Noel McFarlane.

Noel was born in 1952 into a farming family in the Riverina. He has three brothers and a sister, and three children.  They are all cyclists.

Noel’s dad rode a bike in Southern NSW and Northern Victoria, looking for work in the 1940s. Bikes were part of everyday living in Noel's family.

The family moved to central Queensland in 1954. A milestone in growing up was being big enough to ride a bike. Kids would try to speed that up with the trick of putting a leg through the frame. The family lived a few miles from town and everyone rode to school.  

In the late 60's the family was on a farm out of Griffith NSW. Noel often worked on farms at the weekends. He rode to the farm jobs, often fruit picking or tractor driving, on his bike.

In 1970-71 Noel spent a year in Wisconsin (USA) on a dairy farm as an exchange student. There was no bike connection in the US but this was a big experience and ever since he has always wanted to travel.

In 1974 he took a year off University to live in Europe. In Cambridge UK, where he worked, he got a used bike (pictured on the right) from the police auction for one pound.

In late 1976 Noel, who was about to begin several decades of bike touring, was still not aware that bike touring existed. His bike was just his means of getting to the university library and the shops.

Friendships were made on the FOE ride and soon a new world opened up.

On the left with a friend and her bike in his trailer. On the right fixing a flat in far north Qld.

On the right, in the Pilbara in mid 1978. He worked in the mines and made enough to start a bike shop in inner Sydney in late 1979.  

On the left in Sri Lanka on a six month tour of the sub continent in 78-79.  

On the left, 2009 on King Street in Sydney.  

On the right, also 2009, in Gulbarga in Karnataka, India.

Below right, in Safranbolu Turkey, also in 2009.

Over the years both the travel and bicycle threads in Noel's life have persisted. He has worked in the bike industry for over 30 years. He turns 60 this year. He does not own a car and rarely gets in one. He rides in several countries and continues to clock up 12-14,000 km a year on his bike.

Noel hopes more people will be able to travel on bikes and enjoy this lifestyle. He sees his work in improving the designs of bikes used for travel and everyday living, and making them available,  as his contribution to help encourage this lifestyle.