Need tips on low water crossing

[DANNYROTH]

Could some of you with experience in crossing these slick, slimy challenges enlighten some of us newbies on the tricks involved? Some things I would like to know are like: :ponder: Is the algae or moss growth heavier on the upstream or downstream side of the crossing? Is it better to get up a "head of steam" and splash on in and through, keeping your weight back as in soft sand? :flip: or, Is it better to slowly and carefully pick your way across?

[hond330]

if u stand up on the footpegs u get the weight lower on the bike and it will be more stable... if u are real unsure of the footing... sit on the seat, put ur feet out like outriggers and sorta paddle across at low speed with clutch action and care... dab ur feet down as needed to keep upright. this works good in deep ruts and mud....

[Squeaky]

Don't do this:

:nono:

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7748/dsc035230dh.jpg


:rider:

[whoa]

Slippery little buggers aren't they?

I go easy, pick a wheel track left by cars, once crossing I don't change speed or steering (unless I have to of course), and accept that you may get wet at some point. If a car is waiting at the other side, I'll get them to go first and ride their wheel track.

The biggest mistake I've made, and seen others make, is to cross before the previous person makes it across. If they go down, you'll have to react. Be patient and let them cross.

[Hairsmith]

I don't clam to be an expert on low water crossing's. But I have ridden ALOT on ice and Observed Trials. And some observed trials on ice.
To make it look good go fast keep the front wheel light and crash spectacularly.:flip:
To make it safe set down go slow paddle with you feet.:pirate:
To learn, go slow, stand on the pegs, balls of your feet on the pegs knees wide let the bike move under you stay balanced over the point where the tires contact the road, not over the bike. Look where you want to go! NOT where you are afraid it might go. Concentration is every thing. :pray:

Off the topic a little, It is fun and helpful to do some backyard drills. One if which is to ride a figure 8 and do it over and over tighter and tighter until you are doing it against the steering stops both directions.
On the trials bike I did this and rode over a stone or brick with the rear tire at the top and bottom of the 8. When I could do that I would ride over it with the front. By the way you do that with out looking at the stone. You look where you want to go not where you are.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Just for the record... that is NOT my GS in the picture in Squeaky's post ;-) Those guys did not listen when I told them to go slow because it was really slick :lol2:

:tab I sit down if things are real slick like the crossing in that pic up above. Stick out my legs and go REAL careful. The first time I did that crossing in the pic, the water was deeper and moving fast. It would push the tires right out from under the bike. When I stopped that from happening, the ENTIRE bike started sliding sideways so I had to constantly try to steer toward the upstream side of the crossing bridge. I had to really pay attention to the rear tire. If it started to spin up, I had to feather the clutch. Otherwise the bike would spin right out from under me. It was a tense couple of minutes until I reached the far side ;-)

:tab There is no "correct" way to do it. You just have to be careful. It is usually a good idea to get off the bike and walk out into the crossing to have a look. If you have trouble walking without sliding around, you can expect that the bike will slide as well! I NEVER charge right in without having a look first.

[DANNYROTH]

Those tactics make good sense.

So, those serene pictures of DSers splashing through the water at those crossings are not a true representation of the tension and anguish being experienced at the time, are they? That slime makes pea gravel seem as sure-footed as hot, dry, asphalt.

I remember as a kid, when hond330 and I were growing up in Latin America, fording rivers. It was a good idea to follow a large truck, preferrably with a chain connecting your vehicle to it to "prevent it from getting too far ahead of you". If no escort was available, it was wise to have someone with a stick walk out through the intended path to gauge the depth. It's amazing how deep a hole the current can dig out just downstream of a large boulder or stump that is secured to the bottom or to the bank.

[Squeaky]

I think a good portion of those pics of riders splashing on through at speed are crossings that aren't actually covered in slime. There are some out there, ya know. No, really - there are!

[Tourmeister]

We did some great water crossings in North Carolina, some deep, some long, some deep and long, but none quite a slick as the ones you find in the Texas Hill Country.

[leadwolf]

You guys are going about this all wrong. Bring along a hard bristle broom and sweep you a nice clean path where you can ride. Why do I have to do all the thinking around here? LOL :lol2: :haha:

[DANNYROTH]

Scratch found the pic of the perfect equipment. The blade will provide outrigger support and those following will appreciate the clean sweep.

http://img325.imageshack.us/img325/7829/f32a7xs.jpg


Or, check these out

http://www.e-z-ride.com/testing.html

[Tourmeister]

Hmmm... I am going to have to keep that website in mind... Thanks!

[Desert Skies]

I think a good portion of those pics of riders splashing on through at speed are crossings that aren't actually covered in slime. There are some out there, ya know. No, really - there are!

Yeah, some have no slime but are tricky none the less. Take river gravel, the rocks roll out from under your tires causing the bike to change direction at will. Best to stand and let it move under you and try to get it going back the direction intended.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/DesertSkies/104_0488_1024.jpg

[Eric2Tex]

Well IMO your best bet is to go slow with as smooth a power delivery
as you can, none if possible. Coast across and don't move the bars.

Don't underestimate xings that are small. This one has broken legs\caused face plants with at least half dozen cyclists i know. Segue: Don't try to catch the bike if it starts going down otherwsie you make break something. Don't play joe cool and try to roost yer pal the last few feet across either. Just as slippery there.

http://eric2.smugmug.com/photos/12926104-M.jpg


This one was a major pucker factor too. No worries lately though
(drought is good for something)

http://eric2.smugmug.com/photos/14375916-M.jpg

[CycleCat]

A lot of people misread a low water crossing and choose the slipperiest path because of false assumptions. The best traction is in the tracks the cars use because they help kill the algea and rip down to the firm surface.

Looking at the following pictures, where is the car track?

http://cyclecat.smugmug.com/photos/12530939-M.jpg

http://eric2.smugmug.com/photos/14375916-M.jpg



A lot of people look at the dark strips and think "tire rubber"... "good traction!" when in fact that is the slime you want to avoid. Most often the beige tracks are the clean cement and least slippery.
Very often a low water crossing is a single lane road so you'll have two wheel tracks bordered and seperated by dark slime tracks. Other times there will be a shared center wheel track with a pair of outside tracks, depending on which way traffic goes over the road. I just stop and take time to analyze it before crossing if it's a new road for me.

Of course, sometimes the exact opposite is true about colors. The dark track can be wet cement, and the light track is muddy slime! When in doubt, park, stick a foot in and see what's slippery! :lol2:

[bushwhacker]

You guys are going about this all wrong. Bring along a hard bristle broom and sweep you a nice clean path where you can ride. Why do I have to do all the thinking around here? LOL :lol2: :haha:

No, no, no.

You already got plenty of water. You take one of these along, neck the outlet hose down to about a half inch, drop it in the downstream side, and wash all the algae and rocks out of the way before you cross -

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/108200_lg.jpg


Of course, you will need an adapter so you can run it off your bike's accessory plug.

-

[Hillcountryrambler]

I agree w/most of what's been said. I do almost all my riding on backroads W. and NW of old spicewood community. So, must traverse low water crossings on every ride.

Slow way, way down. Stay off gas and brakes and coast across. Follow the car tire path, which can generally be seen clearly if you wear polarized sunglasses. Ease onto gas once you have exited the water.

[DaveC]

practice, practice, practice. steady throttle, no handle bar movement, if it starts sliding you should practice your flattracking, DO NOT let off the trottle, counter steer and go for it.

[racerxr650r]

I find that I hold the throttle steadiest when I pin it WFO :rider:

http://i1.tinypic.com/ndvo5e.jpg

Of course I cheated, this is crossing on a sandy river bottom at Muenster with full knobbies. Not as difficult as a slimy concrete water crossing on road tires.

[ColGoodnight]

practice, practice, practice...
Yeah, I thought I might set up the kids' Slip N' Slide in the alley.

Tom

[VFRJohn]

Another approach is to hit the water at the top speed of your bike. :eek2: That way, you won't have as far to slide it to get it the rest of the way across.
(Note - I am an expert... see my avatar for proof.) ;-)
(I love this thread!)
John

[Tourmeister]

The best part about that avatar is the sign :lol2:

[Gilk51]

Another approach is to hit the water at the top speed of your bike. :eek2:
Yeah, and if it hydroplanes, you miss all of the algae! :trust:

(I love that avatar) :mrgreen:

[Desert Skies]

Back when I was a kid (long, long time ago) growing up in Ohio, we used to ride our enduro bikes on frozen ponds in the winter. We would put our legs out like outriggers. With the bike in 3rd, we would take off across the pond and about half way across, turn the bars and goose it. :rider: Trick was to keep the bike vertical and see how many revolutions you could make. Oh to be young and stupid, now I'm just stupid.:scratch:

Don't think this technique will work on low water crossings though, one might find ones self in the drink.:trust:

[Sleepy Weasel]

Oh to be young and stupid, now I'm just stupid.:scratch:

:rofl: