Obree on Old Faithful
Born in 1965, Graeme Obree’s career has been an inspiration for cyclists across the world from cycle tourists to elite cyclists such as Sir Chris Hoy. The two time world hour record holder, who was named BBC Sportscene personality of the year in 1993, developed a keen interest in cycling as a youngster and regularly won senior races as a junior. Inspired by the hour record set by Francesco Moser in 1984, Obree went on to break the record using his own ‘crouch’ position, which was banned twice, riding ‘Old Faithful’ the bike he hand built using parts from a washing machine.
When Chris Boardman used heart rates and power cranks to train for the hour attempts, Graeme Obree took to the hills of Scotland, old school. Obree – famed for his innovative techniques, re-invented the rulebooks so many times that the UCI locked him and his designs down. He is in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame as well as the British Cycling Hall of Fame, recognising the massive contribution he has made to the sport.
Additionally, he has published two books, his autobiography, The Flying Scotsman – now a movie of the same name, and his acclaimed training manual, The Obree Way.
A unique talent, an individual who achieved extraordinary things grabbing the UCI World Hour Record twice, the 4000m world pursuit crown twice, a string of national records at 10,25 and 50 miles. His radical Superman cycling position was ridden to 8 gold medals at The Atlanta Olympics before it too was outlawed by the UCI. More recently Obree set a new mark when he claimed the IHPVA Prone Recumbent World Speed Record aboard the latest self designed and build bike, The Beastie, chronicled in the documentary film, Battle Mountain- Graeme Obree’s Story.
But many know Obree as the man who designed and built the Washing Machine bike- recently voted the most famous bike in the world, Old Faithful. Graeme Obree is a legend in the world of Cycling and beyond. An innovator who uses the power of his mind and imagination combined with his extraordinary athleticism to reach a level few human beings can aspire to.
He has shunned commercial gain in favour of following a value system based upon self determination, education and principled choice.
Obree battled with mental health problems for much of his adult life, but his resilience, courage and self belief have contributed to his ability to maintain a busy life balancing duties as a writer, cyclist and speaker. He does not drive and is an advocate for cycling as a means of leisure, pleasure, wellbeing and as a means of transportation.
