You might think a bicycle built for two is as big as it gets but you have to stop in Byron, Illinois to see something even bigger: Will B. Rolling, a giant fiberglass bicyclist on a giant fiberglass bike.
And, if you’ve ever been to Sparta, Wisconsin, this Illinois roadside attraction will have you doing a double take.
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At 30-feet tall, Will B. Rolling is a giant bicyclist on a giant bike. He wears a light blue blazer, white pants, a green bowtie, and a black porkpie hat. He rides a larger-than-life 1890s-era Penny-Farthing bicycle.
The giant fiberglass bicycle and rider was installed overlooking the Mississippi River in Port Byron on Thursday, November 14, 2013. It fast became a must-see stop on the the Great River Trail, a 60-mile bike trail that winds through the riverfront communities on the Mississippi River in Illinois.
Will B. Rolling was made by F.A.S.T. (Fiberglass, Animals, Shapes, and Trademarks) Corp. in Sparta, Wisconsin and was modeled after a very familiar Wisconsin roadside attraction: Sparta’s very own Ben Bikin.
In fact, Port Byron’s version came about after the town’s former mayor, Lawrence Bay, visited Sparta to ride the Elroy-Sparta Trail. As both Sparta and Port Byron attract bicycling enthusiasts he commissioned FAST to create the replica (distinguished by a different color scheme) and then gifted the $60,000 roadside attraction to the village.
Want to ditch your car for a bicycle trip? A now annual “Will To Ben Bike Tour” takes riders on a 300 mile journey, connecting the two towns and the twin roadside attractions!
Will B. Rolling – Fiberglass Bicyclist
Address: 108 South Main St, Port Byron, IL
Hours: Always Visible
Cost: Free to See
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