Friday, November 14, 2014

   Fastest rocket-powered bike: Francois Gissy breaks Guinness World Records record (VIDEO)

PARIS, France -- Swiss cyclist Francois Gissy has clocked 207 miles per hour on a bicycle at a racetrack in Le Castellet in the South of France, breaking the world speed Guinness World records' record for bicycles; he covered a quarter mile in less than seven seconds on a rocket-powered bicycle designed by his friend Arnold Neracher, breaking his own record set last May, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/ .

  Photo: Swiss cyclist Francois Gissy has clocked 207 miles per hour on a bicycle, breaking the world speed record for bicycles. He covered a quarter mile in less than seven seconds on a rocket-powered bicycle designed by his friend Arnold Neracher, breaking his own record set last May. ( enlarge photo)

The Guinness World Records' record for the most participants in a cycling event is 48,615 for Udine Pedala 2000 organised by Rolo Banca 1473 at Udine, Italy on 11 June 2000. The cyclists completed a circuit measuring 29.3 km (18.2 miles) around Udine.

  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest parade of bicycles (multiple venues); it involved 72,919 participants around Taiwan in an event organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs, the Sports Affairs Council, Executive Yuan of Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Centenary Foundation, on 31 December 2011.

   Gissy was seated atop a hydrogen-peroxide-powered rocket with three thrusters fastened to the frame of a long but otherwise ordinary-looking bicycle.

  "The Swiss Rocketman" set the mark on the famous Circuit Paul Ricard located at Le Castellet in the south of France, with his peak speed was attained after around 250 meters.

    In the process he also convincingly defeated a Ferrari F430 in a drag race. The 32-year-old Gissy broke his own record of 285 km/h established on October 7, 2013 in Interlaken (Switzerland).

   "We can go from 0 to 400 km/h in less than two seconds. But to design a more powerful bike, we would need sponsors," Gissy said.