World’s first: Mountain biker rides across flying balloon at 3,280 feet, then skydives

Austrian mountain biker Elias Schwärzler has released footage of what he claims is the world’s first mountain bike ride across the crown of a flying hot air balloon, followed by a skydive with the bike. Schwärzler rode across the top of the balloon while it floated more than 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) above the ground, then launched himself and the bicycle into the open air and deployed a parachute for a controlled landing. The project took more than two years of planning before Schwärzler executed it. Schwärzler, 26, released the footage on his YouTube channel this week. The biker has built a reputation for elaborate bicycle projects that blend precision riding with extreme environments. His previous work includes a 2022 Guinness World Record for the fastest person to be pulled on a bicycle, when he reached 169 mph (272.9 km/h) while being towed by a racing motorcycle at the Lausitzring circuit in Germany. Two years of planning to perform the stunt The balloon’s crown is not a conventional riding surface. It is curved, fabric-covered, moving, and offers very little room for error at altitude. Schwärzler said that organizing the attempt required identifying a country where the stunt could be conducted legally, an element that added significant complexity to the preparation. Engineering a custom parachute system for the bicycle was another requirement. A standard parachute is designed around a human body. Deploying one while also managing a mountain bike in freefall required a system built specifically for this combination, and every aspect of the jump was developed with safety as the primary consideration. Maintaining control on top of the balloon while suspended at more than 3,000 feet above the ground before leaping off the side added the final layer of difficulty to what was already an unusual engineering and athletic challenge. Combining cycling with extreme altitude Schwärzler’s speed record from 2022 illustrated the approach he applies to all his projects: extended preparation, specific engineering, and a willingness to find disciplines where no record exists yet. Before the Lausitzring attempt, he spent more than a year in preparation and testing. He hit 169 mph (272.9 km/h) while being towed by a motorcycle, missing his personal target of 186 mph (300 km/h) due to headwinds but setting a Guinness record in the process. Previous Schwärzler projects have included being towed across the Danube River by a motorboat and performing flips on a bungee rope. His YouTube channel has accumulated more than 37 million views on individual videos, and he has more than 865,000 followers across social platforms. The balloon itself presented a first-of-its-kind riding challenge The specific claim here is not simply that someone skydived with a bicycle from a balloon. It is that a rider traversed the exterior surface of an inflated, airborne balloon on a mountain bike before jumping. The balloon crown provides a convex, non-rigid surface with no traction features and no safety railing, floating through air at an altitude where a mistake has only one consequence. Schwärzler said that he loves riding bikes, traveling the world, and creating increasingly ambitious content while enjoying life to the fullest. Based on the progression from speed records to hot air balloon rides, that ambition appears to have no obvious ceiling. Click here to watch the video. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over 12 years of experience in the editorial landscape, Munis Raza is a seasoned content manager who has managed content for global brands including Microsoft, The Indian Express, and Alibaba. From managing multi-market news operations for MSN.com to developing future-ready Computer Science textbooks covering modern topics like Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, his expertise spans the digital spectrum. He draws on a diverse educational background that includes a Master’s in Mass Communication and a foundational degree in Commerce. When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.