The other day on my commute to work I had to ride through some pretty deep standing water due to heavy rain. In one spot the water was only about and inch or two under the center of the hubs on my 700c commuting bike.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
Ken -- Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
I've ridden through murky, mineral-laden Florida water over the hubs. Big mistake. I got to tear down a nearly-new bike and repack the hubs and bottom bracket (fortunately it wasn't a sealed "throw-away" BB).
The other day on my commute to work I had to ride through some pretty deep standing water due to heavy rain. In one spot the water was only about and inch or two under the center of the hubs on my 700c commuting bike.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
I've crossed a stream at a ford a few times; the water was usually 6-8" deep. Usually had the pedals horizontal, and at least one foot unclipped to keep the shoe dry...
You might want to check the lube in your bottom bracket, and re-lube your rear derailer and chain if they were submerged.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
I've ridden through murky, mineral-laden Florida water over the hubs. Big mistake. I got to tear down a nearly-new bike and repack the hubs and bottom bracket (fortunately it wasn't a sealed "throw-away" BB).
Oh joy! Something I should look forward to doing! Well at least my bb is already showing signs of wear anyway. I don't recall if that area was submerged but it must have been pretty close if it wasn't. And even if it wasn't under water I am sure some got splashed up in there. And mine is a sealed unit.
Ken -- Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea
I rode through the flood waters of tropical storm Allison. It was the only way to leave the house. At the curb in front of my house, the water was over the top bar (~ 30"😉. It was good to be on a single-speed cruiser that was destined for the trash. It had too many problems to be salvageable. That ride finished the job and the bike went into the trash heap along with the carpet, the drywall, lots of furniture....
Mark Hickey thought the world would like to know that...
Quoted message said:
Ken C. M. said:
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
I've ridden through murky, mineral-laden Florida water over the hubs. Big mistake. I got to tear down a nearly-new bike and repack the hubs and bottom bracket (fortunately it wasn't a sealed "throw-away" BB).
Most of the time the water you ride through is colder than the surrounding ambient air.
This means that when a a BB or hub gets submerged, the air in it cools, contracts and sucks water in it. This even when the units are sealed, because this sealing is not strong enough to overcome the pressure difference.
Ken C. M. wrote: :: So I guess this is a question and a poll: :: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? :: Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) :: that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
If I can't see the road, I'm not riding over it. Plain and simple.
Mark Hickey thought the world would like to know that...
Quoted message said:
Ken C. M. said:
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
I've ridden through murky, mineral-laden Florida water over the hubs. Big mistake. I got to tear down a nearly-new bike and repack the hubs and bottom bracket (fortunately it wasn't a sealed "throw-away" BB).
Most of the time the water you ride through is colder than the surrounding ambient air.
This means that when a a BB or hub gets submerged, the air in it cools, contracts and sucks water in it. This even when the units are sealed, because this sealing is not strong enough to overcome the pressure difference.
Sounds like a reasonable theory as to why sealed bearings don't last as long as many think they should. I am not too disappointed in the miles per dollar I have gotten out of my commuter so far. It wasn't an expensive bike, but not exactly /cheap/ either. Bike was about $500 u.s. and now has about 4500 miles on it. So even if I need to replace / rebuild / repack some bearings, I still think the bike has served me well.
Ken -- Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea
I figured it was already covered here in the past however it seems like there is a pretty good turnover rate with the people who post here and thought it might be good to re-visit the topic. Thanks for looking it up.
Ken -- Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea
I figured it was already covered here in the past however it seems like there is a pretty good turnover rate with the people who post here and thought it might be good to re-visit the topic. Thanks for looking it up.
Oh, I didn't post the old thread to say, "Look, this was covered (with water?) in the past". That's kind of obnoxious, and there's always new people in the group, and we're here in part to share our personal experience. Rather, I put it up there just to give a pointer to a post I wrote about on the deepest water I've gone through.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
Quoted message said:
I've ridden through murky, mineral-laden Florida water over the hubs. Big mistake. I got to tear down a nearly-new bike and repack the hubs and bottom bracket (fortunately it wasn't a sealed "throw-away" BB).
Back in May I rode the Jordan River Parkway in Salt Lake Valley. Where the path goes under the 201 Freeway there was about 4" of water -- no big deal. Came back in June and there was still water, so I went for it again. This time it turned out to be over a foot deep. There was a park about a quarter mile further on, so I stopped, placed bike, shoes, and socks in the sun, and took a half-hour siesta. The soaking finished off a pair of aging shoes, and soon afterward my bottom bracket started making a sort of clicking/crunching noise. I am currently going stir crazy because the bike is in the shop for a general tune-up and replacement of the bottom bracket bearings. Next time I ride that trail and the sign says there's high water, I'll walk the bike over the rip-rap slope above the trail.
Bill
__o | Hummer: 10 mpg _`\(,_ | Bicycle: uses no oil at all. (_)/ (_) | So, who are the patriots?
The other day on my commute to work I had to ride through some pretty deep standing water due to heavy rain. In one spot the water was only about and inch or two under the center of the hubs on my 700c commuting bike.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
Ken
Last time I dumped my bike happened in two inch deep water. It is real easy to hit something you can't see when riding in water. Of course, living in Texas I have very little experience riding in the rain. It is probably a lot easier to get used to riding in the rain if you actually see rain once in a while. =]
The other day on my commute to work I had to ride through some pretty deep standing water due to heavy rain. In one spot the water was only about and inch or two under the center of the hubs on my 700c commuting bike.
So I guess this is a question and a poll: Whats the deepest water you have ridden through? Any dangers (other than moving water and objects hidden by water) that a rider should be aware of in deep water?
Ken
I tried that once and the only problem was that the water kept getting deeper as I went. Keep in mind that I was trying to cross a 1 mile road that was flooded in farmland. At about the half mile point of serious pedaling it got over my bracket and I couldn't pedal hard enough to keep my balance and went over sideways into some pretty cold water. After picking myself up and heading back (the water kept getting deeper) I heard laughing coming from my starting point. The 2 red necks watching me were betting I would not make it and they were right. That did earn me a free beer when I got back to them and some BS'ing about the dumbest thing they had ever seen anyone attempt on a bicycle. Figures I would be the one to win that bet. Bill Baka
gds wrote: :: Bill Baka wrote: :: :: :: Keep in mind that I was trying to cross a 1 mile road ::: that was flooded :: :: That's a pretty wide road!
Sure the heck is, huh? Sounds as if he had to go down into a low point to get to the road before crossing it. So, he must have been on one road while trying to cross another. The road he was on must have been covered with water.
What I don't get is why would anyone ever try this? Riding a skinny bike tire over ground I can't see seems to make little sense.
I tried that once and the only problem was that the water kept getting deeper as I went. Keep in mind that I was trying to cross a 1 mile road that was flooded in farmland. At about the half mile point of serious pedaling it got over my bracket and I couldn't pedal hard enough to keep my balance and went over sideways into some pretty cold water. After picking myself up and heading back (the water kept getting deeper) I heard laughing coming from my starting point. The 2 red necks watching me were betting I would not make it and they were right. That did earn me a free beer when I got back to them and some BS'ing about the dumbest thing they had ever seen anyone attempt on a bicycle. Figures I would be the one to win that bet.
I recall an old TV commercial where a hardcore MTB guy observes a little kid on his kiddie bike, riding through a little puddle and gleefully exclaiming "Whee!" as the water splashes up from his tires. So the hardcore MTB guy takes his cue from the kid and rides into a /deep/ puddle on a country dirt road -- submerging out of sight like a U-boat for a few moments, and then emerging on the other side, where he takes off his now muddy shades and smugly mutters to himself in sotto voce: "Whee."
I forget which product the advert was flogging. I guess whomever created it was more of an Artist than a marketeer.
cheers, Tom
-- -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I recall an old TV commercial where a hardcore MTB guy observes a little kid on his kiddie bike, riding through a little puddle and gleefully exclaiming "Whee!" as the water splashes up from his tires. So the hardcore MTB guy takes his cue from the kid and rides into a /deep/ puddle on a country dirt road -- submerging out of sight like a U-boat for a few moments, and then emerging on the other side, where he takes off his now muddy shades and smugly mutters to himself in sotto voce: "Whee."
One winter, I rode across a shallow creek that I took to be well-frozen. It wasn't, and I went in deep enough to flood the bottom bracket. I stayed upright, but my shoes and socks were soaked. I was also about 30-35 miles back to my car. I wandered off at the next highway, found a Menard's (midwestern home improvement center), bought some wool socks and put them on, with a Menard's plastic bag between the socks and my soaked shoes.
The cartridge bottom bracket failed a couple of months later.
I once rode a borrowed bike through flood waters that had come up from a river, onto a bikepath. It was about a foot deep, but I thought I could make it through. However, a section of the concrete path had washed out and I took a spill. The bike disappeared into the murky, fast-moving water (did I mention that it was 2:00 am and that a freeze of 28 degrees had set in?) I couldn't find the bike at first and had to go into waist-deep water, feeling around with my feet. I finally located it, about 20 feet downstream. I was soaked and numb, but I managed to ride it two miles home. I couldn't get my hands to turn the doorknob, but my girlfriend was there to let me in. I survived without frostbite and I didn't have to buy my friend a new bike. How could you ask for a better riding experience than that? There are too many lessons in all that, to even count. I was so exhilerated by it, that I bought my own bike the next day (and one for the girlfriend) and began my adult phase of bikeriding, which is still going.
