirts of Chicago and learn the history.

    thumb Cathy
    June 3, 2022

  •   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

  •   Really enjoyed this bike tour - felt very different from the “normal” touristy things; in a good way! I’d happily do the exact route again even though it’s completely customisable.... read more

    thumb Joe
    July 24, 2022

  •   Steve's a friendly, knowledgable and fun guide and I very much enjoyed the tour with him! He personalises the tour well and I wish I had the time to do... read more another tour with him! Defnitely recommend!

    thumb Nora
    May 23, 2023

  •   Absolutely loved our ride with Steve. We all felt super confident navigating the city streets with Steve as our leader and he did a fantastic job of tailoring the ride... read more to things that we were most interested in. Will totally do this again the next time we are in Chicago. Highly recommend!

    thumb Amy
    March 20, 2021

  •   There's no better way to get to know the city than with Steve. I highly highly recommend if you're here visiting and want to see as much as possible. Awesome... read more tour with a great tour guide

    thumb Connor
    May 8, 2021

  •   A great experience for people who like to be outdoors, get great photos of the city and learn a little something while in town. Chicago is a nice, flat city... read more to ride a bike, so it wasn’t too strenuous at all. Steve is insanely knowledgeable about a little bit of everything. He won’t just take you to a cool mural off the beaten path, he’ll tell you who painted it and where they are from and what city initiative funded it! We covered plenty of ethnic history and sites of architectural interest as well, as the ride was tailored to the guests interests. The route planning was thoughtful - Steve seems to be a meticulous planner who keeps track of time and mileage to continuously improve his offerings. All of this allows you to just pedal and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend this tour!

    thumb Katrina
    August 31, 2020

  •   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

  •   Steve was excellent! You get a great view of Chicago!! Worth every penny!!! Steve is well knowledgeable about the city and makes sure he answers all your questions!!! Hey... read more took us to eat great hamburgers!!!

    thumb Juna
    September 14, 2019

  •   The tour was excellent.

    thumb Bill
    August 14, 2019

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 was a great tour guide as we biked through Chicago. His pre-ride survey allowed him to tailor the ride to some of our interests. We were super confident navigating... read more the streets with Steve in the front. The street art was amazing as was the ride along the old L tracks and along the lake. Highly recommend. We will be back.

    tripadvisor logo
    amyek-6
    March 21, 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 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
    D2057BUshannonh
    March 22, 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  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 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  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  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  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

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