Cyclist Gunning For New World Record On Giant Bike

Rajiv Kumar, from Chandigarh, designed a bicycle that is 8 feet 6 inches high, but can be extended to 10 feet 2 inches.

IKumar - who goes by the name Johny - built his first bike in 1991 using the tools at his father’s welding shop.

n 1999, he manufactured another bicycle that was nearly 13 feet high - but was barred from riding it on city roads by police in his hometown.

Johny said: “It took me one and a half years to make the bike and I spent a total of 80,000 rupees (£815) on it.

"I do all the work myself. Sometimes friends do help out, but financially it’s all me. Because it’s my hobby, so I only have to do whatever has to be done."

The two-wheeled wonder is already in India’s Limca Book of Records after using a modified bike measuring 7 feet 6 inches to complete a 16 hour ride from Chandigarh to New Delhi in 2001.

Johny now has his sights set on an elusive Guinness World Record for the 1,000 mile (1650km) ride from Chandigarh to Mumbai, which will push the cycle-crazy enthusiast to his limits.

While his family were initially skeptical about his unusual hobby, Johny has now won them round - and also has the support of his wife, Manpreet, who was oblivious to his bicycle obsession when they married.

She said: "There’s a lot of difference between this cycle and other ordinary cycles. It’s height, its way of riding, getting on or off, the confidence you require to ride it are all different."

Johny hopes his giant bike will inspire the rest of Chandigarh to cycle to help cut down on pollution and traffic chaos - and admits the sight of him looming into view occasionally shocks his fellow citizens.

He said: "A bus stopped besides me and on the other side a scooter. Since there wasn’t any space to get down, I kept my hand on the bus window and inside a lady was sitting.

"As soon as she saw me, she got scared about whose hand came up suddenly at such a height, so she immediately started shouting.

"Even I got scared thinking she might say that I’m teasing or troubling her. So as soon as the light turned green, I ran away from there. It’s an old experience but it doesn’t fade away from my memory. That look on her face was priceless!"

Johny’s group of friends and cycling enthusiasts hold cycling competitions and events across Punjab.

He added: "It’s my own creation. I always wanted to do something else, something different. If we have come to this world, then we should do something to make our mark. Thinking this I made this cycle.”