HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuban police have put the brakes on a Guinness world record attempt for riding the tallest bike because the cyclist did not have the necessary permission.
Cyclist Felix Guirola tried to ride his 7.5-meter (24.6-foot) bike in a popular tourist area of Havana, close to the Capitol building and the stately Saratoga Hotel.
Despite attracting a sizable number of supportive onlookers and the attendance of a Guinness official to verify the world record attempt, the 53-year-old could not pull it off.
The original plan was for Guirola to ride the tall bike 100 meters before the Capitol.
Guriola has become a local legend for many in Cuba. For years, he has ridden his home-made bikes through the warren of narrow streets in Old Havana near the city’s famed Malecon.
According to the Guinness website, the current record was set in 2013 by a 6.15-meter (20-foot) bike built in the United States.