Back in 2019, Nicolas Barrioz and David Peyrou from France came up with an idea to build the world’s tallest bike. Five years later, the two friends not only turned their idea into a reality but also got officially recognized by the Guinness World Records.
Barrioz and Peyrou’s “Starbike”, as they named it, stands at 25 feet 5 inches, breaking the previous world record by 1 foot 2 inches. It features a standard bike seat, handlebar, regular-sized bike wheels, and even a bell. The only difference between Starbike and other bicycles is its massive frame and 53-foot-long chain.
Barrioz demonstrated the bike’s rideability at a showcase in the city of Clermont-Ferrand, riding it unassisted for 110 yards. He was attached to a zip wire as a safety precaution but ended up needing it as he successfully went from point A to point B.
Speaking with Guinness World Records’ official website, Barrioz revealed that he and Peyrou put in hundreds of hours to achieve this feat.
“This experience has completely transformed my worldview,” Barrioz shared. “Before this, I really needed self-confidence; I was shy and had a negative self-opinion. Now it’s better, and sometimes I feel unstoppable; I think I can repair, build, or design anything.”
Barrioz and Peyrou don’t intend to stop here. They now plan to claim another Guinness World Record by building the world’s smallest rideable bicycle. The record they need to beat is 3.31 inches.
