ZIPP2001

Ok before people get all crazy about what I did to the bike, relax. I've been riding for well over 40 years and know what the negative effects of what I did. Now if I though the trail was flooded that deep I would have decided on another route. After the first little flooded area I figured it would be passable and looking back I should have turned around after that first section. But I do like to take a few chances every now and then and proceeded forward. I did find that with no weight on the fat bike the tires help it float (lol). Hey I had fun, got to laugh a bunch, and just plain had a great ride out in the woods. Thats what riding a bike is all about having fun.

alo

I have done a similar thing, but not quite as deep as that, and only on solid roads. On dirt tracks, there can be pot holes and you cant see them. I went to places by bicycle, that other people were going to by boat. This was in S E Asia. To me it is interesting to see all aspects of life, including what people do when the river level rises, and the roads are flooded. On one road cars passed me. The water was 2 feet deep, but the cars created waves 2 feet high, so my shorts got wet.

Water does provide a lot of resistance to fat bike tires, so you can only go slowly, and it takes a lot of effort to pedal.

I know it is bad for the bike, but it was fun. I still ride the bike.

Hondo Gravel

Reminds me when I was a kid making ramp to jump our bikes into a river. They were cheap Huffys but it was a blast.

davester

Looks like fun. However, probably the bearings in your bottom bracket and hubs, and possibly the oil in your shock(s) are now contaminated with water and require rebuilding. I rode my road bike through some much shallower water two years ago and didn't take apart for a couple of months...totally destroyed the bearings. Those lip seals will not keep water out if there's more than atmospheric pressure to deal with (i.e. the hydrostatic pressure that results from submergence).

ZIPP2001

Already tore the bottom bracket apart and rebuilt, will be rebuilding the headset this weekend. I don't have a suspension fork on this bike. The hubs are the only thing I won't do right now. Two years ago I ran into a deep water area with my 29 plus bike and did the same rebuild, and it's been fine since. I've always carried spare parts for my bikes, and do my own work so just adds to the fun.

big john

I've done that and had the water slosh around inside the wheels later. Did a 15 mile descent with a lot of water crossings and my friend fell into the water and soaked his Camelbak and all the stuff in it. Ground my rim brakes down to nothing.

rumrunn6

loved the preview riding down a river! you were inches away from dunking that phone!

omg the floating bike was hysterical

what, no ride by?

right before you started crying I was wondering if you wanted to start crying

what does that little sign say?

ZIPP2001

Visible water on trail unsafe to pass.

That would have been a tough ride-by.

Speedway2

Great vid......Looks like you had a blast! Your outfit should keep you safe...from any hunters

ZIPP2001

Thanks !

It was a slow hunting season last year, I only ran across maybe a half dozen hunters last year. I just fear for the horse back riders out here because I've seen them out here during hunting season. just hoping some hunter who's been drinking fires first before getting the proper look.

AlmostTrick

Great job, and cool video!

Several years ago I came upon a flooded out road on my work commute. There were cars stalled in the middle, some with drivers still in them. I stopped to analyze the situation. Should I turn around and re-route? I'd likely be late if I did. So I took off my shoes and socks and strapped 'em to my rack and went for it. While riding through water almost to the top of my tires, past people in their cars, I saw a fish swim past my tire! Got to the other side, stopped, shook the excess water off my feet and put my socks and shoes back on. Success!

alo

In S E Asia you see a lot of things when the road floods. One girl walked through the water wearing shorts. When she was through, she put her skirt on and went to school. A girl who worked in a restaurant, parked her motorbike at someone else's house about 3 km from home, then walked the 3 km morning and evening. The girls and people with newish motorbikes don't normally ride through deep water. The boys, particularly those with older motorbikes, often ride through it. Occasionally you see a motorbike that wont go. Then boats come out in some places. They put their motorbike in the boat, and go to where the water is shallow again. The children love playing in the water. In many places, they get to their homes by motorbike normally, and by boat when there are floods. Some houses flood, so they set up a tarp over a simple frame, and live there until the water level drops.

rumrunn6

don’t drown, turn around