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Graeme Obree
CyclingUnited Kingdom
Graeme Obree is a Scottish former racing cyclist and cycling innovator. He twice broke the world hour record and twice won the world 4,000-metre individual pursuit championship, becoming known for unconventional aerodynamic riding positions and his self-built bicycle, Old Faithful. [1][4]
Career and work
Obree emerged as an elite track cyclist in the early 1990s while also developing his own bicycles and riding positions. On 17 July 1993, he broke the world hour record in Hamar, Norway, covering 51.596 kilometres in one hour on his homemade bicycle, Old Faithful. He later regained the record after it had been broken by another rider. [1][2]
He also won the world individual pursuit championship twice, in 1993 and 1995. Obree became known for experimenting with aerodynamics, including the highly compact “tuck” position he used while riding Old Faithful. After the Tuck was banned, he developed another extended-arm position called the “Superman,” which was copied by other riders before it too was banned. [1][2]
Old Faithful is now held by National Museums Scotland, where Obree is described as both a record-breaking cyclist and a sporting innovator. [1]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
National Museums ScotlandGraeme Obree: Breaking records on a homemade bicycle Provides career information including Obree’s 1993 World Hour Record, Old Faithful, his aerodynamic innovations and the Tuck and Superman riding positions.
article or webpageThe Guardian, 2007Graeme Obree: “It was after I retired that my depression really took hold of me” A first-person interview covering depression during and after his cycling career, alcohol use, his diagnosis as manic depressive, medication, counselling, family support and the role cycling had played in coping with his illness.
interviewThe Guardian, 2003Obree opens up on a story of speed, success and suicide A detailed interview about severe depression, suicide attempts, his 2001 attempt, psychotherapy and why he chose to write openly about his mental health in The Flying Scotsman.
interview
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road.cc, 2011Graeme Obree Interview Part 1 Covers Obree’s cycling career and his reflections on depression, therapy and developing ways to manage his mental health over time.
interviewThe Guardian, 2011Graeme Obree: building bikes, writing books and beating depression Discusses Obree’s life after elite cycling, his mental health and his efforts to use his experience to help other people struggling with depression.
interviewCycling WeeklyGraeme Obree: why we need to talk about depression in sport Covers Obree’s perspective on depression in elite sport, exercise as a coping mechanism and the importance of addressing mental-health difficulties more directly.
profile or biography
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Graeme Obree and their experiences.
- The Flying ScotsmanBook · Graeme Obree, 2003
Obree’s autobiography covering his childhood, rise in elite cycling, world records, battles with cycling authorities, depression, suicide attempts and diagnosis of manic depression.
- The Obree Way: A Training Manual for CyclistsBook · Graeme Obree
Obree’s guide to cycling technique, training, psychology and performance, giving a broader view of how he approached sport and problem-solving beyond his autobiography.
- The Flying ScotsmanFilm · feature film, 2006
A dramatization of Obree’s life and cycling career, based on his autobiography and starring Jonny Lee Miller as Obree.