Cycling struggles to get a mention in the mainstream British media, as it's neither cricket or football and even throughout the weeks of 'Le Tour' you have to search through most newspapers for a report of the previous days stage, if in fact they've bothered at all.

In 1993, albeit for a brief period only and perhaps for all the wrong reasons, that was all to change courtesy of one man, Graeme Obree, when he smashed the world hour record of Francesco Moser comprehensively.

At that time not many cyclists or enthusiasts outwith the Scottish club scene would have known who Graeme was, so it was somewhat surprising when not only did he beat the hour record, but he achieved it on a machine that he built himself, and included bearings he'd salvaged from an old washing machine, a point the media didn't fail to capitalise on.

What the press seemed to miss was Graeme's pure athletic ability and his determination to beat a world record previously only attempted by the top European Professionals, at the pinnacle of their careers and using state of the art technology. The only wind tunnel testing up until then was a ride on a local '10' with a stiff headwind !

Obree's first attempt at the hour took place at the Olympic track in Hamar, Norway. The previous day he had been unable to get near the record distance however on the Saturday, the day on which he was due to leave, he was so convinced that he could achieve it, he persuaded the officials to let him try again. He broke Mosers record by 445 metres. covering 51.596 Km.

Despite popular myth, his bicycle (which he later coined "old faithful") wasn't built from an old washing machine however, he did hand build it, and incorporated a piece of metal tube he found apparently when out on a training ride, parts from a BMX, and a bearing - taken from a washing machine !.

What was particularly unusual at the time, was his aerodynamic position on the bike. The arrangement of the handlebars, allowed him to get stretched out but adopt a position with arms tucked in out of the way. Played down initially by other riders looking to attempt the record, it was quickly adopted in various disguises by them all - including the great Francesco Moser once the potential was realised. At the World Track Championships in the same year he went on to take the 4000 metres pursuit championship again in a record time, firmly establishing a rank amateur up there with the best and the fastest.

His hour record had only stood for six days as Chris Boardman exceeded the distance by a further 674 metres (at 52.270 Km). Not content to let go, Obree came back the following year in April 1994 and at Bordeaux beat the record again, at 52.713 Km. The following month, the UCI changed the rules in an attempt to outlaw the position. When he turned up at the World Championships and got through the initial rounds, the officials decided to "interpret" the rules and disqualified him.

Not be beaten yet, in 1995 he turned up with a more conventional framed machine, and a modified position that put his arms out "superman" style he won the 4000 metres World Track Championships in record time. It was to no avail and in 1996 with everyone and his neighbour using the "superman" position to great effect, the UCI again re-wrote the rules regulating the forward extension of the handlebars and beginning the the draconian rules to prevent "technical advantage" (read progress).

Graemes domestic achievements, include winning the RTTC title for 50 Miles in 1 hour 39 minutes 1 second and the 10 at 18 minutes 27 seconds, which stood from 1993 to 1996. he also won the RTTC 25 Miles in 48 minutes 55 seconds. On the track he won the British 4,000 metres Pursuit from 1993 to 1996 and in Scotland on the road was the National 10 mile time trial champion between 1988 & 1992


One predecessor of 'old faithful' was this machine he built and seen here at a road race in Carluke in 1987. The short back end prevented Graeme from using double chain-rings and the frame has a brazed-on chain guide.