Hydrobiking turns the Tour de Suisse into Tour de Lake
11.7.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Siri Schubert
Why choose between cycling and water sports when you could do both at once? If you ask me, taking a leisurely bike ride on the water is fantastic on a hot day.
I adore water sports and I’m an avid cyclist. With this in mind, I’m obviously super tempted by the hydrobikes available to rent at Lake Lucerne (website in German).
You might be thinking, «Oh, they’re just pedaloes – nothing special». Well, think again. Hydrobikes are very different from conventional pedal boats. Instead of a fixed hull, these water bikes – like catamarans – have two long floats (in this case inflatable ones) with a slightly cucumber-like shape.
Now, they might be cucumber-y, but they aren’t cumbersome. Quite the opposite, in fact. Since the floats are slim, you can move much faster on a hydrobike than on a pedalo. You also get a good view of your surroundings because the seat’s higher above the surface of the water.
I was surprised at how lightweight the bikes are. If you deflate the floats, they fit into a backpack. You can then easily carry the frame in your hand.
Different versions: from comfy to sporty
You can get different types of hydrobikes. There’s a sporty version with a regular bike saddle and a relaxing one which you ride like a cruiser.
I went for the comfy version with a backrest and wide handlebars. With temperatures around the 30-degree mark that Sunday afternoon, anything above a leisurely bike ride was out of the question. I’m also thinking about going on a multi-day hydrobike tour soon, so I was keen to see what the comfortable version was like. It turned out to be a good choice. After three hours and 16 kilometres on the bike, my back, bottom and legs were still in decent shape.
It’s easy to steer and brake
If you can ride a bike, then you’ll have no problem with a hydrobike. Thanks to the underwater rudder, you can easily change direction using the handlebars.
To brake, just stop pedalling. If you want to make a really abrupt stop, you pedal backwards, hard. It’s almost like the coaster brakes you would’ve had on your bike when you were a kid.
Speaking of which, you can also ride hydrobikes backwards. Just pedal in that direction and you’ll start reversing.
You can take your belongings on the bike
The basket attached to the back of the seat was fine for my little outing. If you’re looking to take more baggage on your hydrobike trip, you can also attach an inflatable platform between the floats. This can be used for transporting waterproof bags for your clothes and other equipment.
Stable, even on windy days and choppy water
As is so often the case on hot summer afternoons, clouds started drawing in, bringing wind along with them. And waves. Thanks to the volume of the two floats, my hydrobike stayed surprisingly stable. There was no frantically trying to keep my balance or excessive wobbling. Just a soothing rocking motion.
Even the headwind didn’t pose a problem. The bike kept on moving without much extra effort on my part.
The fun really ramped up when I tried to surf the waves of a nearby passenger boat. It really did work as well. After pedalling hard until I matched the wave’s speed, I was pushed along by it. I then had to pedal gently. If I’d stopped, the propeller that drives the bike would’ve stopped too. And put on the brakes.
Handy items to take on a hydrobike ride
I thoroughly enjoyed my hydrobike ride on Lake Lucerne. It was fun to simply cycle across the lake. And I got to look at the scenery from a new perspective. I definitely now have a much better idea of what it’d be like to explore a region or lake on a multi-day hydrobike tour.
Maybe you fancy giving hydrobiking a go but aren’t sure what kind of gear you’d need. If so, I can tell you that you don’t need much.
Since the pedals are smooth, you can ride barefoot. Personally, I find it more comfortable with shoes – especially when getting on and off the bike on a stony bank. My favourites are Teva’s Tirra sandals, as they have firm soles, dry quickly and are suitable for both water sports and easy hikes.
I definitely recommend wearing a swim shirt with UV protection if you’re spending the day on the water. UV radiation from the sun is reflected by the water, making it even more intense. However, wearing a shirt protects your entire upper body, including your shoulders and back.
Sunscreen is also a must when doing water sports. I use Mawaii’s waterproof sun protection. As an added bonus, the cream doesn’t harm coral reefs – ideal if you’re going on a beach holiday.
Sunscreen
EUR23,21 EUR309,47/1l
mawaii All Weather Protection SPF 30 75ml
Suntan cream, SPF 30, 75 ml, 100 g
On my hydrobike ride, I put my smartphone, snacks and camera into a dry bag. We have a wide selection of them in our product range. I use one made by Sea to Summit, and am really happy with its watertightness and durability.
When I’m doing water sports, I prefer wearing sunglasses that can float. I recently reviewed the Invu Komodo.
Header image: Stefan Munsch/photomotion.ch
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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