World’s Longest Bicycle
Eight Dutch engineering enthusiasts have teamed up to build the world’s longest bicycle, setting a new record with an impressive length of 180 feet, 11 inches.
This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record set in 2020 by Australian Bernie Ryan, whose bicycle measured 155 feet, 8 inches.
While this enormous bicycle may not be practical for daily use in cities, it is still rideable, according to Guinness World Records.
The project was led by 39-year-old Ivan Schalk, who had been dreaming of this accomplishment since childhood. “I’ve been thinking about the idea for years. I once received a Guinness World Records book in which I came across this record,” Schalk shared.
The record for the world’s longest bicycle has been broken multiple times over the past 60 years, starting with a bicycle built in Cologne, Germany, measuring 26 feet, 3 inches in 1965.
Since then, people from various countries including New Zealand, Italy, Belgium, Australia, and two previous teams from the Netherlands have held the record.
Schalk embarked on this ambitious project in 2018 as a way to fill his spare time, drawing on his experience in building carnival floats.
He sought team members from the local carnival community in his home village of Prinsenbeek, known for its volunteers and technical expertise.
“Prinsenbeek is known for its volunteers and high technical employability,” Schalk said. “You can hang out in front of the TV, but we’re not like that here in Prinsenbeek. We have the technical knowledge and want to apply this knowledge to the maximum.”
The team’s dedication and hard work culminated in the construction of the record-breaking bicycle, earning them a place in history.
Despite the challenges of building such a massive structure, the team’s technical skills and collaborative spirit made the project a success, showcasing the ingenuity and perseverance of Dutch engineering enthusiasts.
