I would like to add "fording a river" to my repertoire. Is there a technique or any do's or don'ts? I'm talking about a stretch of river 10ft or so wide and axles deep. I obviously can't walk it (wet feet). Pedalling must be difficult because you'd intermittently dip alternate feet in the water and if you hit a rock then forward motion will stop. Having thought about it, I'm gussing that the best way to do it would be a series of sort of "track stand" bunny hops across. However, I've been practising on the lawn and unless Mrs T gives me a good push forwards first, it's almost impossible not to hop sideways into a bush. Having observed my technique from the kitchen, Mrs T reckons it would be better to hit the water at full speed and lean back (she's not a mountainbiker). That way, she says, you'll have enough forward momentum to reach dry land on the other side by the time you fall off - if you fall off, that is.
So how do you do it? Or do I just take wellies (however, with my Welsh accent, I'd need a damned good excuse to ride a mountain on which there are grazing livestock with wellies strapped to my back).
Speed is your friend-flat out then lift both feet up in the air to keep them try & hope you make it to the other side before you stop...
Either that, or get off & carry your bike through whilst on foot.
Have done both in the past when required! Depth seemed to be the deciding factor.
Just pedal across hard. If only your feet get wet, your doing well 😉
Flip upside down and walk across on your hands whilst still on bike, then on the other side simply flip back the right way up and ride off.
The difficult part I always find is making it look smooth.
only time i have had to do it a ranger in a Land rover gave me a lift on the bonnet of his landrover for a river crossing on the Sarn Helen.
Don't do it on a Raleigh Banana "racer" from 1988, on a Sunday where you need to spend the afternoon working on your undergrad dissertation. Instead, you might end up in Northern General Casualty Department, along with the town centre pugilists and beaten wives from Saturday night.
can't understand why you have such a problem with wet feet ?
Take your shoes and socks off - use the bike to steady yourself against the flow - get across in one piece ,enjoy the pleasure of pulling on dry socks onto damp feet.
There was a day on TransWales where we had to cross 10 crossings in one day.
I went for the the speed option. 9/10times it worked, once over the bars.
I lean back plenty but am also prepared knowing that I might fall off.
Think pics might be on the facebook page for Tranwales.
Resting your feet on the fork top caps works pretty well.
As long as you're going fast enough, obviously.