Innovation in Cycling Interests Me
I was over at Doug Report and saw an article that Cycling Weekly did about innovation in cycling. It varied from Campy quick releases to neoprene shoe covers. One thing listed was aero position by Graeme Obree.
Graeme Obree is an interesting guy. Not accepted by the elite cycling crowd, he went about his own business and designed, built and rode bicycles that didn’t fit the current standards. The UCI treated him like shit. Making arbitrary, truly bullshit rules, to disallow him from kicking ass at the World Championships, after he was already World Champion.
I remember racing in England and watching a documentary showing Obree’s path to the World Championships. It is a comparison between what Chris Boardman was doing and then that of Graeme Obree. It couldn’t be any more different. Obree taking apart a washing machine for bearings and Chris Boardman ordering multiple frames.
Anyway, I found the piece on YouTube. It is below. If you have a little extra time sometime, it is interesting.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIDQH3FeG7Y
Comments (14)
donkybhoy
2017-02-22 08:52:26
Obree truly a great sportsman who was different from others. Brilliant. Not enough credit is given to him Boardman is omerta.
Jeff D
2017-02-22 09:02:30
Wow I just noticed, looking at Obree’s position maybe instead of calling it the Sagan tuck we should have called it the Obree tuck
Bolas Azules
2017-02-22 09:17:48
Oddly enough Boardman had to quit racing because of low levels of testosterone and osteoporosis. Finally a guy who could have actually used all of those patches.
Doug Dobrozsi
2017-02-22 10:10:21
I really, really enjoyed The Flying Scotsman movie, about Obree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Scotsman_(2006_film)
wheelman61
2017-02-22 10:11:30
check out the Graeme Obree bio-pic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Scotsman_(2006_film)
Sydney
2017-02-22 13:15:58
Great interview in this recent podcast http://thecyclingpodcast.com/podcast/31-catching-up-with-graeme-obree
sillypuddy
2017-02-22 16:19:43
On the track Obree was a great all arounder. There really wasn’t anything he couldn’t do(except tie a not). What i would like to know if that unique riding position be allowed in either of the one hour attempt categories; superman or traditional? Sillypuddy OUT!
mike crum
2017-02-22 19:46:12
poor guy vs the rich guy….. the flying scottsman movie was great.. in yesterdays post some guy named lance told me that I’m not a cyclist cause I do tt on my own… lol.. so these two above arnt cyclists??? they are racing alone.. didn’t understand lance’s post at all..i always heard the tt was the race of truth.. and one alone vs the clock is the same thing imo…
Ben Frost
2017-02-22 23:36:00
The BBC recently aired a documentary (Battle Mountain),on Obree and his attempt on the land speed record. Well worth watching. He is still as innovative as ever.
carlos
2017-02-23 00:47:16
Battle Mountain Doc. Needs VPN http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08c70vf/battle-mountain-graeme-obrees-story
Craig
2017-02-23 08:30:20 In reply to Bolas Azules
Speculation is that those were the result of questionable choices during his career … but the first rule of Tilford’s blog is we don’t talk about doping ;)
barb
2017-02-23 08:46:43
Obree was the Rocky of track racing….not to mention overcoming his bipolar handicap to set world records. Only respect for the man.
sillypuddy
2017-02-23 16:12:40 In reply to barb
Well put Sillypuddy OUT!
Sharkie
2017-02-23 16:57:51
Really enjoyed the documentary. Sorry to see he’s had such a challenging life before and after.