“Surf culture is weird. When I was surfing it felt angry and moody. After a few months I stopped altogether and never really did it again."
Around seven years ago, a filmmaker pal who had skills that filled me with jealousy and sadness, the ability to go above the lip and weightlessly conquer deep-water sections, one of surfing’s most valuable citizens in a sea of VALS, holstered his five-six for good.
Luke Farquhar, whom you’ll remember from such BeachGrit classics as the Filipe Toledo film Candid and the Chips Wilson soft board tester Twenty, got turned onto bikes after making a campaign for a pal who owned a bike apparel company.
“After I was exposed to their cult-like Saturday rides The stereotypes I had in my head were immediately gone and I found myself looking at onshore Sydney shite and becoming angry that my whole weekend was now ruined because of this,” says Farquhar, who just turned forty and is now chasing bike dreams in Mallorca, Spain, with his gorgeous Jewess wife. “Then seeing those same guys at a park drinking long necks having the time of their lives after riding 100km. It had a certain skate hang feel when you see a group of friends hanging out around a rail or stairs with beers in the sun.”
Farquhar qualifies the skate thing.
“I can’t skate and don’t think anyone should over 25, so thought this would be the next best thing.”
Which isn’t quite true. He learned the art of mid-face airs from ollying curbs in Brisbane.
I ask if there is one specific moment that made you wanna ride more than surf.
“I surfed for 20 years and would always plan holidays around coastlines. When I realised there was a whole world out there to see that doesn’t have waves and to experience it by bike was when I realised it was better than surf for me. Better in the sense of travel, socialising and being able to be on ground in different cities. I rode with my friend (designer Rama McCabe) from Berlin to Copenhagen in 2019 (first film below) and that was definitely the experience that put the final nail in my surfing coffin. After that trip I rode Melbourne to Sydney, Madrid to Ibiza (second film below) and all these trips outweighed any fun I’ve had surfing.”
The last time Farquhar surfed was three years at the tank in Melbourne.
“I couldn’t last the full hour because my arms are useless now. But my legs are strong and I felt way more power in my turns.”
Do you miss anything specific about surfing?
“Pits.”
How do you view surfing, and surf culture, before and after?
“Surf culture is a weird one. When I was surfing it felt quite angry and moody especially in Sydney. I loved watching the WSL, but now I can’t tell you anything about it. I still watch some Italo clips, but even that doesn’t do much for me these days.”
What are the parallels between the two sports? You see any similarities or synergies as they might call ’em in an office?
“Like surfing, cycling is also a super selfish sport which you generally find out by people being quite cunty towards materialistic things. Whether it’s the brand of bike or what logo you’re rolling in, the colour of your shoes and height of your socks. Both offer so much fun and social aspects. Surfing is definitely more fun in the moment, cycling is more fun when it’s done.
“Both are weather dependent with tan lines and leave little imagination to the outline of your cock. There are also the content branding and clothes design similarities. Half of the most successful cycling brands (in Australia at least) are from the surf industry or work in the surf biz but are weapons on the bike. Both sports share an overload of shit content of user-generated videos with little substance or any reason for one to stop the endless scroll. For me borrowing…copying… concepts from surfing and using it for cycling has been great. It still seems fresh in a sport where there are still so many rules and traditionalism and feels a bit “controversial”. It’s hard to come up with ideas for something so repetitive. With surfing at least every time someone catches a wave the narrative is sort of reset. But getting them to stay engaged is the hard part. Whereas cycling, if you approach the off-bike parts as important as the on-bike you can keep a journey going in your story telling.”
What’s the diff between biking, surfing?
“Cyclists seem to have a way of connecting with strangers which I don’t think surfing has as much. A cyclist can DM a complete stranger on the other side of the world, meet up, have beers and ride. Maybe surfing has changed but there is no way I would just text another surfer and ask to have a beer and go for a surf without knowing them, just ’causes we both surf. Feels creepy. For some reason, it’s completely normal in cycling.”
Why do so many surfers get turned onto bikes?
“The longevity in cycling might be greater than in surfing, perhaps that’s related to age. I’d feel pretty stupid at 40 flip-flopping around a shorebreak now. So it still creates a sub-culture and hobby of mind cleansing, like surfing without feeling a little too old to do so.”
What happens to your body when there ain’t no paddling only kicking your stilts up and down? No arms, beautiful legs?
“Yeah, my pectorals and arms are now super weak. I wouldn’t say they are completely gone but they may as well be. My legs though, hairless and magnificent. It’s like being circumcised. No real need for it, but aesthetically way more pleasing.”
Is biking getting cool, like, with your lil movies, prettier outfits etc?
“It’s definitely become cooler. A lot of brands are contributing a lot to this, similar to running now. Outfits are getting very nice to wear and have become a massive trend worldwide. They make you look and feel good on the bike or even after the ride down the boozer. It’s a real moment ordering your first pint in Lycra. My cycling films have mixed reviews. Anyone from a surf or skate background seems to enjoy ’em. the more traditional cyclist, not so much.”
Where you think is bike culture on a timeline, same as surfing in the eighties, say?
“The Tour (UCI not WSL) seems to be as crazy as ever especially seeing races here in Europe. It feels like a WSL event in Brazil but at every single stage. Fans are crazy, cities shut down, people drinking from sunrise screaming, the passion is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
Culturally?
“Culturally, it’s somewhere between, The Bruce Movie and Dion’s peak.”
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Those 2 videos above suck, and so does cycling in lycra.
I mostly ride on my own. The article was linked from a biking website coz it’s about bike/surf crossover. I participated coz it’s interesting.
Probably. Though a corporation can’t make it less weird in that way.
Corporations and bikes don’t mix either. Corporations and anything don’t mix. But they’re mixin’ whether you like it or not. Surfing’s not weird – it’s just been sucked up by it’s own type of corporate marketing to make it look that way.
No one who started surfing before high school is gonna drop surfing for cycling
I did.
This is one of the worst flicks I’ve ever seen. Please don’t make any more. What the fuck is it even about? Was it trying to attract people to riding bikes or repel them? Love seeing more people on bikes especially doing the big rides but this ain’t how it rolls. Pick a decent route and a suitable bike for the job.
To be clear, “cycling” as in the roadie kitted in lycra is one (diminishing) sub-set of riding bikes. It can be fun but is inhabited by some mega asshole attitudes and looking beyond it is where you find the real goodness in bikes – touring, bikepacking, mountain biking. That’s a lifestyle and a good one. All welcome.
As for lycra shorts – you wear ’em when and how they make sense. Often not. Never mind the bullshit alpha male unwritten rules. They’re black, they’re tight, they show the outline of your cock…just like a wetsuit does. Get over it.
I see the overlap between surfing and bikes and the attraction to both. Unfortunately, at some point surfing became mired in bullshit, wanna-be alpha male culture and corporate marketing to the point that I no longer bother with it much for about the last 20 years. Love the activity, the culture can be toxic.
Nice try selling us on this one Derek, this logic would only fly in a place like Sydney or LA and amongst creative soy-boy types. Cycling is gay and mainstream AF, can’t compare it with surfing.
Instead of pretending to be an alpha male why don’t you try riding a bike so you actually know what you’re talking about. Not a road bike necessarily – there’s way better bikes to ride. It’s not surfing or bikes – you can do both. And surfing is as mainstream as cycling or any other activity. Corporations own it and you’re kidding yourself if you think they don’t.
I agree that this film is shit tho.
I’m not pretending to be an alpha, just don’t vibe on the “culture” mostly made up of middle age office workers, who geek out on ridiculously priced equipment. Surfing is mainstream to an extent, but not as much as cycling. I’d like to think the entry point for surfing well, generally impacts this. And yes we’re basically comparing apples with oranges, they’re vastly different pursuits, which I think makes the article even more ridiculous.
…“culture” mostly made up of middle age office workers, who geek out on ridiculously priced equipment.
A lot of people who ride bikes also hate that (me included). The real value in riding bikes starts when you break away and do stuff like packing some camping gear onto a mountain bike, riding somewhere far away and sleeping in the bush around a campfire. Or riding past the traffic to the pub or shops to get what you need. Or packing a touring bike and riding across the country over rail trails and through national parks.
Wrong.
Anyone can go buy a bike, all the the gear, join a cycling club and cause other road users a headache, and put themselves in danger at the same time. Same with snowboarding/skiing. Buy all the expensive gear, direct flights to a mountain resort, get the top of the hill and go down it, and potentially break a limb in the process. All style no substance.
Surfing has a much harder right of passage, a journey from getting flogged every session, to reading the ocean each session and snagging a set wave which you then ride with confidence and understanding. And that’s before even considering overseas travel.
These are completely different experiences, not even comparable.
“…All style no substance.“
You’ve obviously not actually ever done any riding (mountain, road, bikepacking, cyclocross).
Also, surfing has a world cup, is an Olympic sport and supports a large industry of board makers, clothing brands, tourism and more. It’s very much mainstream and has been for decades.
I own a road bike and ride to work, and do long rides in between. I enjoy cycling, it’s great exercise when not surfing. It does not change the fact that it’s a lot easier to do, you simply cannot compare it to surfing is my point.
Also not a fan of 20+ people in a peloton clogging the roads when I’m trying to get to the beach haha
“I own a road bike and ride to work, and do long rides in between.”
Nice. That’s awesome.
“…not a fan of 20+ people in a peloton…”
Nor am I. I haven’t done that sort of thing for probably 10 years. Generally, I think that kind of riding is dying off. I mainly commute, mountain bike and do long mixed terrain “rambles” on a gravel bike or mountain bike – forestry dirt roads, short road link-ups, rail trails, occasionally an inner city ride. Mainly on my own, occasionally with one or two others max.
“Cycling is gay…”
That’s both totally bigoted and just plain silly.
my apologies to the gay community, that wasn’t the intended point. Where I come from gay is interchangeable with soft/lame and piss weak. I’m no bigot just an old-school believer is surfing still being a core sport sans spandex and Strava memberships. Of course I know that rarely is the case still these days and differs a great deal based on one’s geographic location.
Ol Luke ain’t no adult learner. Got BeachGrit to the final of a team’s contest for Surf Aid a while back.
He says biking is more fun after the ride. I’m not sure I’d want to ride 100km just to say, “well now we can enjoy our time”.
Some people like dorky gear sports.
Surfing becoming, or has become, a very dorky gear sport: ponchos, surf hats, beach carts etc etc and etc.
There’s levels to it.
Surfing still a 3 or 4 on the scale.
Road biking a 10.
In your heart of hearts – is there anything dorkier than a middle aged man in lycra with that withered little upper body and over-developed smooth hams looking like a trussed up turkey before it goes in the oven?
Then playing on the road about to end up in wheelchair because some 19 year 3rd year plumbing apprentice who had a big night is responding to text.
and there’s the scenario that bike riders like to do it together……watched all my life how one bloke leads the others follow each other…..and all they have to look at is a wobbling butt infront of them ..I always wondered is it a gay sport?????
But the delicious lil ass keeps getting away! It’s a cruel gay sport!
To the first part, the only thing dorkier might be a man of late moyen-âge in crown-to-toe neoprene, bucket hat secured by a cord, wearing plastic crocodile shoes and carrying his surfboard via the handle built into the deck.
To the second, yeah, true.
You’re slipping bruz- bucket hats with cords now hot af with hipsters of both sexes.
Ain’t gonna accept that proposition.
Depends if you buy into that shit or not
Seems like the majority do.
good, one less
More inspirational stories of people quitting surfing please, maybe it will catch on
I love riding my Hurley electric beach cruiser to the gas station to get more beer. I usually keep it on 1 or 2 so I still get a little workout, but the beers stay cold is priority. While I must admit it does make feel very connected to fellow bycyclistssss. I Drink Alone, yeah With Nobody Else…..
Most contrived boring video’s ever. Makes surfing vids look like Cannes winners.
Can’t imagine waiting for a cycling video to drop.
The true sign of a bike enthusiast is having a bike that is worth more than their car/truck. Anybody have a surfboard worth more than their whip?
This is a normal phenomenon along with sharp elbows at bike races
Seriously Derek? The US roads and bike paths are filled with Peloton warriors who cannot hold a line while riding with an obvious Peloton riding style that screams stay the fuck away as they will take you out. I quit riding road 5 years ago and only ride Mtn these days partially because of the clowns on the road. And yes I still wear Assos socks on occasion to telegraph my road linage to the punters I run into on my mtn rides.
Lycra isn’t cool and sharp elbows rule!
Such an American response
I agree and so shocking coming from an Ugly American with experience in of all places America…
Who rides in a bike path?
Most major cities in the US have some bike paths these days.
I do! Too scared to end up in para ward.
😉
Don’t blame me, just the messenger!
I may need to drink tonight after reading this article so the hangover will be your fault
“I still watch Italo clips sometimes …”
Jordy Smith is in disbelief.
Who?
Jordy Smith. 2025 world champ
Nah do the math.
Quit 7 years ago, minus 20 years
14 – 34 ish..
While living in Berlin a few years ago I got into Fantasy Surfing, often making my picks in a sweaty spandex semi-conscious flow state while sipping a Berliner Pilsener after a hard ride out to Berlin airport or through the lakes and forests of Brandenburg with the 8bar Shop Ride crew.
I became WSL Fantasy Surfing World Champ that year.
Coincidence? 🤔
A true and deeply sexy story. https://beachgrit.com/2020/01/interview-wsls-fantasy-surfer-champ-revealed-as-berlin-based-data-journalist-who-says-its-a-dead-platform-really/
Yanks still have a real chip on their shoulder about cyclists but those are often the same people who drive their truck 200 yards because they feel emasculated using their legs. In Europe every fucker and their dog rides a bike everywhere, it’s part of life. Giving up surfing to ride one would be the same as saying you gave up surfing to walk. This guy’s a kook.
When I used to live on Dartmoor I rode everywhere, up some bloody big hills and to work in the city. I still ride every day, though on the tiny mountainous island in 35C it sucks. It’s the perfect exercise for surfing, you can surf all morning until your arms die then when the onshore starts, you just use your legs to ride the bike thereby doubling the amount of available cardio in a day. That only works if you’re a divorcee loner like me though with no commitments.
I do all of this alone, the thought of basing my activities on other people liking me hurts my personality disorder.
Thanks for not pissing all over our seat.. Their is freedom to riding a bike, feel like a kid/middle schooler every time I hop on mine. Way better than sitting in an auto for small commutes.
You’re confusing a person who rides bikes, and a cyclist.
We have a few events here, no serious races because the roads are like the moon surface and it’s only a few miles across but definitely not just people who ride bikes.
35° and mountainous? Fuck that. How do you deal with the tropical downpours or drivers that purchased their license, can’t even read and don’t care about cyclist?
I just power through. Gravel bike gearing, 32mm tyres, big disc brakes and a disregard for my safety. My life is fucked and I don’t really care. There are plenty of close calls. You just have to stop when it rains, December to March isn’t too bad though. There is a flat stretch along the south side for about 7 miles or so where I take out the proper road bike early in the morning. I’ve rode a bike constantly since I was a child, my grandfather was a hill climb champion, my dad raced TT. It’s in the blood can’t stop.
Nice. What region of the world is your little island in?
South of Florida, north of Venezuela.
Was going to guess St. Martin, but a lot of those islands are small with big hills and their roads are not like moon surfaces.
Nice. I know the region well.
We shouldn’t catch up for a beer nor go for a surf sometime
Riding a bike is a positive experience. Having a rape seat and riding miles on it, is something else….