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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Tag: wicker park

Looking Around 5 (19 Photos)

January 7, 2019August 21, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Looking Around 5 (19 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on a yellow and blue painted wood block wall arrangement.

Photos taken while riding around Chicago in December

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged brighton park, cabrini-green, details, east garfield park, humboldt park, logan square, near west side, pilsen, river west, smith park, street art, uic, ukrainian village, university village, west town, wicker park

CBA Rides 2 (11 Photos)

December 17, 2018January 14, 2019 SteveLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 2 (11 Photos)
A CBA bike tour ride looking at a 1890s riugh graystone Queen Anne style corner building with a long diagonal fire escape.

Another week of looking back at the CBA rides from this summer and fall.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged b_line, bridgeport, bucktown, hubbard street, pilsen, street art, wicker park, 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

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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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   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

  •   We booked on to the tour for our first day in Chicago (borrowing two of Steve's lovely bikes), and what a fantastic way to start the trip and blow off... read more the cobwebs of any jetlag! We saw so much of the wonderful city of Chicago and Steve really brought all of the amazing areas we visited to life with his informative, interesting, and personable storytelling. Steve took our requests into account and we had an amazing time visiting some super cool neighbourhoods, seeing some amazing architecture, and checking out plenty of beautiful street art murals. We couldn't recommend Steve and his tour more. It's early days, but we've no doubt this will be one of the highlights of our trip.

    thumb Annabel
    April 19, 2023

  •   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

  •   Wonderful experience and way to get to know the city. Steve was very knowledgeable & prepared!

    thumb Jada
    October 15, 2021

  •   Steve was an a fantastic, thoughtful and patient guide. He took us to great spots that a tourist (or even a local) wouldn’t know about and he tailored the tour... read more to our interests (he used a pre ride survey). The bike ride was an easy one and allowed us to see more than we could if we were on foot and way better than being in a bus. Steve watched over us and followed all the safety times. I would highly recommend Steve’s tour to visitors and locals.

    thumb Diane
    June 3, 2022

  •   This is an excellent way to get to know Chicago. Steve uses a survey to learn what you want to see, so put some thought into it. Steve knows... read more SO MUCH about the area! Ask him questions and be amazed. Bring lots of water, 2 water bottles, and easy to eat snacks for quick energy during the bike breaks. Don’t hesitate to ask for something specific, Steve adjusted on the fly when I asked for something. Traveling bike bike was so much fun!

    thumb Shayla
    August 23, 2021

  •   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

  •   Steve was a fantastic tour guide! A bike ride is a great way to experience Chicago neighborhoods. I felt very satisfied with my experience. Steve knows a ton about local... read more history and is a great conversationalist. Highly recommend!

    thumb Sonya
    July 6, 2023

  •   Steve is a highly knowledgeable and experienced cycling tour guide, introduced lots of neat historical facts about several areas of the city making my stay much more colourful. Thanks Steve!

    thumb Rob
    April 15, 2023

  •   The best way to get to know Chicago and its history. I booked this experience because I wanted to get to know Chicago in its raw self in addition to... read more all of the tourist spots. I’ve visited Chicago 360, two museums, the aquarium and all but this comes in one of the best. I was the only one who signed up that day so Steve really tailored the tour to my interests. The nature, 100+yr old houses, skyscrapers, and hidden graffiti spots in between were all inspiring. I felt like I was getting to know an entirely different city from my previous visits. Steve definitely had a entire history of Chicago encyclopedia in his brain which was a game changer. He did tell me he was a history major and I was truly impressed. The ride was such a breeze despite of my worries because Chicago is mostly flat (thank God). It did rain a bit on and off during the five hours but I didn’t find it problematic at all. Actually, I enjoyed it as a part of the experience. Steve provided a raincoat big enough to cover my entire body and my backpack. He also gave me a big bottle of water at the beginning of the tour. I enjoyed more of these ‘minor’ tours and experience during my stay in Chicago rather than those famous must-dos.

    thumb Somang
    August 17, 2019

  •   Amazing experience! Made for who would like to know more about Chicago than the usual landmarks. I would advise it to everybody

    thumb Riccardo
    June 13, 2022

TripAdvisor

  • 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  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  This is a great way to see more of Chicago and develop an understanding of the communities and... read more

    tripadvisor logo
    D2057BUshannonh
    March 22, 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

  • 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  Thank you Steve for an informative, detailed and unforgettable bike tour through Chicago‘s suburbs, but also for showing us Chicago from a completely different side. The ratio between riding the... read more bike and receiving information was perfect!

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Kai H
    July 19, 2018

  • 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 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  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

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