Obree - not THIS is a super vet.

niceonetom

The flying scotsman is planning on another crack at the hour record.



Now THAT'S a big ring.



He's 43.

bikeradarhttp://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-bidding-for-hour-record-again-21712

Raam

Holy crap, that is an epic gear.

niceonetom

67 x 13












FFS

Raam

Must be a bugger stopping at lights and trying to get going again.

Tawfee

that's nothing, check out me dad in his heyday!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2337326400_3af8cc0dc4.jpg?v=0

Lumen

Other than the epic gear, it's interesting (to me at least) that he is running zero drop.

Proof that an aero position is more about going longer than lower.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

Other than the epic gear, it's interesting (to me at least) that he is running zero drop.

Proof that an aero position is more about going longer than lower.

I would have thought it's more about getting flatter.

TinyExplosions

And no brake.... that's an illegal bike you know!

niceonetom

Raam wrote: »

I would have thought it's more about getting flatter.

+1
If you can get your elbows level with your wrists while in the drops then having the bars level with the saddle could work. His body position, despite the bars, is very low. My triceps are burning just looking at the top photo.

What's striking to me is how far back the saddle is from the BB. I'm not sure what the rules are for this record (tip of the saddle 5cm behind the spindle maybe?) but that saddle looks over 10cm back. Strange for an otherwise very TT like position. He used to have a modified BMX saddle as far forward as UCI would let him - maybe his approach has changed.

Ghost Rider

Has anyone seen that feature film about Obree, "The Flying Scotsman"? I bought the DVD recently but haven't yet watched it. It looks a bit cheesy, to be honest.

scottreynolds

Lumen wrote: »

Other than the epic gear, it's interesting (to me at least) that he is running zero drop.

Proof that an aero position is more about going longer than lower.

Well I'd say its more to do with the rules that the UCI have on the hour record than the preferred position. If you haven't read the book, "The Hour", I would throughly reccomend it. Its brilliant.

Essentially loads of brits thought they would break the record and the UCI wasn't at all happy so they changed the rules for the hour record so that Eddy Mercx (I think) record would stand. Essentially if you want to break the record you have to do it on a technologically equivalent bike -- i.e. a bike from the 70's..... no aero etc etc -- certainly no carbon.

niceonetom

scottreynolds wrote: »

Well I'd say its more to do with the rules that the UCI have on the hour record than the preferred position. If you haven't read the book, "The Hour", I would throughly reccomend it. Its brilliant.

Essentially loads of brits thought they would break the record and the UCI wasn't at all happy so they changed the rules for the hour record so that Eddy Mercx (I think) record would stand. Essentially if you want to break the record you have to do it on a technologically equivalent bike -- i.e. a bike from the 70's..... no aero etc etc -- certainly no carbon.

I've read that and recommend it too. It's by Mike Hutchinson I think. Full of nice little anecdotes about the history of the record.

I'm all in favour of trying to create a record that allows cyclists from different eras to compete on a fairly level playing field - what's the record called? "the champion's hour" or something?

Dowee

Ghost Rider wrote: »

Has anyone seen that feature film about Obree, "The Flying Scotsman"? I bought the DVD recently but haven't yet watched it. It looks a bit cheesy, to be honest.

It's ok, nothing spectacular, strays from the book a bit. As is normally the case, the book was a lot better.

scottreynolds

Dowee wrote: »

It's ok, nothing spectacular, strays from the book a bit. As is normally the case, the book was a lot better.

Is this not a generic quote for all movies made ?

tunney

niceonetom wrote: »

The flying scotsman is planning on another crack at the hour record.



Now THAT'S a big ring.



He's 43.

bikeradarhttp://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-bidding-for-hour-record-again-21712

Its not *that* big.

TinyExplosions

According to wikipedia which is similar to what I've heard before, The UCI Hour Record restricts competitors to roughly the same equipment as Merckx, disallowing time trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars and monocoque frames. This is why Obrees attempts in the 'superman' position don't really count

scottreynolds

Pah, Obree needs to get tough and really push the gears.

scottreynolds

TinyExplosions wrote: »

This is why Obrees attempts in the 'superman' position don't really count

Unforunately I think that Obrees attempt was only ruled out after the event.

petethedrummer

To anyone who hasn't seen it, this documentary is well worth a look:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055347816&highlight=obree

There's a good one on Robert Millar on there somewhere too.

tunney

TinyExplosions wrote: »

According to wikipedia which is similar to what I've heard before, The UCI Hour Record restricts competitors to roughly the same equipment as Merckx, disallowing time trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars and monocoque frames. This is why Obrees attempts in the 'superman' position don't really count

Don't forget digital watches.......

TinyExplosions

scottreynolds wrote: »

Unforunately I think that Obrees attempt was only ruled out after the event.

Yeah, I read about that too -poor guy. If he was on a legal bike at the time it should stand. I think similar happened to Boardman on the track too, but I could be wrong on that one

zzzzzzzz

Ghost Rider wrote: »

Has anyone seen that feature film about Obree, "The Flying Scotsman"? I bought the DVD recently but haven't yet watched it. It looks a bit cheesy, to be honest.

It's one of the worst films I've ever seen.

petethedrummer

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yeah, I read about that too -poor guy. If he was on a legal bike at the time it should stand. I think similar happened to Boardman on the track too, but I could be wrong on that one

Yeah the Superman position

It's all here.