At 83 years young, Robert Fletcher is not one to let age—or a little thing like the size of a continent—get in the way of adventure. Currently riding around Australia on an electric bike provided by Electric Bikes Brisbane, Rob is deep into what he’s calling the “Octogenarian Odyssey”—a 15,000-kilometre loop that’s more about people and purpose than pedal strokes. Rob has mapped this route out to take 171 days.
Having already completed rides across three continents, including earning a Guinness World Record for his North America ride, Rob’s Australian adventure is not about adding another notch to a belt of bucket list rides. Instead, it’s about proving what’s possible, celebrating human connection, and inspiring others—especially older Australians—to get moving again.
The spark behind the spokes
Why does someone in their eighties decide to ride a bike around one of the hottest, driest, and most sparsely populated continents on Earth?
“I do these rides to prove that age is just a number,” Rob said. “Most people at my stage in life are slowing down. I like to show that, with the right mindset, you can keep going—and keep growing.”
That mindset is what powers Rob more than the motor in his e-bike. For him, long-distance cycling is a spiritual experience—one that strips life back to the essentials.
“Cycling is my meditation. You’re focused, you’re present, and the simplicity of it all just opens you up to the world in a way that few things can.”
But the deeper drive is connection. Rob relishes the human encounters on the road. From roadside chats in roadhouses to overnight hosts in country towns, he says the warmth and generosity of Australians have been overwhelming.
“I’ve had total strangers offer me meals, beds, showers. There’s this beautiful side of humanity that comes out when you’re on a journey like this,” he said. “It’s why I don’t think of this as a solo ride—every person I meet becomes part of the odyssey.”
Challenges on the open road
That said, riding across Australia isn’t exactly a walk in the park. The distance is formidable, the conditions often harsh, and the logistics anything but simple—especially on an e-bike.
Rob is riding a Focus Aventura2 6.8 e-bike supplied by Electric Bikes Brisbane. This model is especially designed for long distance touring. It has a long-range battery and uses a Bosch Performance CX pedal assist system. You can choose a wide range of modes for the pedal assistance but managing battery life is crucial.
“You can’t just ride flat-out,” he explains. “I use Eco mode most of the time, and only boost it when I really need it—like headwinds or hills. You have to be strategic.”
Finding power to charge batteries isn’t always easy, either. Some stretches of outback road require careful planning to ensure there’s a place to recharge each night.
“I’ve gotten good at sweet-talking caravan park owners,” Rob jokes. “People are generally happy to help when they hear what you’re doing.” Rob's back-up team will also be carrying a generator to charge batteries overnight – or while on a break on the ultra long days.
Then there’s the heat. Even in autumn, parts of Australia can feel brutally hot on a long ride. Rob says hydration, pacing, and early starts are essential. “You listen to your body. If it says slow down, you slow down. You don’t mess around with the heat out here.”
The role of e-bikes in active ageing
Rob is a passionate advocate for electric bikes—not just for adventurers like himself, but for everyday people who want to move more but feel limited by age, injury or fitness.
“E-bikes are a game changer. They flatten the hills, take the edge off the effort, and make riding accessible again,” he said. “There’s no shame in using a motor to get outside and enjoy life.”
He’s quick to point out that using an e-bike isn’t about cheating—especially on rides like his, where effort, planning and grit are all still very much required.
“The motor doesn’t ride the bike for you. You still have to turn the pedals, face the weather, and make decisions. But it helps you go further and enjoy it more. And that’s what matters.”
The legacy of the ride
Rob doesn’t sugar-coat the effort required to do what he’s doing. It takes preparation, patience, perseverance and the support of his family. But he hopes his journey inspires others—particularly older Australians—to challenge assumptions about what they can and can’t do.
“A lot of people my age have internalised the idea that their best years are behind them,” Rob said. “I want to show that they’re not. You can start something new at 60, 70, 80. Life doesn’t have to shrink.”
He’s also using the ride to raise funds for a cause close to his heart—Médecins Sans Frontières—bringing further purpose to every kilometre.
As for what’s next? Rob isn’t sure—but he’s not done yet. “There’s always another road to ride, another story to hear. As long as I can pedal, I’ll keep exploring.”
Follow Rob’s journey and learn more about the Octogenarian Odyssey at https://octoodyssey.com/.
Written by Mike Blewitt for Bicycle Queensland and published here with their kind permission.
