Surfboard on a bike

[JSteiner]

Does anyone here have any experience with carrying a surfboard on their bike? I'm moving to San Jose in about a month, which is about 40 miles to the nearest surf break. I like the idea of packing up surfing and camping gear and heading to the beach on the weekends, but have to find a good way to carry the board.

I've never been much attracted to a trailer. They add too much weight, rolling resistance, and akwardness. I can fit everything I need in my panniers, on the racks, or in a backpack. But the surfboard can't.

I'm not a very great surfer, so I ride a longer board (6'2"-6'6" or so). I'm worried about it being too long to really manage on a long ride. I've seen the DIY page where the guy made his own out of PVC. I like the idea, but his design looks like the bike is literally impossible to pedal: http://www.rodndtube.com/surf/info/surf_racks/BicycleSurfboardRack.shtml

Electra distributes a rack made by Carver, but I'm hesitant to drop $100 on a rack without knowing anything about it.

Has anyone used a surfboard rack or knows someone who has? Any suggestions on one that would be good for a longer ride?

[coldfeet]

You can get a surfboard on an Xtracycle equiped bike if you use their longloader attachment.
They used to have a video on the site somewhere of a dude riding down a woodland path
with a surfboard on board.

[keisatsu]

I imagine you're going to go to Santa Cruz to surf (I used to live in Capitola, best town eVar, make sure you check out Mr. Toots!). Just ask one of the many people riding around with their boards where they got their rack.

[Jerseysbest]

I see people all the time with boards on special racks that hang on the the side of their bike. 40 miles might be kinda awkward though

[1fluffhead]

I have used something like the mule and it worked okay.
http://www.lajollasurfshop.com/long_b20.jpg (http://www.lajollasurfshop.com/bike_racks.htm)

[thePig]

The mule looks great! Not sure I would want to ride over any big bumps though.
When I was a teenager I lived 3 miles from the beech and used to ride there with my board under my arm - guess you can't do that for 40miles though.

[Artkansas]

That trailer 1fluffhead showed looked good. You definitely need a good rig to get over the Santa Cruz mountains. I saw the rod n tube design, looks like it would be okay if you lived in downtown Santa Cruz, but not for an odyssey as you are planning. Check in the Northern California forum for the best route to follow. Have fun.

[ggriffinslo]

Seems that the distance makes bike only a tough call. many cities in Coastal California have bike racks for commuters. I ride one to my work,get off and pedal a few miles through the town to work. I wonder if your regional transit has a similar set up.
George


SLO, CA

[peace_piper]

I used one of these: http://www.electriccyclery.com/catalog/Bicycle_Short_Surf_Board_Rack-p-66.html when I was living in Hawai'i. It worked out great. I still have it somewhere, but it's far too cold to surf now that I moved to NorCal. They say they can carry boards up to 10'. It worked fine for my board which was 5'10".