An old idea flashed in my mind during the Corona period: The bicycle surf trailer! For many years, this idea was dismissed as impossible or extremely cumbersome. With car parks and spots closed, it seemed to be the only remaining, responsible option for getting back on the water after a long time.
My surf-hungry limbs were full of vigour. Firstly, my rattling bike had to be replaced with a proper touring bike. A few hours passed with a targeted search on Ebay classifieds and I found what I was looking for. A second-hand, formerly high-priced trekking bike called the "Torpedo" for 160 euros was to become my new projectile. It simply makes a huge difference whether you're riding a good or a bad bike, especially if you need to transport loads. I realised this immediately and "Torpedo" made cycling a real pleasure again.
Now the "only" thing missing was a suitable trailer. The very next day, I found what I was looking for again and was able to purchase a heavily used bicycle handcart from the neighbourhood for 35 euros on the same portal.
The material becomes the load-bearing part of the surf trailer
The construction of the surf trailer could begin. First of all, I tightened the bolts on this rather rickety trailer and unscrewed the much too small, bulky drawbar. I approached the project completely without a plan. But I was determined to get out on the water that very day. (Necessity is the mother of invention. And there it was, the all-important realisation: surfing equipment is long and dimensionally stable. Why not simply use the windsurfing equipment as an integral part of the surf trailer?
Firstly, I put the board, sail and mast in the board bag to protect the material and placed the bag on the box of the trailer. This is an 08/15 mortar box with a volume of 90 litres. The boom, fully extended to 190 centimetres, was then placed on top of the bag so that the boom head protruded slightly at the front. A small lashing strap (2 Euro DIY store) attached to the front of the trailer was used to secure the surf load.
Now "only" the trailer had to be connected to the bike. The mast base was on my right and a thought popped into my head: why not just use the surfing equipment again and screw the mast base onto the carrier as a coupling? I quickly found a suitable gap in the rack linkage. To ensure that the mast base holds securely, it is important to remove the mast base plate and attach it underneath the linkage. To complete the clutch, I thought it made sense to attach the mast extension to the boom head. Click - and the clutch was ready. All that remained was to lash the tip of the board bag to the boom with the trim sheet of the extension and attach the clew to the back of the hanger in a similar way using the rope.
Construction time for the surf trailer: just under two hours
The wetsuit and other small items simply went into the practical tub at the bottom. And after just two hours of planning and setting up, we were ready to set off on our first bike surfing trip to Lindhöft. Due to the moderate forecast, I could assume that the spot would be less frequented. But after just three kilometres there was a loud bang and I wondered at first who had thrown a firecracker at me. But a look behind quickly brought sobering clarity: one of the trailer's tyres had exploded. I was already on the verge of throwing all my plans overboard and returning home frustrated for good. But I had a tyre repair kit with me. It was unexpectedly easy to repair the thumb-sized hole. Despite the puncture, I arrived in Lindhöft two hours and 22 kilometres later.
I didn't find many fellow sailors there, but I did find a few gusts on the water. After a good portion of pasta, I took to the water for an early summer easterly wind session. Overjoyed with my first surf session and the success of the endeavour so far, I returned to land two hours later. I quickly ate the rest of the pasta and, with enough energy, I was able to start my evening journey home to Kiel after packing up for five minutes. On the way back through Kiel's picturesque countryside, bathed in evening light, I ignited the last burning stage in the form of a bar of chocolate. I arrived at my destination after an hour and a half, despite the defective trailer tyres. A little exhausted, but completely euphoric, I recapitulated the success of this unique tour.
Comfortable and free of charge to the surf spot
The forecast predicted westerly winds two days later. In order to satisfy my urge to surf, the trailer had to be repaired first. The inferior, half-broken 16-inch tyres made it impossible to continue the journey. A quick solution had to be found, so I quickly dismantled a children's bike I had bought for 15 euros on eBay classifieds. A short time later, with stable tyres, we set off on a ridiculous twelve-kilometre surf tour to Kitzeberg on the eastern shore of the Kiel Fjord. In view of the significantly reduced rolling resistance and the shorter distance, this tour felt like a stone's throw compared to the first endeavour.
Until a few days ago, I would never have dreamed that I could get to a decent surf spot comfortably, free of charge and completely independently in just under 45 minutes. The extremely manoeuvrable and stable vehicle is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre. Full of energy and euphoria, I opened Google Maps after this second surfing tour and found out about some of the cycle routes leading into the distance. Whether by bike to Büsum, to Fehmarn or even to Denmark, nothing seemed impossible any more - if you only have enough time and pasta.
A few days later, my brother Jakob, who lives in Lübeck, asked me whether I wanted to come to Weißenhäußer Strand, 50 kilometres away, in view of the good forecast. His question was probably not entirely serious, but I immediately realised that I had to do it!
100 kilometres of cycling and surfing sap your strength
To make the trailer even more compact and stable for the long tour, I modified the trailer. Neoprene, small items, tent and sleeping bag went into the storage box. This meant I could set off on my long journey in a sufficiently roadworthy and streamlined manner. I set off from Kiel at 4 p.m. local time and arrived in Weißenhaus less than two and a half hours later with a good tailwind. The journey went smoothly and took me past rapeseed fields, lakes and forests through "Holstein Switzerland", which is particularly beautiful in spring. Only the village of "Kaköhl" lived up to its name with its tough climb.
Once we arrived at our destination, we took the obligatory pasta break and a little later enjoyed clean freestyle wave conditions with my brother Jakob from Lübeck, who was at least as surprised by my presence as I was. We let off steam in the paradisiacal bay until after sunset.
At dusk, I quickly set up my "surf camp" in the deserted car park, ate the rest of my pasta and went into my cosy little tent. The board bag served as a decent sleeping pad. After a short but sufficiently restful night, I headed back to Kiel early in the morning. After a full three and a half hours with a moderate headwind, I arrived back in Kiel in the morning. The trailer held and all the tyres remained inflated - only my power reserves were exhausted. Of course, the 100 kilometres of cycling, an extended surfing session and a short night made themselves felt: I fell into bed tired, but highly satisfied with this impressive 19-hour endeavour.
The next construction with a dog trailer
The very next day we went surfing again. This time I was accompanied by my brother Wanja, who also lives in Kiel. Due to the lack of a surf trailer, he took his kite gear with him to the fjord as an exception. Despite the fact that the kite equipment is extremely easy to transport by bike, he was determined to go windsurfing again next time. And so, the very next day, he bought his first trailer through a classified advert. A so-called dog trailer for a mere 35 euros was to form the basis of his surf trailer. Wanja was inspired by my design: The extended boom was firmly attached to the base of the dog trailer and the boom head, together with the mast base, served as the trailer coupling. He quickly cut off the cover of the trailer, which was unnecessary for the purpose of surf transport. What remained was the very practical linkage to which he could easily attach the surfboard.
The next morning we headed back to the western shore of the Kiel Fjord thanks to a persistent northerly wind. As the wind god meant well with us, there was also plenty of wind the following day. Instead of cycling the 13 kilometres to Friedrichsort in just 45 minutes, we decided to double the distance to Heidkate. On the way there, we travelled the entire eastern shore of the fjord to check out spots such as Kitzeberg and Laboe. The conditions at each of these spots strongly recommended that we continue our journey. We finally arrived at the Heidkate surf school a good hour and a half later to enjoy the best freestyle wave conditions in cosy togetherness until the evening.
Unrig, pack up the trailer and quickly light a bar of chocolate. And off we went, 25 kilometres back to Kiel at night, where we made an exuberant appointment for the next surf trip. But the following day brought a lull.
Cycling and windsurfing complement each other perfectly
Three days of intensive windsurfing in a row and neither my energy reserves nor my muscles were completely exhausted. How could that be? My brother surmised that the regular and enduring exercise of cycling contributed to the active regeneration of the musculoskeletal system to a certain extent. This confirmed my impression that the dynamic and relaxed endurance pattern of cycling is a healthy counterpart to the power-orientated, primarily static movement pattern of windsurfing. You arrive at the spot well warmed up, surf your heart out and actively regenerate on the journey home. You should take your time and use your strength regularly.
What you should look out for in a surf trailer for your bike
A good touring bike and of course a good, smooth-running surf trailer are basic requirements for a relaxed surf tour. So far, my model of surf trailer has proved its worth. I have observed the following principles:
- Lowest possible dead weight
- Stable rolling behaviour
- Tilt stability
- Low wind resistance
- Very important: uncomplicated assembly and disassembly in under five minutes
For a low centre of gravity and good aerodynamics, it is advisable to pack the heavy items (neoprene etc.) into the bottom of the trailer, attach the sail and mast underneath the board (through the harness ropes) and lay the board flat on top. Even a good 20 knots of crosswind on a dyke path couldn't even begin to tip my surf trailer. In addition, the wheels of the trailer should generally be positioned far back. This way, the trailer never starts to roll and tolerates even the highest speeds. My trailer has briefly cracked the 50 km/h mark - without even wobbling. I also appreciate my mortar box with green lid as more than just a stylish transport box: When you arrive at the spot, you can stow your clothes in it and keep them safe from rain and theft.
On long tours with steep climbs, a bike with electric assistance makes it easier to get round quickly. True to the motto - "Pimp my ride!" - I am considering a simple electric conversion kit for my bike, for example. But even without an electric boost, you can get to the spot quite comfortably.
In conclusion, I can only recommend every windsurfer to try out a bike surf trip. You will be surprised how uncomplicated and fun such a tour is, especially now in the summer months.
Text: Anton Munz
This article first appeared in surf 7/2020
