In an era when British cycling is sufficiently part of the
establishment to boast several knights, many people may never have heard
of Graeme Obree.
But the Scottish rider, who remains revered
within cycling, is back and doing what he does best: going for world
records on innovative, self-built bikes. Obree, described as a genius by
Sir Chris Hoy, possessed huge natural talent and drive, but a series of
factors – not least his refusal to touch the drugs then prevalent in
the sport – cut short his career in the 1990s and he slipped into
relative obscurity and intermittent depression.
Now at 47, he
plans to try for the world human-powered land speed record on a machine
which he rides head first, just above the ground. If that wasn't enough,
the bike was almost entirely built in his kitchen from recycled parts,
including metal from an old saucepan.
The idea that a self-built
steel-framed creation, which Obree estimates cost around 1,000 to build,
could tackle the 82.8 mph record set in 2009 by a Canadian rider using a
computer-modelled, carbon fibre-shelled recumbent machine, seems
ludicrous. But this is well-trodden ground for Obree, one of the more
creative, bloody-minded and enigmatic characters in British sport.
The
Ayrshire-based rider achieved fame from seemingly nowhere in July 1993
when he broke the world one-hour cycle distance record at a Norwegian
velodrome, using a self-built bike, Old Faithful. This incorporated a
self-created, highly aerodynamic tuck position as well as, famously,
ballbearings borrowed from a washing machine.
Obree retook his
record the following year, also winning a track world championship title
on Old Faithful. When cycling's governing body, the UCI, outlawed the
tuck stance, Obree came back with an equally creative alternative, the
stretched out "Superman" position, to win another world title.
That
was where it ended. It is arguably paradoxical to describe a man whose
autobiography, The Flying Scotsman, was made into a film staring Jonny
Lee Miller, as an unsung hero, but Obree never notched up the titles and
fame of his peers, such as Chris Boardman.
Obree's sole Olympics,
in 1996, saw him exit in the preliminary rounds. His career with a
French professional road cycling team lasted one day. Obree has always
maintained he was sacked when he made it clear he would not use drugs.
He
has endured a turbulent personal life, affected by self-criticism and
depression, eventually diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Obree came out as
gay a couple of years ago, something he says has contributed to his
happiness. His decision to do so is still relatively unusual in
professional sport.
He reinvented himself as an author and a
speaker, and just over two years ago began plotting an attempt at the
human-powered bike speed record. Rather than adapt one of the feet-first
recumbent bikes traditionally used for such bids, Obree, typically,
started from scratch.
The result is the Beastie, in which the
rider lies face down and head forward, with his or her feet powering a
pair of narrower push-pull levers rather than conventional pedals. Read
the full story at www.aulaundry.com web.
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