Post by Jaga on Dec 16, 2011 20:52:18 GMT -7
By Robert Strybel, Our Warsaw Correspondent
WARSAW–A young Pole has been making a name for himself in trial biking, a sport that is still marginal, though gradually growing in popularity. Last November, 30-year-old Krystian Herba hopped his bike up the 61-story MesseTurm (Market Tower) in Frankfurt, Germany in a record time of 27 minutes and six seconds. It is said to be “Europe's tallest building in terms of stories.” Earlier in the year, he had conquered Europe’s tallest hotel, the 52-story Gran Hotel Bali in the Spanish resort town of Benidorm, and bike-hopped his way up Vienna's 50-storey Millennium Tower two to three steps at a time. Following his feat in Frankfurt he became tied with Colombian trial biker Javier Zapata, each of whom has six skyscrapers to their credit. The Polish stunt cyclist had first conquered his own country’s major skyscrapers, including Warsaw’s Palace of Culture, the tallest building in Poland, and the Hotel Marriot which has the largest number of stories.
Trial biking is an extreme test of cycle-handling skills which involves riding over both natural and man-made obstacles. It can mean negotiating rough terrain such as logs, boulders and streams as well as staircases and includes controlled braking and balancing in place. In all cases, the rider may not lean on anything or touch the ground with his foot during a competition. Typical trial bikes are light-weight, have powerful brakes, wide handlebars, low tire pressures and usually no seat, because the trial biker stands on the pedals the whole time.
Herba is also into skiing, windsurfing and snowboarding but his major passion is trial biking. His speciality have been staircases, and in his quest for superlatives he soon plans to take on the world’s tallest hotel, the 68-story Rose of Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai. Asked what was driving him to keep setting new records, the Polish bike-hopper told this reporter: “It’s all about the challenge. You accomplish something, set a record and begin wondering whether you are up to doing even better.”
But he also expressed a certain local patriotism when he added: “I also want to show that someone from a place like Rzeszów can make his mark on the world.” The southeastern provincial town is considered part of Poland B, the poorer, less developed part of the country.
Herba now dreams of taking on America’s fabled skyscrapers. “I would love to ride up the stair of the Empire state Building or maybe Sears Tower. I understand that here are a lot of Poles living in Chicago and that would make them proud,” Herba explained. He realizes, however that such an undertaking would require sponsorship – individuals, organizations and/or businesses willing to bankroll it, provided contacts and help with the necessary arrangements.
Whatever the case, such a feat would surely be a major PR coup for our Polonia. Anyone interested in finding out more about this should contact Krystian Herba directly at: krystianherba@gmail.com.
WARSAW–A young Pole has been making a name for himself in trial biking, a sport that is still marginal, though gradually growing in popularity. Last November, 30-year-old Krystian Herba hopped his bike up the 61-story MesseTurm (Market Tower) in Frankfurt, Germany in a record time of 27 minutes and six seconds. It is said to be “Europe's tallest building in terms of stories.” Earlier in the year, he had conquered Europe’s tallest hotel, the 52-story Gran Hotel Bali in the Spanish resort town of Benidorm, and bike-hopped his way up Vienna's 50-storey Millennium Tower two to three steps at a time. Following his feat in Frankfurt he became tied with Colombian trial biker Javier Zapata, each of whom has six skyscrapers to their credit. The Polish stunt cyclist had first conquered his own country’s major skyscrapers, including Warsaw’s Palace of Culture, the tallest building in Poland, and the Hotel Marriot which has the largest number of stories.
Trial biking is an extreme test of cycle-handling skills which involves riding over both natural and man-made obstacles. It can mean negotiating rough terrain such as logs, boulders and streams as well as staircases and includes controlled braking and balancing in place. In all cases, the rider may not lean on anything or touch the ground with his foot during a competition. Typical trial bikes are light-weight, have powerful brakes, wide handlebars, low tire pressures and usually no seat, because the trial biker stands on the pedals the whole time.
Herba is also into skiing, windsurfing and snowboarding but his major passion is trial biking. His speciality have been staircases, and in his quest for superlatives he soon plans to take on the world’s tallest hotel, the 68-story Rose of Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai. Asked what was driving him to keep setting new records, the Polish bike-hopper told this reporter: “It’s all about the challenge. You accomplish something, set a record and begin wondering whether you are up to doing even better.”
But he also expressed a certain local patriotism when he added: “I also want to show that someone from a place like Rzeszów can make his mark on the world.” The southeastern provincial town is considered part of Poland B, the poorer, less developed part of the country.
Herba now dreams of taking on America’s fabled skyscrapers. “I would love to ride up the stair of the Empire state Building or maybe Sears Tower. I understand that here are a lot of Poles living in Chicago and that would make them proud,” Herba explained. He realizes, however that such an undertaking would require sponsorship – individuals, organizations and/or businesses willing to bankroll it, provided contacts and help with the necessary arrangements.
Whatever the case, such a feat would surely be a major PR coup for our Polonia. Anyone interested in finding out more about this should contact Krystian Herba directly at: krystianherba@gmail.com.