So about 45minutes into my ride today I had to cross a ford. There was a bridge option but the water wasn't too deep so in I went. Half way through and the front wheel slipped sideways and down I went. When I tried to stand up the road surface was like ice. No damage to me or bike but right side was soaked. And there was a couple having a picnic just by the ford. was is there always someone to witness your embarrassment?
Grounded by a ford - but not the car
- Thread starter SMD
- Start date
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Sheffield_Tiger
Legendary Member
Shrewd picnickers will always find a ford. Any cyclist is 70% likely to provide a source of entertainmen.
It's what Fords are for. I won't ride them, they are always insanely slippery
It's what Fords are for. I won't ride them, they are always insanely slippery
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I'm always amused at the fords in the Lammermuir hills I've never seen much water in them even when its really wet. There's usually one at the bottom of a 17% followed by a sign 'now test your brakes'. When I'm cycling up a 17% I'm certainly not going to test my brakes 
Chamfus Flange
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Woking, Surrey
We've a ford near us that's around 100m long, full of water and gravel. It's great on ATB if hard work but impossible anything else but a 4x4.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
As a club, we rode through one near Manifold Valley (Ashbourne way) - well two lads tried to - half way over, down they went. Oh did we laugh, and all the picnic'ers did too..... 
. One lad pushed it a bit far with the mickey taking and got a bottle of ribena emptied over him..... 
. One lad pushed it a bit far with the mickey taking and got a bottle of ribena emptied over him..... My efforts going through a ford on my son's bike last year.
I went through a ford about 20 years ago, and made the mistake of watching the front wheel rather than the opposite bank which made me follow the current downstream. Right to the point where the front wheel went over the edge of the road surface, dropping about 18 inches and throwing me straight over the bars and into the water. I surfaced to see the bike floating down stream. This was in November 1990, and I was about 5 miles from home. Those 5 miles were a chilly ride.
I went through a ford about 20 years ago, and made the mistake of watching the front wheel rather than the opposite bank which made me follow the current downstream. Right to the point where the front wheel went over the edge of the road surface, dropping about 18 inches and throwing me straight over the bars and into the water. I surfaced to see the bike floating down stream. This was in November 1990, and I was about 5 miles from home. Those 5 miles were a chilly ride.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
7 stitches in my elbow last time I tried to ride through a ford. More dangerous than ice IMO
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
I'm always amused at the fords in the Lammermuir hills I've never seen much water in them even when its really wet. There's usually one at the bottom of a 17% followed by a sign 'now test your brakes'. When I'm cycling up a 17% I'm certainly not going to test my brakes
Out (in a car) in the Moors once, we followed a Sunday driver (very hesitant) along a narrow lane, and through a bone dry ford. And when he reached the Try Your Brakes sign - he did!
I wouldn't ride through one ever I think. I'm bad enough with cattle grids.
