Bikers in Gayle give locals a good laugh !

[73octane]

Was walking around Hawes during the week and noticed a nice new bench has been installed at the ford in Gayle, just outside Hawes. While sat down admiring the view and eating a marmite and cheese sandwich I got talking to a local who told me it's a popular pastime watching cars and bikes cross the shallow stream there all the year round. Nearly all the bikes that do cross this little stream fall over into the water, it's very amusing to watch them get up as it's so slippery they usually fall over a few more times in the process he laughingly told me. Also recently a car came a bit too fast and did a complete 360. The driver was shaken but not stirred apparantly.

Am sure it's been mentioned before but take care before riding across shallow rivers or streams where the limestone has been worn smooth as glass by eons of water erosion.........and yes I did get wet because I just had to try and see if it was really as slippery as he made out. Thankfully nobody was on the bench to witness the hilarity which ensued.

 

[dazzer]

This ford was always good for a laugh when ever we took anyone new out trail riding with us.

Never Never try to ride this 2inch deep ford .it's like riding on ICE

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Been there, done that

Knocked myself out unconcious as I fell

UKGS'er weekend too

I was leading the run

 

[MickDB1]

Rode across it two up ( with the missis on back ) no problems
went back a few days later only 1 out of 5 bikes dint drop it
You can hardly stand up in it. when you walk it
Lucky or what

its a Never never no - no for me

 

[Rushy]

Was in it 2 yrs ago with a small group of mates. Luckily our intrepid leader Terry (KTM525) was slightly ahead of us and without stopping went straight across the ford with his better half Alison on the back .

When I say straight across I actually mean straight into it

We just came round the corner in time to see a slight splash and hear the graunch of crash bars against stone. Then we had to go in to get him. The wives/girlfriends were stood by pissing themselves as we all did more than a passable impression of Bambi on ice trying to get the bike out. Took 5 of us , in only 2 inches of water.

We'd all just back on terra firma, standing around chuckling, when a farmer in his Land Rover turned up . He wound his window down and said " Word of advice, before you even think about it don't try ridin thru this ford now will ya, its much too slippy "

He then drove across it slowly and as he went the Landie just kept slip sliding downstream and then crawled itself out.

After seeing this Terry refused to be beaten and crossed the river solo by taking a rocky route just above the ford. The rest us decided not to bother

 

[fritz]

Another Aye for 2-up fun. Must be over 10 years ago on my R80/7 after some off-roading from Bainbridge - decided to get the mud off in the water
Rode straight across no problem at all, turned and went AOT straight down, no warning, incredible. Couldn't ride bike out, had to run it in gear walking alongside.
We were howling with laughter whilst the other folk round walked about looking the opposite way.
We thoughjt it was very funny
Amazing how it went one way with no problem at all.
The other is at Egton were granite sets under trees have exactly the same affect