In 1991, in San Luis Obispo, California, Roger Malinowski, a bicycle industry maven, met Philip Novotny, an airline mechanic, who had turned a decrepit beach cruiser bike into a versatile, lightweight, single-track bike trailer, called the YAK, and was rolling them out of his machine shop on a small scale. Roger knew a great idea when he saw it, and together they took Philip’s invention and turned it into a revolution.
Originally, the name of the company was Beast of Burden, which many thought was a burden unto itself. However, in typical California fashion, that mouthful was soon shortened to its acronym BOB. “BOB was easier to spell, funny, and simple,” Roger explains. “A lot like us and the stuff we produce.”
Part of the BOB trailer’s genius was how it attached to the bike: the patented BOB QR attachment system, a revolutionary mechanism that even to this day takes advantage of one simple fact: all bikes have a rear axle. What better place to attach a bike trailer? It provides optimal towing performance, excellent aerodynamics, the lowest possible center of gravity, compatibility with virtually every bike on the road, and excellent handling characteristics. The YAK trailer literally revolutionized the way bikes transport gear. As a result, it has become the world standard for cycle tourists.
