A-Z Of Great Scots
Graeme Obree, The Flying Scotsman who broke cycling records and inspired a nation
WHEN Graeme Obree entered his first cycling race, he hopped on his bike in a parka and a pair of Doc Martens, whizzed around and stopped 100 metres before the actual finishing line.
It wasn’t an auspicious start to his career, but it does sum up the rebellious spirit which led to him becoming one of Scotland’s cycling heroes – fondly dubbed the Flying Scotsman.
As famous for his innovative homemade bikes and eccentric cycling techniques as he is for his sporting talent, his is an incredible tale of determination.
Graeme has had mental health problems for much of his life. He’s survived suicide attempts, alcoholism and grief. Cycling helped him escape this – yet his triumphs didn’t always bring relief or joy, and his fear of failure became an obsession.
In the early 1990s, Graeme’s bike shop went bust, leaving him in financial trouble. To reverse his fortunes, he set his sights on the World Hour Record and began building a bicycle for the task. The result was an aerodynamic dream machine named Old Faithful.
He arrived at a Norwegian velodrome on July 16, 1993, ready to make history. He didn’t beat the record at first but the next day, crouched over the handlebars in his
“tuck” position, the Flying Scotsman pedalled his way into the record books with 32 miles (51.596km). Graeme continued to impress on the international stage, triumphing at the World Championships.
This Scottish maverick with his DIY bike and offbeat riding style was shaking up cycling, and the world governing body didn’t like it. Soon his tuck was banned. So Graeme invented the
“Set his sights on the world record and then built a bike ”
“Superman”, with arms stretched in front – but when other cyclists started to copy it, that was vetoed as well.
After competing in the 1996 Olympics, Graeme’s mental health deteriorated. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and wrote a frank autobiography that gave a glimpse into how difficult his life had been.
Then, 10 years ago, Graeme came out as gay, having struggled with his sexuality for a long time.
He is clever, charismatic and, above all, courageous – a sporting genius whose candid conversations about mental health are breaking down barriers.