Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #250459 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

A fascinating read
What a story.
A remarkable tale of a lad from Scotland who took on the world and beat it. Though not without a cost.
Graeme grew up in hard times and found that he had a natural talent for cycling. He was a time trialist who was unconventional and after reaching the top of the UK pile decided to take on the ultimate challenge for any cyclist - the Hour. One man on a bike for 60 minutes and go as far as you can. He did this on a home made bicycle and shook the cycling world to pieces. So much did the authorities dislike his tucked up style they banned it. So Obree adapted and took on his 'Superman' style. Again this was banned. They said his bike saddle was too far forward so he cut off the front of it. Whatever they threw at him he overcame. But he couldn't overcome the depression that haunted him and this had a profound affect on his life.
This book is well written, though can be a bit uncomfortable to read as you follow the ups and downs of this remarkable mans life. This is a great story that will appeal to cycle fans worldwide but also to those who have no idea about cycle racing. There is a film that is due to be released about Graemes story very soon and i hope that it is half as good as this real life story.

A Flying Scotsman indeed!

Amazing Achievement
Being a keen Scottish cyclist since my schooldays, I remember Obree exploding on the cycling scene at the time. I saw the film of the book first on DVD and found it very entertaining (and I have to admit, inspiring, as well) and wanted to find out more, so bought the book. Of course, certain liberties were taken in the film version, but the book is more interesting for all that and fleshes out the bones of who Obree is better than any film could. If you found the book interesting and it left you with a desire to know more about the amazing man, the book should address that need.

I have one question for other readers, though. I'm living in the US, so have the American version. Please tell me that the UK version doesn't talk about 'soccer'. I'd like to buy a friend a copy, but want a version that talks about football, not soccer. I'll stump up the extra cost for a UK version if I know I'm getting one in 'proper English'.

Amazing story from a real modern cycling hero
As a dedicated club cyclist who only moved to the UK a few years ago from South africa, I had never even heard of Graham oBree, though the big names of Mercx, Lemond etc etc were the heros. Why isn't Graham Obree more well known and acclaimed?!? I am totally impressed by Chris Boardman, Obree's competitor for the Hour Record (and I couldn't hold a candle to Boardman's ability, I don't mean to pull him down), but I feel that what Obree achieved was greater, given that he came from relatively nowhere, both geographically (in the sense that, patricularly then, London was the centre of the UK in many people's minds, and the rest, particularly Scotland, were marginalised) and socially. I even wrote to Obree to say how much his book affected me and he replied! What a nice bloke, makes him even more amazing in my mind. He really helped me to put things in perspective.

Anyone, cyclist or non-cyclist, would benefit from reading this book, it is not so much about cycling as being about Obree facing his demons, and it really inspired me, since many of the things he worked through were similar to mine.

Amazing man, amazing book, inspiring to cyclist and non-cyclists, read it, you will not be dissapointed.