Tilmann Waldthaler, interview - 2005.
Owner of photographs in this article is Tilmann Waldthaler.
This article is print ready.
If you were to ask Mr. Tilmann where he would like to receive his mail, he would say "Ship it to Australia." However, months may pass before the aforementioned gentleman reads it. The reason for this delay is simple; Mr. Tilmann spends most of his time on the road, turning the wheels.
Globetrotter, adventurer, photographer and a journalist, those are the things he does, his uniqueness comes from the fact that he travels by bike. He travels by bike to almost anywhere, from the icy Polar Regions to the common deserts. His life story is amazing and he is a man rich with experience. For an example, he met his wife in the middle of the Sahara desert, she was a biker too. They traveled together for a couple of days and then Mr. Tilmann proposed to her... 
Crossing the desert.
Tilmann Waldthaler has a personal web page: www.tilmann.com, there you can find out more about him. He wrote several travel pieces and is a reporter for several news agencies. During the last of his major travels he visited Croatia, and those who had a pleasure of meeting him later described him as a cheerful man, always smiling and highly spirited.
He traveled literally across the entire globe, and to some parts of the globe he traveled several times. He visited the poles, the Himalayan Mountains, entire Asia, Australia and Europe...
Read an interview with Tilmann Waldthaler:
When and how did you start to travel round the world by bicycle?
I started traveling by bicycle in 1974. I have met a person traveling by bike around the world and it was the first time that I saw somebody on a bicycle packed with panniers and belongings. I thought the guy was crazy. He most probably was and still is because I still know him.
The main reason was that I always wanted to do something different than most people. Plus I survived a most horrible cyclone in Australia. Cyclone Tracy at Christmas Day in 1974. During that cyclone I lost everything, so it was very easy to leave with a bicycle.
I sold my car in order to afford a bicycle. 30 years ago the people and my friends thought I am crazy to sell a car in order to buy a bicycle. The bicycle was more expensive than the car, so I had to cancel my insurance policy to be able to purchase the bicycle. I did not have enough money to buy the panniers and a tent, so I made the panniers myself.
Tilmann in Peru.
Where are you originally from?
I am born in Germany. My father is from northern Italy and my mother from Germany, however I am now an Australian citizen living in Cairns, Queensland Australia, but have lived in many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and in the Americas.
How do you get ideas for your routes? Can you call yourself restless in the way of bike traveling?
I just put the finger on the map and I think it would be nice to get there by bicycle. I have the incredible opportunity to do that and feel very privileged to be able to do that in a world filled with hunger, problems, politicians who perform like clowns on the world stage and sometimes very unfair situations.
I do not consider myself restless, just curios and I have an incredible desire to learn about the earth, people, nature and everything to do with living creatures on this fantastic planet full with crazy people and helpless animals and plants.
Traveler's breakfast.
How do you deal with difficulties on the road: flat tires, etc.?
They are small problems by world standards and I don't think of them at all prior to my departure. I just fix them when I have to fix them. However I do think that it pays to travel with high quality materials because I have seen too many people doing more repairing and fixing their bicycles than riding them.
Suppose that you are in the middle of Sahara and your bottom bracket brakes down. What then?
This is tough shit and certainly a problem, but I don't go around telling myself all the time what happens if this, and if that... because I see these things as adventure if they go wrong. Apart from that I love and like a challenge.
What was your hardest trip?
My hardest trip was a 3 month bike ride straight across the Australian desert from Perth to Brisbane through the center.
Longest?
From the Antarctica to the Arctic - 4 years and 55.000 kilometers. That is also my favorite journey.
Do you miss your family and your friends during your long trips?
I am a loner so I am very happy to be alone in order to do what I want to do. Everything else are uncomfortable compromises. I am married and I love my wife because she understands me and gives me total freedom. I met my wife in the Sahara as she was traveling by herself also on a bike. What more can I want? 
By bicycle through the valley of death.
Do you count yourself as person with many friends?
I can count my friends on one hand but I do not miss other people as I am traveling a lot and therefore it is almost impossible to have many friends. People have different ideas of life, living and surviving like I do.
Do you use hostels for accommodation during your trips?
It depends where I am. In cities and towns I use hotels. In nature I sleep under the stars, and I do get invited often.
How did you find Croatia?
I traveled along the Dalmatian Coast and got invited to visit Ogulin County and Zagreb. I enjoyed my time in Croatia and could not understand what went on there during the war and what is even more disturbing that so many people had to die and nobody was able to stop the killing before. I like the people in Croatia, and Croatia in general.
What are your plans for the future?
I am living in Australia now and I will set myself up for business to earn some more money to do another trip without sponsors.
Tilmann's bicycle with a trail.
Where do you get your sponsorships, and how?
To obtain sponsors it is a business which cannot be explained like making a sandwich. All my sponsors and business contacts have been made over a long period and personal contacts. Most people would not have the endurance and know how to get sponsors. It is a very difficult and honest hard working business for me as a cyclist.
Do you have some advice for young travelers?
Yes, if you want to travel by bike just do it. Don't worry too much about what will happen and where will I get the money from. Get out and enjoy life the rest will happen from the bottom of your heart. People will admire you and support you because every person loves freedom and the chance to travel, but they get caught up in all sorts of systems. ideas, and whatnot...
Is there some location you have already been to, but you want to go there again?
I love India and the challenge to live there amongst a totally different world and people. I will go there one day and stay there.
Auto portrait on one Australian desert.
You can read more about Tilmann on his www.tilmann.com. Interview has been made over internet - using email, portable computer and satellite phone while Tilmann was on the journey.
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Complete list of publications Top of the page
Chronologically ordered list of articles, guides, stories, poems...
- Deep blue sky - aticle, 2006.
- Paklenica - Croatian national park - aticle, 2006.
- CSS preloading - guide, 2006.
- Cheating Google - article, 2006.
- Dubravko Mataković - interview, 2006.
- Sky giants - hot air balloons - article, 2006.
- Stipe Božić - interview, 2005.
- Tillmann Waldthaler - interview, 2005.
- Cannondale P-bone - review and modification, 2004.
- FSA Orbit Extreme Pro headset - review, 2004.
- Adapter for bicycle forks - article, 2004.
- Bumblebees - article, 2004.
- Ticks - article and experiment, 2003.
- Taking apart Shimano XT integrated shifters - article, 2003.
- Smiley :-) - article, 2003.
- 235 - story, 1997.