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A Gigantic Bicycle Entered the Record Book by Reaching Over 55 Meters in Length. The Structure Was Built with Precision and Creativity
A bicycle over 55 meters long caught the world’s attention. It was built by eight engineers in the Netherlands and is now officially the longest in the world.
The project, which began in 2018, ended up being entered into the Guinness World Records with two different titles.
An Old Dream Became a Real Project
Ivan Schalk, 39, is the mastermind behind the idea. He has dreamed of this since childhood when he read about the record in the famous Guinness book. In 2018, he decided to put the plan into action, but soon realized it would be impossible alone.
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That’s why he sought help in Prinsenbeek, his hometown. The place is known for having residents with strong technical skills. With the support of seven other engineers, the project began to take shape.
It took four years of work, two of which were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the bicycle measured exactly 55.16 meters in length. For perspective, this size is equivalent to the length of four double-decker buses lined up.
A Giant on Two Wheels
The bicycle was designed to comply with the Guinness World Records rules from the start. According to the guidelines, it needed to be functional and have a maximum of two people pedaling.
On June 3, 2023, the first official attempt took place. Months later, in November, came the response: the group had broken the record, but not exactly as they had hoped. Guinness declared that the achievement qualified for the world’s longest “tandem” — that is, a two-seater bicycle.
Schalk was not fully satisfied. According to him, the bicycle fit the requirements of the “longest bicycle in the world” category, not just the tandem version.
The point of doubt was the number of people on the structure. There were two pedaling, as required, but three others were seated in the middle section. They did not help move the bicycle; they were just along for the ride. Nevertheless, Guinness understood that there were too many people and did not validate the record as the longest bicycle.
Two Records Instead of One
Despite the initial frustration, the group did not give up. They accepted the title of longest tandem in the world and went after another. They made a new attempt, this time strictly following the limit of two people. And it worked: they now hold two world records.
One interesting detail about the bicycle’s construction is that the front and rear were made by the team, but the central section — that long tube connecting the ends — was borrowed. It came from a company that specializes in metal structures for stages in the city of Breda.
After breaking the record, this part was returned. The rest of the bicycle is now part of the local history museum’s collection in Prinsenbeek.
Other Curious Records
Recently, records involving bicycles have garnered attention. In addition to the longest one, records for the tallest, lightest, heaviest, and even the smallest bicycle in the world have been documented. The achievement of the Dutch team joins this increasingly creative list.
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