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Saddle soar in Havana: the Cuban cyclist aiming for the record books Saddle soar in Havana: the Cuban cyclist aiming for the record books
(about 1 hour later)
Many people would be wary of cycling through chaotic downtown Havana, of sharing its narrow, potholed streets with the darting scooters, jaywalkers and hulking 1950s Detroit classics. Felix Guirola does it every day – and not on just any bicycle.Many people would be wary of cycling through chaotic downtown Havana, of sharing its narrow, potholed streets with the darting scooters, jaywalkers and hulking 1950s Detroit classics. Felix Guirola does it every day – and not on just any bicycle.
Guirola rides 4 metres (13ft) above the ground atop his homemade, super-tall bike, peering over pickup trucks and even buses, and without a helmet or other protective gear to break a fall. Guirola rides four metres (13ft) above the ground on his homemade, super-tall bike, peering over pickup trucks and even buses, and without a helmet or other protective gear to break a fall.
"I feel good up high. I don't get nauseated or dizzy, nothing like that," the 48-year-old Guirola says. "Up there, I see the scenery better. I feel relaxed. There's more of a breeze. I breathe it and I feel freer.""I feel good up high. I don't get nauseated or dizzy, nothing like that," the 48-year-old Guirola says. "Up there, I see the scenery better. I feel relaxed. There's more of a breeze. I breathe it and I feel freer."
Since Guirola sold his home in the central province of Ciego de Ávila and moved to Havana in November, the odd spectacle of him pedalling around town at eye level with second-story apartments has become a daily occurrence. But neighbours still turn their heads and gawk, and smiling tourists whip out digital cameras.Since Guirola sold his home in the central province of Ciego de Ávila and moved to Havana in November, the odd spectacle of him pedalling around town at eye level with second-story apartments has become a daily occurrence. But neighbours still turn their heads and gawk, and smiling tourists whip out digital cameras.
"It's crazy. It must be difficult to keep his balance up there," said Rafael Trejo, a 55-year-old motorist. "And when he comes to a stop light, he must be a ninja to be able to climb down from there.""It's crazy. It must be difficult to keep his balance up there," said Rafael Trejo, a 55-year-old motorist. "And when he comes to a stop light, he must be a ninja to be able to climb down from there."
In fact, Guirola more resembles a daring child on a jungle gym than a deadly assassin. To mount, he has other people stabilise the bike while he scrambles up the metal frame. When a red light looms, he starts lowering himself while the bike is still in motion, leaping to the ground and grabbing the frame before it can topple over.In fact, Guirola more resembles a daring child on a jungle gym than a deadly assassin. To mount, he has other people stabilise the bike while he scrambles up the metal frame. When a red light looms, he starts lowering himself while the bike is still in motion, leaping to the ground and grabbing the frame before it can topple over.
"It's easy … It's perfectly normal for me," says Guirola, an athletic man of medium stature who did judo and boxing in his youth. "I never get scared, nor have I fallen. And I obey all traffic laws.""It's easy … It's perfectly normal for me," says Guirola, an athletic man of medium stature who did judo and boxing in his youth. "I never get scared, nor have I fallen. And I obey all traffic laws."
Guirola has been riding tall since 1983, when seeing a tandem inspired him to build up instead of out. He said his first tall bike measured 1.6 metres. They got progressively taller, and five years later he was riding 5.5 metres in the air at Ciego de Ávila carnivals.Guirola has been riding tall since 1983, when seeing a tandem inspired him to build up instead of out. He said his first tall bike measured 1.6 metres. They got progressively taller, and five years later he was riding 5.5 metres in the air at Ciego de Ávila carnivals.
That puts Guirola in the area of world records. A representative of Guinness World said Guinness currently recognises as the world's tallest rideable bicycle a 5.55-metre contraption that was ridden 300 metres in 2004 by Terry Goertzen, a Canadian. That puts Guirola in the area of world records. A representative of Guinness World said it currently recognised as the world's tallest rideable bicycle a 5.55-metre contraption that was ridden 300 metres in 2004 by Terry Goertzen, a Canadian.
Guirola is nearing completion of another 5-metre bicycle to use in Havana, and he is planning an 8-metre model. But he says he is returning to Ciego de Ávila this week to work out some residency issues, so he is not planning an immediate attempt to mount the taller bike. Guirola is nearing completion of another five-metre bicycle to use in Havana, and he is planning an eight-metre model. But he says he is returning to Ciego de Ávila this week to work out some residency issues, so he is not planning an immediate attempt to mount the taller bike.
His dream is to earn a living from the bike through tips or performance payments, and along the way to honour the memory of his disabled sister, who died two decades ago. Eneida had a brain tumor, which was operated on when she was in her early 20s. After the surgery, she had problems with balance, and was unable to walk without assistance. She died at the age of 33. His dream is to earn a living from the bike through tips or performance payments, and along the way to honour the memory of his disabled sister, who died two decades ago. Eneida had a brain tumour, which was operated on when she was in her early 20s. After the surgery, she had problems with balance, and was unable to walk without assistance. She died at the age of 33.
"I told her that one day, with my giant bike, I would make enough money to buy her everything she needed for her disability," Guirola recalled tearfully. "Eneida is no longer around to see me, but I want to keep my promise. And if one day I win an award, I'll give part of the money to help disabled children in Cuba like my sister.""I told her that one day, with my giant bike, I would make enough money to buy her everything she needed for her disability," Guirola recalled tearfully. "Eneida is no longer around to see me, but I want to keep my promise. And if one day I win an award, I'll give part of the money to help disabled children in Cuba like my sister."
For now, the occasional tip isn't enough to pay the bills, and he lives off savings and the meagre income from his wife's privately run cafeteria.For now, the occasional tip isn't enough to pay the bills, and he lives off savings and the meagre income from his wife's privately run cafeteria.
A welder by trade, Guirola has used the proceeds from the sale of his home to buy parts for the new bike he is building. A nearby workshop charges him a nominal fee for a space to store and work on the bike, which he has yet to try out even though it lacks only the finishing touches.A welder by trade, Guirola has used the proceeds from the sale of his home to buy parts for the new bike he is building. A nearby workshop charges him a nominal fee for a space to store and work on the bike, which he has yet to try out even though it lacks only the finishing touches.
"I haven't ridden the 5.5-metre one yet," Guirola says, "because I want to do it when it's painted and all pretty, and try to win a Guinness record.""I haven't ridden the 5.5-metre one yet," Guirola says, "because I want to do it when it's painted and all pretty, and try to win a Guinness record."