Five years ago, a bet made in a French pub between two friends culminated in the creation of the world’s tallest rideable bicycle. Unlike many plans conceived over drinks, Nicolas Barrioz and David Peyrou turned their ambitious idea into reality, officially securing a Guinness World Record.
Nicknamed “Starbike,” their colossal bicycle stands at an impressive height of 7.77 meters (25 feet 5 inches), surpassing the previous record by 36 centimeters (1 foot 2 inches).
The Starbike, despite its extraordinary size, functions like a conventional bicycle. It features a saddle, two standard-sized wheels, and a handlebar connected to two brake levers. However, its massive frame requires pedals connected to the rear wheel by a 16-meter (53-foot) chain.
“It also has a bell, in case other road users have not seen you,” Nicolas joked.
Michelin, headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand—the city where Nicolas and David unveiled their bike at an annual bicycle festival—provided the tires free of charge.
To validate their record, David rode the Starbike unassisted over a 100-meter distance. For safety, he wore a harness attached to a zip wire, which did not influence the bicycle’s balance.
“The speed of the bike was the key to its stability,” Nicolas explained. “It had to go at least 15-20 km/h [9-12 mph].”
As leaders of a bicycle-activism non-profit organization, Nicolas and David undertook this challenge to promote bicycle usage and its environmental benefits. Additionally, vehicle modification is one of Nicolas’s hobbies. He wanted to demonstrate what can be achieved with just €1,000 (£846; $1,075), a basic tool kit, and ambitious dreams.
The Starbike is constructed from alloy, steel, and wood, with much of the wood sourced from recycled furniture.
“Wood is an interesting material from an ecological perspective,” Nicolas noted. “In my opinion, it will replace alloy in bicycle-frame construction in a few decades because of mineral shortages.”
The project took approximately three months of design and material sourcing, followed by nearly two years of building.
Reflecting on the hundreds of hours spent in the workshop, Nicolas shared: “It is not possible to tell you the blood, sweat, and tears. This experience has completely transformed my worldview. 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.”
Nicolas and David are already contemplating their next challenge: breaking the world record for the smallest rideable bicycle. The current record stands at 8.4 centimeters (3.31 inches), nearly 100 times smaller than their supersized bike.
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