Andrew Brady was kind enough to contribute photos and a write up on the Chicago Seawall spot, which some of you may recognize from past videos and such.

Click below to read up on it.

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The Chicago Seawall is nothing short of legendary. I would venture to say that this is one of the longest transitions in the world, if not the longest. This spot seems to be the definition of Chicago BMX from an
outsider’s point of view. Many videos have filmed on it (Road Fools 8 and Animal come to mind) and photos have been shot on it.

While simply being a (very) steep transition, there is something about this obstacle that makes it more fun than many other transitions. Maybe it is the rough kink at the bottom, the extrusions that stick out and are perfect to carve over, or the outcropping on top that is fun to slap with pegs/tires. Or maybe it is the simple joy of pedaling full speed and carving the entire length of the wall as it winds around the Shedd Aquarium.

While looking like an ideal setup, this obstacle is oftentimes the opposite of that. There is a very rough kink at the bottom; there is no up and down carving on this thing without a struggle. The border-free Lake Michigan is also feet away from the bottom of the transition. Lose your bike doing something on the wall, and you may be in for a wet and rough time reclaiming your bike. The wall is also right next to a bike/walking path with many people going back and forth on it daily. Though these things may seem like deal-breakers for many, others see
this as simply being part of the experience and adding to the excitement.

If you are planning a trip to Chicago, stopping by the seawall is certainly something to put on your to-do list. However, Chicago is much more than this winding transition across Lake Michigan; the seawall is just another part of this unique and varying culture and scene.

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click to view bigger.