Heinz Stücke spent a lifetime on a bicycle. The German bicycle traveller died July 22 at the age of 86 in his hometown of Hövelhof, Germany. According to a message shared on “his” Instagram account, Stücke died peacefully surrounded by friends, neighbours and the Spanish family who cared for him in his final days. His mind remained sharp until the end, says the messaage.
For generations of bicycle travellers, Stücke is almost a mythical character. Some called him the “Godfather of Cycling.”
The first step
It was in November of 1962, that the 22-year-old tool and die maker left home with about $300 in his pocket and a three-speed bicycle. He planned to see the world. And that curiosity never stopped. Rather than settling into a conventional life, Stücke spent the next 51 years riding the world. He eventually travelled more than 600,000 kilometres through 211 countries and dozens of territories.
Guinness World Records recognized him as the person who had travelled farther by bicycle than anyone else.
An inspiration long before social media
Long before bikepacking became a word, Stücke inspired thousands to pack their bikes and start pedalling.
The tribute posted following his death described him as “a beacon of the analogue age.” He never owned a smartphone and never learned to reply to emails. He financed his travels by selling postcards, photographs and small travel booklets featuring stories and images from the road.
A journey filled with hardship
Over 50 years you’re bound to gather some stories along the way. And he was full of them. He was hit by a truck in Chile’s Atacama Desert, beaten unconscious by soldiers in Egypt and shot in the toe during political unrest in Zambia. And of course, he wasn’t immune to bike theft; his bike was stolen at least six times. But none of it discouraged him.
Stücke used the same steel-framed three-speed bicycle, often loaded with gear for about 500,000 km of his journey.
A legacy measured beyond kilometres
Stücke’s death sparked an outpouring of messages from people around the world and in many languages. Those who met him remembered his generosity, curiosity and willingness to share stories. One longtime traveller wrote that Stücke “didn’t want to break records, he simply wanted to travel and get to know the world.” Another wrote, “The world was his home and his bike his passport.”
Stücke’s way of life was documented in The Man Who Wanted to See it All. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a reliable wat to watch this documentary in Canada. VPN anyone?
Here’s to a beautiful life lived. Ride in peace Heinz. Your legacy will live on.