The 'fords' time trial - fact or fiction?

Andy Terry · Post by **Andy Terry** » 06 May 2016 08:44

Recently, a local cyclist (who shall remain nameless), while competing on the K32/10 course, took a wrong turn and ended up submerged in one of the Shell Brook fords.

I'm sure someone once told me that in the dim, distant past there used to be a time trial which actually crossed 2 or 3 of these fords. Can anyone throw any light on this?

Philip Whiteman · Post by **Philip Whiteman** » 06 May 2016 09:06

Yes there was. It was abandoned due the number of accidents. It passed through the three fords including Shell.

The risk assessment must have been interesting.

laurence_cooley · Post by **laurence_cooley** » 06 May 2016 10:02

Did Alan ride it?

Philip Whiteman · Post by **Philip Whiteman** » 06 May 2016 10:58

Here is the official course detail: http://www.midlanddc.org.uk/courses?are ... rse=K32/16

Andy Terry · Post by **Andy Terry** » 06 May 2016 13:11

Thanks for that, Phil. When was it last used I wonder? And do we have anyone on MB who has ridden it?

AlanW · Post by **AlanW** » 06 May 2016 14:10

laurence_cooley wrote:Did Alan ride it?

No, in fact I have never heard mention of such a route either till just, you learn something new everyday don't you?

George · Post by **George** » 06 May 2016 14:59

It used to be an annual event in my early days at the club. However, I never rode it, so my knowledge of it is purely anecdotal, except insofar as devotees sometimes led club runs through the fords. I've been through those fords on club runs; hard to imagine now. The TT was, I believe, ridden in high summer, when the water was usually low. People nevertheless regularly used to crash. But that seemed to be regarded as 'part of the fun'. By the time that I joined, I think that that attitude was already on the wane, to be replaced by the (sometimes disproportionately) safety-conscious attitude that now prevails. For first-hand recollections, I suggest asking Dave Hughes, Tony Webb, John Hitchcock and maybe Vince Tennant.

RichK · Post by **RichK** » 06 May 2016 15:00

Has Brian B ridden it? I think it was he who first told me about it.

George · Post by **George** » 06 May 2016 15:50

RichK wrote:Has Brian B ridden it? I think it was he who first told me about it.

I don't know for sure, but that sounds entirely plausible. Brian is very nearly the same age as me and joined in the same era, so it would have been going in his early days too.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » 06 May 2016 20:29

I rode it several times. The secret was to ride STRAIGHT through the three fords.

AlanW · Post by **AlanW** » 06 May 2016 20:57

Oscar wrote:I rode it several times. The secret was to ride STRAIGHT through the three fords.

Fantastic

But I cannot believe that I've never heard mention of it before, even with my time with the Bromsgrove Olympique?

IanT · Post by **IanT** » 06 May 2016 22:23

Surely you were nearby with a camera Alan?

snailmale · Post by **snailmale** » 07 May 2016 17:17

I've fallen off in all these fords, though never in competition

http://snailmale-chezlescargot.blogspot ... aters.html

Colin G · Post by **Colin G** » 07 May 2016 21:41

I never rode it but went out to watch one year - 83 / 84 maybe. It's a patchy childhood memory but i remember Dean Baker emerging unscathed from the Earls Common Road Ford (i think) before falling off just down the road as a result of his pedal snapping off. It was a brilliantly entertaining event - no helmets either!

AlanW · Post by **AlanW** » 07 May 2016 21:49

IanT wrote:Surely you were nearby with a camera Alan?

Sadly not, my 'love' of Shell Ford is a fairly recent one

laurence_cooley · Post by **laurence_cooley** » 07 Jan 2023 11:02

IanT wrote: ↑
06 May 2016 22:23
Surely you were nearby with a camera Alan?

On that topic: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... fford-ford.

Dave Cox · Post by **Dave Cox** » 07 Jan 2023 13:15

I remember it well Tour of the Fords TT was a regular event in early '80s. I never rode but did marshal it once I think. Oscar is right the secret was to slow down ride straight through the fords but I recall that even a marshal came off. I do think that the fords have got more slippery over the years because of weeds but perhaps I'm just more cautious. If it's flooded under bridge just past Wedges don't try it just divert. I ended up stalling in a pothole and "swimming" not long ago.

Philip Whiteman · Post by **Philip Whiteman** » 10 Jan 2023 17:00

I took a look on the CTT course list. It no longer exists. I wonder why?

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The 'fords' time trial - fact or fiction?

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