Wet Roads: Fords

[Curzon]

Beware fords with concrete bases, and especially if on a slight cross slope, like at World end near LLangollen (i think thats the righ No of L's) in N.Wales. Very slippery and slimey.

How I laughed when my mate fell of his mountain bike and ended up on his arse in the middle of the ford, much to the amusement of the nearby rock climbers and some picnicners.

This image came flooding back to me a week later when I was going through the very same ford on my Vara and felt the wheels slide sideways. Came out sunny side up though, phew that was close!

[hondaxrnut]

took these shots of my mate martin riding longwater ford near wookey in somerset.

the longest ford in somerset, approx 100yds.

not too deep most of the time, but can get quite deep after heavy rain.
been through it lots of times on my bikes, we quite often go to ride it after a trail ride on the mendips as its on the way home.
also driven through it in my 4x4, its quite a shock to my passengers (who do not know its there,) when we drive down the road in the dark and suddenly the road disapears before them!
i bought a book many years ago that lists all of the public fords in somerset, did not know there were that many.

[samwise]

Then there was me (and Phil on his 1150GS and someone(?) on a Dommie) at the Princetown meet:

[Rubberchicken]

*pointedly not saying anything*

[XR Mad]

This one is near Llangammarch wells and the water is low its normally deeper we were coming back from a camping weekend.

[ade]

there are 6 near to me,i'm going to have a wet afternoon one day

[Farky]

When does a 'ford' become a 'river crossing'?

My understanding is that a ford is a shallow place where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle.

You lot seem to define it as....anywhere deep enought o get you in the s##t! I love a challenge too but I aint into swimming in my riding gear - you do give us a good laugh though.

I bet the BMW world riding school dont cover riding through rivers deep enough to sink the titanic!