Product Description

On the way to breaking the World hour record, he created major controversy in the professional cycling world over his unique riding style and his pioneering construction techniques. He famously had to use washing machine parts to complete the building of his 'Old Faithful' machine. Graeme's story starts with his tough upbringing in the Ayrshire valleys, where he found his escape by taking to the roads. From there he tells an inspiring story of what it takes to become a world record breaker, of his thrilling head-to-head duels with Chris Boardman and how he became a major international star on the European circuit. The story ends with Graeme's searingly honest account of his battle against depression which drove him to attempt suicide. This will be one of the most talked about sporting books of the year.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43087 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
Hard-hitting and brutally honest. --Cycling Weekly

This is a book that must have taken great courage to write, is a harrowing reminder of how little the public know about sportsmen, no matter how brightly the spotlight shines on them --The Guardian

This is one of the best and moving sports books I have read --Alastair Campbell, The Times

About the Author
Graeme Obree lives in Irvine.

Customer Reviews

A moving story
Graeme Obree's motivation to achieve the cycling one-hour world record must make him unique. His childhood left him feeling worthless, an emotion that has dogged him throughout his life as his personal barometer swings from high to low and back with alarming consequences. On high, he undertakes training schedules few could match, and combines his athleticism with an insight into bicycle design which is sensational, given that the machine has remain vitually unchanged for 100 years.

On low, he attempts sucicide, conflicts with those closest to him who are trying to help, and drinks to forget.

Reading this candid autobiography is compulsive, you just can't put it down. As you finish the last page you hope that the tide has turned, and the Obree family will live happily ever after. If you buy this book you will be helping to ensure that they do.

John Richards

Breaking the mould (again)
Graeme Obree delivers exactly what you'd expect from a man who broke the cycling mould; an autobiography that breaks the well set mould of sporting biographies which too often seem to be ghost written half truths containing snipes at past colleagues and competitors. None of that in this book. Quite simply, Graeme Obree just tells his life as it has been. The bad times aren't accompanied by finger pointing, apportioning of blame or bitterness and the good times are reported with the modesty of a true sportsman. In my view, the greatest strength of this book lies in the absence of the author trying to influence the reader's emotions and opinions. He just gives you the facts of his astonishing life and you react. This book richly deserves the widespread acclaim and success of Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike".

A study of athletic achievement and a man's resilence.
As a keen cyclist I was already well aware of Graeme Obree's huge achievements as an unknown British amateur cyclist taking on the Holy Grail of solo cycling - the world Hour Record. Not only did he beat the then unbroken figure of 51.151km set by charismatic Italian campione Francesco Moser, but he did it using his will and a self-engineered cycle that challenged all the rules of technology,positioning and aerodynamics. With this achievement set against some truly unbearable emotional hardships suffered by Graeme and his immediate family, it makes this mans' bravery all the more inspiring to us all whether we ride bikes or not. What is it about the sport of cycling that brings forth the passion and desire to overcome physical hardships such as those suffered by Lance Armstrong, or the more insidious long term depressive states suffered by Graeme and millions of ordinary people? I hope that the planned major motion picture of Graeme's battles and glory shows him to be what he is, an honest,decent man and a beacon of hope for all those who have suffered depression in black silence.