Exploring a new city with unique tours is always a highlight of travel. While some may consider tours “touristy,” they offer an excellent way to discover neighborhoods, taste local specialties, learn about the city’s history, and connect with fellow travelers. From walking and bus tours to boat, architecture, food, and even segway tours, there are countless ways to explore. When Bobby’s Bike Hike invited me to experience their Bikes, Bites and Brews Signature Tour, I knew it would be a fantastic addition to my Chicago visit.
The Signature Bikes, Bites and Brews Tour
Bobby’s Bike Hike “Bikes, Bites and Brews” tour is thoughtfully designed to accommodate vegetarians, making it inclusive for various dietary preferences. However, it might not be as fulfilling for vegans due to the nature of the food stops. Depending on the tour schedule and availability, participants get to savor iconic Chicago foods and drinks, including:
- Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza, a Chicago classic.
- Delicious cupcakes from Swirlz or Molly’s cupcakes.
- Chicago-style hot dogs from renowned spots like the Weiner Circle or Wrigleyville Dogs.
- Sampling of local beers from establishments such as Murphy’s Bleachers and Lakefront Restaurant.
Beyond the culinary delights, the tour offers amazing city views and insightful commentary about Chicago’s landmarks and history at each stop, enriching the overall experience.
On the day of my tour, unfortunately, Chicago was experiencing rain, leading to foggy city views. Despite getting caught in a downpour at the beginning of the tour, the experience remained enjoyable and memorable.
Foggy Chicago skyline view from Bobby's Bike Hike tour
The Bobby’s Bike Hike tour spans approximately 4 to 4.5 hours. This includes around thirty minutes for registration, safety instructions, and bike preparation, ensuring everyone is comfortable and ready to ride.
My assigned bike for the tour was affectionately named “Scarlett.” Although her bell wasn’t as cheerful as some of the others, Scarlett performed admirably, navigating the city streets without any issues.
Scarlett bike from Bobby's Bike Hike Chicago, ready for a city tour
The activity level of Bobby’s Bike Hike is generally easy to moderate. Despite not having biked regularly in recent years and considering myself to be of average fitness, I found the pace comfortable and manageable. Chicago’s flat terrain contributes to the ease of the ride. For those desiring extra assistance, electric bike upgrades are available for an additional charge.
Now, let’s talk about the food highlights of the Bobby’s Bike Hike tour!
The deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s was a revelation. It completely changed my perception of deep-dish pizza, especially after a less favorable experience at another popular Chicago pizza place in the past.
Delicious Lou Malnati's deep-dish pizza, a stop on Bobby's Bike Hike food tour in Chicago
The vegetarian version of the Chicago-style hot dog was an interesting take – essentially all the traditional toppings without the meat. A Chicago-style hot dog is known for its generous toppings: yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a pickle spear, sport peppers, tomato wedges, and celery salt. Ketchup is a major faux pas and is never to be requested; some establishments even jokingly threaten to banish those who dare to ask for it!
While I’ve encountered less appealing vegetarian alternatives, this particular hot dog wasn’t my favorite. Hopefully, more places will start incorporating meat substitutes for vegetarian options in dishes like this.
Vegetarian Chicago-style hot dog alternative during Bobby's Bike Hike tour
Molly’s Cupcakes was a delightful stop. This popular spot is a winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars! We each had the fun opportunity to customize our own cupcake, selecting from a variety of cake flavors, frostings, and toppings.
Custom cupcake creation at Molly's Cupcakes, part of Bobby's Bike Hike experience
I chose a chocolate cupcake topped with cream cheese icing and Reese’s Pieces.
Chocolate cupcake with cream cheese icing and Reeses Pieces from Molly's Cupcakes in Chicago
Adding to the whimsical ambiance, Molly’s Cupcakes features charming wooden swings as part of their indoor seating.
Fun wooden swing seating inside Molly's Cupcakes in Chicago
The beer selections on the Bobby’s Bike Hike tour can vary. At our second brewery stop, we were treated to full cans of 312 beer since the location was too busy to provide smaller samples. This turned out to be a generous upgrade from the smaller samples we received at our first stop.
Can of 312 beer, a local Chicago brew sampled on Bobby's Bike Hike tour
Group enjoying the Bobby's Bike Hike Chicago tour experience
The Bobby’s Bike Hike tour itinerary flowed in this order: pizza, beer, cupcakes, hot dog, and beer. With approximately 13 miles of biking throughout the tour, there’s plenty of activity to balance out the food and drink. Overall, this tour is a fantastic and active way to experience Chicago in a day!
Bobby’s Bike Hike provides a variety of tours, including walking tours, catering to different interests and preferences. Make sure to explore their full range of offerings when planning your visit to Chicago.
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