As you enter Abu Dhabi’s Al Wahda Mall, you cannot help but notice a giant bicycle placed in the mall lobby of the hall with curious visitors getting pictures clicked with it. This is no ordinary ride, this giant bicycle measures 9 metres in length and 5 metres in height. And this may just be the world’s largest ride-able bicycle.

Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi is attempting a Guinness World Record with the display of this largest rideable bicycle.

Indian cartoonist M. Dileef is the man behind the mammoth structure and if successful this would be his third world record title. Previously, Dileef aka Guinness Dileef, won the world record for drawing the largest caricature in the world, and another world record for for making the largest badminton racquet in April 2016 (16.89 metres in height).

” I am grateful to Al Wahda Mall for displaying this giant bike through which I hope to motivate youth of the country to bike and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is my National Day gift to the UAE and that is why I have painted it in the colours of the UAE Flag,” Dileef said.

Asked why he chose a cycle, Dileef said: “Cycle is something that both rich and poor can afford and I feel its perfect for the UAE landscape in this weather. Also I feel, these days, youngsters have got so addicted to technology that it has ended up making them lazy and unhealthy. This is my way of promoting awareness about the benefits of cycling which can be both enjoyable and beneficial for the body.”

The giant bike was made and assembled in five-days by Dileef and his friend Niyaz Kannanchery. “We went to several industrial area such as Ajman, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi to get the material to build the bike. The most difficult part was finding a giant chain for the bicycle,” he said.

Dileef first bought a cycle and sketched its giant version on the floor of an empty parking lot. “Everything starts from an artist making an impression of it first. Even when a building has to be made, first they make sketches of the floorplan. I have always been interested in making models since childhood. In the last few years I have been focusing on caricature art. And now I am concentrating on making bigger objects. One of my upcoming projects is to make the biggest soccer ball (football) installation in Qatar.”

When it comes to the ride-ability part, he said: “There are still certain modifications I need to make to the giant bike more ride-able.”

Supporting this novel initiative, Nauman Thakur, general manager, Al Wahda Mall said, “A happy nation equals a healthy population. And that needs a healthy lifestyle. The giant rideable cycle in the mall at display will educate the mall goers and everyone at large, on the adaption of sustainable initiatives that contribute in a large way a healthy happy lifestyle.”

Giant Bike Facts:

– 9 metres in length and 5 metres in height

–  It took 5 days (50 hours) to make the bike