| Graeme Obree is one of the most unique cyclists. He | | | | After his record breaking attempt Obree went onto |
| has had a colourful cycling history which includes | | | | become World Pursuit Champion in 1993. He beat |
| breaking the prestigious world hour record twice. | | | | Chris Boardman in the Semi Final (also setting a new |
| Obree made his first attempt in Norway, 1993. At the | | | | world record) In the final he beat Frenchman Phillipe |
| time he was relatively unknown outside of Great | | | | Ermanault. To become World Champion was in many |
| Britain and few gave him any realistic chance of | | | | ways unexpected for Obree but it enabled him to |
| beating Francesco Moser's world hour record of 51.151 | | | | attract many lucrative offers to travel around Europe |
| KM which had stood since 1984. | | | | racing in prestigious time trials and track meetings. |
| At the first attempt Obree failed missing the mark by | | | | Graham was victim to an unfortunate experience in |
| nearly 1 KM. However Obree was determined to try | | | | the 1994 World Championships. Obree was the |
| again the next day. Most journalists left and Obree had | | | | defending champion and had modified his bike to bring |
| to beg the officials to let him have another go. This | | | | him into line with the new rules. However on the |
| time to many people's surprise he was successful | | | | evening of the Championships the UCI bought in a new |
| setting a new hour record of 51.596 KM. This record | | | | law effectively banning his unique tuck position. The |
| would later be surpassed by Chris Boardman just one | | | | rule was so new that it hadn't even been written |
| week later. However Obree went on to break the | | | | down. Obree had no chance to get used to a new |
| record a second time in April 1994. | | | | design and was thus disqualified after his first qualifying |
| Graeme Obree is also famous for building innovative | | | | attempt. Obree briefly signed a contract with a French |
| bike designs using various spare parts. After his first | | | | based professional team. However unfortunately this |
| world hour record there was a lot of media interest in | | | | didn't work out. Obree said he never felt comfortable in |
| his home made bike. Obree's bike apparently was | | | | the set up and was also unwilling to pay the |
| made with bits of an old BMX and parts from a | | | | "supplementary medicine " costs (this was in the Pre |
| washing machine. I think some of this got exaggerated | | | | Festina) days. It was after this time that Obree began |
| however Obree was definitely an innovator and | | | | to increasingly suffer from depression. |
| continues to make his own bikes. For a while Obree | | | | Recently Obree's fascinating life has been made into a |
| was feted by the European press who were intrigued | | | | feature film |
| with this eccentric Scottish man who had built his own | | | | Obree's autobiography is a compelling account of his |
| bike. Perhaps unfairly this overshadowed his athletic | | | | experiences as a bike rider and his private battle with |
| ability and great determination. For his first record he | | | | the problems of depression and low self esteem. The |
| used a position known as the tuck position this has | | | | overriding theme in his book is his desire to prove |
| also been labelled the "Obree" position. | | | | himself by winning. If he lost a race he would feel |
| This position was later banned by the UCI but Graeme | | | | awful. The book is written with great honesty and is a |
| Obree went on to develop another position, popularly | | | | fascinating insight into the mind of a great athlete. |
| called the Superman Position". | | | | |