Yes, I know the title's been used before but I hope Stu is flattered as I "draw inspiration from his creativity".

Yesterday's excursion to Turner's Puddle, near Throop, Dorset prompted a search of the BB archives for river crossing action. I couldn't find much so here's somewhere to record more excuses to get out on the bike (as if any were needed ), but please correct me if I'm wrong .

https://www.wetroads.co.uk may help with planning.

It's October: the fording season draws ever closer .

MuddyPete wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 1:48 pm ...Turner's Puddle, near Throop, Dorset...

Part of my commute if I'm not on the road bike.

What's fording season pls Pete. Is it when the fords are just high enough to still drive/ride without too much trouble but also getting wet

I was sure the UCI had standards for fording, proscribed in the grovelly bike bit of their ever evolving regs, so I checked, and indeed they do. When fording, to oount as a ford and therefore grant UCI Ford Points in an affiliated race,, the ford must be 5cm above the rim of a 700c bicycling device and below the hub of said 700c bicycling device. Yes, yes. Pedaling during the ford is not allowed. Ya gotta stick yer feet out. Points added for video posted on soshal meedja too. Apparently.

How you doing Pete? We need to get some sausages in man.

TheBrownDog wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 7:45 pm I was sure the UCI had standards for fording, proscribed in the grovelly bike bit of their ever evolving regs, so I checked, and indeed they do. When fording, to oount as a ford and therefore grant UCI Ford Points in an affiliated race,, the ford must be 5cm above the rim of a 700c bicycling device and below the hub of said 700c bicycling device. Yes, yes. Pedaling during the ford is not allowed. Ya gotta stick yer feet out. Points added for video posted on soshal meedja too. Apparently.

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 6:17 pm What's fording season pls Pete. Is it when the fords are just high enough to still drive/ride without too much trouble but also getting wet

Rainy, Shaf. Just rainy .

TheBrownDog wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 7:45 pm I was sure the UCI had standards for fording, proscribed in the grovelly bike bit of their ever evolving regs, so I checked, and indeed they do. When fording, to oount as a ford and therefore grant UCI Ford Points in an affiliated race,, the ford must be 5cm above the rim of a 700c bicycling device and below the hub of said 700c bicycling device. Yes, yes. Pedaling during the ford is not allowed. Ya gotta stick yer feet out. Points added for video posted on soshal meedja too. Apparently.

How you doing Pete? We need to get some sausages in man.

Indeed! Sausage-and-open-fire-season approaches too, Tim .

Dyffers wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 6:09 pm

MuddyPete wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 1:48 pm ...Turner's Puddle, near Throop, Dorset...

PXL_20210507_151017279-01.jpeg

Part of my commute if I'm not on the road bike.

Ace!...Worth going into work for .

MuddyPete wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:38 pm

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 6:17 pm What's fording season pls Pete. Is it when the fords are just high enough to still drive/ride without too much trouble but also getting wet

Rainy, Shaf. Just rainy .

Oh flip (for want of a better word ).

I never take a turn away from this busy road leading to Brighouse. But yesterday I did and it took me up a narrow 1car wide lane. At end there was a Ford sign.

Turned left and down the steep hill, but no ford here. Shirley someones been mistaken and instead of asking a local farmer type chap, I took this pics instead - for comfort!


As demostrated, it had been rainy enough to have created a little stream. Happy with my decision, I continued.

Then, there it was. Apparently, speaking to a local, the reason some cars were reluctant was due to the massive rocks in the middle. Maybe tgis chap had little awareness then or was just brave.


Obviously I took the bridge and then more pics on the other side, where said locals explained the above. This chap came along with some monster tyres, but after some contemplation he backed off and turned back. Apparently he'd "only just had it fixed.

But the audience pressure must've got to him and the monster tyres must've given him the nod. Suddenly he comes back and goes for it. Did he keep his engine revs high, I dunno but it made a right spectacle and anyone by the bridge would have been soaked.




Anyway, more pics on imgur if you click one of the above. Later and in the dark, due to brain freeze at 1000ft up before Silsden, I cut the (road) ride short

Fording action from the 2024 WE at Badger's Ford, shortly before we got really cold and wet in the mine.
Thanks to Kev for the photo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2uMVKEIcgM ... Z4cnJwdWJn

And again, from the 2024 WE.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2uNmnjohUl ... kwdzlvZQ==

That's not a ford.

That's a ford. (Actually it was much worse the following week )

Cue more pics from last years BB - will we ever forget it?

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:21 pm That's not a ford.

That's a ford.

That's not a ford. That's a ford!



I can see the way into your ford but where's the way out? Or is it one of those ace ones where you have to ride along the river for a few hundred yards before the exit occurs on the opposite bank?

Sorry, just need to post my favourite ford pic! (Copyright JT)

RIP wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:01 pm
I can see the way into your ford but where's the way out? Or is it one of those ace ones where you have to ride along the river for a few hundred yards before the exit occurs on the opposite bank?

The only way out was through....
To be honest, by that time, I was past caring, then I got to the bit that was eyeball deep....

Ah!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Q8A92IKjF ... hnaTU5aA==

Not an "official" ford, but it was 30m wide, more than axle deep and had a thick silty bottom, so that's good enough for me .

Quickly followed some by Quality Urban Singletrack. Nice