Cycling nomad, Klaus Menzel makes a point of taking the road less travelled.

But why would a highly paid construction worker quit his job, pack it all in and hit the road?

Seventy-four-year-old German-born, Klaus Menzel started pedalling the world on his bicycle back in 1994 following a marriage break-up and a failed medical examination for work. 

He has spent more than twenty-five years travelling outback roads firstly on a bicycle, then by camel and even down the Darling River on a home-made ‘pedal’ boat.

Klaus took time out to tell his extraordinary story when he stopped over in Coonabarabran recently waiting for his e-bike to be repaired. 

"I had a high-pressure job that was seriously affecting my health and then my wife told me to ‘nick-off’’”, Klaus said, “I realised that I really needed to change my lifestyle so I paid off my debts, sold everything and told my bank manager to ‘nick off’ and set off on the road with a bicycle, trailer and a dog.

“I started from the Barossa Valley and in 1995 I had got to Cape York where I lived for a while on an old boat. It was a leaky boat and there were crocodiles!"

"In 1999 I built a ‘pedal-boat’ and floated down the Darling River. I made the bicycle boat using plywood built around a deck chair and bike wheels. The trouble was that it would often get stuck in the river and it was hard going."

Relaxing on his homemade ‘pedal-boat’ Klaus heads down the Darling River. (image K.Menzel)

“I got to Cameron’s Corner where I met a fellow with six camels. He had caught 14 wild camels and asked me to walk them to Goondiwindi with him in return for two camels for myself.  I left the boat at Cameron’s Corner and took seven months to get to Goondiwindi."

“I had never had anything to do with camels before so I built a little wagon complete with solar panels from an old car for the camels to pull. I had to discipline my two camels, Snowy and Willy, but I wanted to be kind; it took me a year."

“From 2002 to 2013 we followed the footsteps of the cameleers around Australia. After all that time together, I retired them on a property near Alice Springs in the company of other camels. Snowy sadly died after being attacked by dogs and Willy died sometime later from natural causes.”

Klaus Menzel with camels Snowy and Willy towing his homemade ‘motor home’. (image K.Menzel)

Cycling

More recently, Klaus has flown with his bike to Germany to catch-up with family and then spent a year cycling through Vietnam before heading off to India.

“By then my eyesight was deteriorating but a chance meeting whilst looking for a map in a bookstore led me to a doctor who successfully removed my cataracts,” Klaus added.

“From India I went to Kathmandu, flew to Moscow and cycled back to Germany followed by a visit to Norway. I then went to the Middle East, but it is very tricky cycling in places like Jordan."

"Near Cairo I was pulled off my bike and my money and passport were taken, but I was not hurt."

"My bike was checked for bombs and I was arrested and interviewed by the police. I had to go to the Australian Embassy to get an emergency passport to get back to Australia; that was the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”

With his e-bike fixed, Klaus is now back on the road again heading north to Cape Tribulation. 

“I love moving; I love cycling, it keeps me sane,” Klaus said. “I have done 46,000 kms on my e-bike so far; it’s a great way to travel. I have always been a nomad. I like to stay out of town but every three days or so I need to charge my bike."

“It was not easy when I started, but it was the best decision I have ever made.  For me its freedom and it’s a good life. I am most happy when I am cycling.”

With a book on his cycle travels in the pipeline, Klaus is indeed a man of means by no means and king of his road.