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Thu 21 May 2009, 3:24 pm UTC

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Graeme Obree bidding for hour record again

By Jeff Jones

Former world hour record holder Graeme Obree is seriously considering another attempt at the record.

In an interview in Cycling Plus 224 (on sale 5 June), 43-year-old Obree says he has been training hard, built a bike that conforms with UCI regulations (you can see him and it at BikeRadar Live),  and set a date of late 2009 to make the attempt.

"I'm not saying that I will break the hour record, but I am aspiring to do it," said Obree. "You know, last year was the first year since I was 16 that I didn't win a bike race.

"I don't think that you're physically hampered from winning at the highest level just because of age. To diminish yourself just in terms of age isn't justified. I don't think you can use it as an excuse, not if you've kept it going."

The current record, using 'modern' UCI rules, is 49.7km, held by Czech Ondrej Sosenka. In the past, when the rules allowed for more aerodynamic bikes, Obree twice broke the record: 51.596km in 1993 and 52.713km in 1994.

The bar was eventually raised to 56.375km by Chris Boardman in 1996, before the UCI banned the types of bikes and 'superman' riding style that allowed such speeds to be reached. Now, only traditional round-tubed diamond frames with spoked wheels and drop handlebars are allowed. Luckily, Obree knows how to build bikes:

A close up of obree's hand built hour record machine. uci legal too.: a close up of obree's hand built hour record machine. uci legal too.

Graeme Obree's hour record attempt machine, which he'll be bringing to BikeRadar Live (Photo: Andy McAndlish)

As he did with his previous hour records, Obree has built his own bike for this attempt. It's made out of Reynolds 653 tubing and weighs over the UCI limit of 6.8 kilos. "I've built it within the limiting factors of the regulations," he said. "It's deliberately long so my arms are stretched onto the drops for the best aero position. It's also longer at the rear as this puts weight towards the front of the bike."

The bike also features another Obree trademark, a huge gear: 138 inches (67x13) to be exact. He's been pedaling this on his evening training sessions, which typically last between two and two-and-a-half hours.

Obree was at his peak in the early to mid '90s, when he twice broke the hour record and twice won the world individual pursuit championships. He has had a well documented battle with depression, highlighted in his autobiography, The Flying Scotsman, which was made into a movie.

Read the full interview in Cycling Plus 224, on sale 5 June. You can also catch Obree in person - and his new bike - at BikeRadar Live on 30-31 May, where he'll be taking part in the Procycling Hot Laps on Saturday and holding a Q&A session in the big top at 12.45pm on Sunday.

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar.

User Comments

There are 46 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 30 of 46 comments

  • Look at that chainring!

  • If it were anyone else you could scoff...but this is Graeme Obree remember. The man continues to be a living legend.

  • Any idea where he will be going for the record?

  • wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a guy, a true legend, hope he gets the record

  • only he could come up with that posistion

  • go, graeme! i hope he does it

  • is it a record of how fast you can go in kph, or is it how far you can ride in an hour?

  • How far you can ride in an hour.

    I really hope he does it.

  • All the best to him he really does things against the grain. Surely someone can get him a more up to date helmet?

  • C'MON GRAEME! YOU CAN DO IT MATE!

  • Moser broke the hour record at 43, sorry, passed his own previous best, albeit with Obree's tuck...Moser had retired from pro racing in 1987..so about 7 or 8 years of no racing and did it again...so, go Graeme but have hard scientific fact upon which to go for the record to avoid personal dissapointment...

  • Is it me or does the chain look slackish in those pictures?

  • I seem to remember Greame saying in his Autobiography that he wouldn't attempt the hour record again for the sake of his mental stability. I hope he's more stable now - or is mental instability necessary to attempt the hour? I seem to remember Michael Hutchinson saying that in his attempt he put his hands on the top of the bars every now and then as the narrower position was more aero, but he didn't do it for long so the officials didn't cotton on. So is it open to interpretation what position you ride in as long as the bike looks conventionally old fashioned?

  • and not a hint of carbon anywhere !

    Like the great man says "its not the bike !

    Far play and hope he can do it :-)

  • Graeme has always been my number one sporting hero. C'mon man!

  • All the best Graeme. Go for it!!!!

  • I remember reading about him every week in Cycling Weekly when I was a kid. Truly a great sportsman!! One of Britain's finest.

    Good luck Graeme, break a record or not I'd just be happy to see him in action again!

  • You'll be able to read more on Graame in the mag. I had the pleasure – and it was a genuine pleasure – of interviewing Graeme. Obviously, he is a complex and fascinating man. Like everyone who's posted I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and it will be fascinating to see what happens...but, you know, if anyone can do it...And BTW the bike pictured will at 'Radarlive!!!!

  • Go Graeme! Effin' A.

  • I just hope the UCI don't get their tape measures out and come up with some new 'rule'.

  • Love it. Brilliant ride position, cunningly disguised.

  • However I would get better shoes and helmet.

  • Just like to say that the UCI ruins all innovation in bike technology.

  • No chance

  • I watched his movie,i think he is a living legend,hope he can manage to break the record.

  • Obree is an inspiration and a total legend, what he has done what he has overcome the cycling version of Rocky IV!!! sic.

    I hope he does it again it would be awesome. BTW I need to say it aswell look at that chainring!!!!

  • Best of luck to Graeme, he's a true legend and an inspiration to all, and that chainring is just superb!

  • A true competitor and innovator, Graeme Obree was and always will be one of my true sporting heroes.

    Best of luck with the hour, I hope it's in this country so that we will have a chance to see it happen...

  • I'd like to know where he's riding that fixed wheel bike with no brakes outdoors. Good luck to the guy though, it would be great for him to get the record back.

  • The fact that he's trying again on his own machine at 43 with that gearing speaks more highly of the man than whether or not he breaks the record. Forget about the likes of Armstrong and other corporate adoptees, Obree is a real colossus of the sport and a true example what it means to ride a bike. I have nothing but admiration for him.

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