Graeme Obree's bike actually IS too fucked up

hes got a lovely converted shipping container

I say come to herne hill and have a crack Mr Obree!

but not today. it's blowing a force 10 and 1/2 the track is covered with leaves.

I don't think that would stop him, seeing how he's riding along the windy seafront in the picture. But the track officials might. :)

Boardman used a more standard position, the whole point of Obree's new one was he was on a standard bike that passed UCI regs but he had it stretched so that he could adopt a different position that was more aero.
See the pic in this his forearms are level with the ground
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-bidding-for-hour-record-again-21712
Where boardmans here are not quite
http://www.bicyclesusa.com/boardm~1.jpg

I'm sure his depression is alot to do with it too but its one of the things that has made him amazing over the years. Obree has been in a team before but they don't work for him, I think he's the type of person who has to do things his own way and no scientists or coaches would help.

The point I was making was about forearm support, which would make a huge difference over the course of an hour:

Obree's drops stop short of his wrist, whereas Boardman's extend underneath his forearm a bit. Despite Obree's desire for a more stretched out position, there'd be nothing stopping him from using an 'extended drop', and he'd probably have tried it if he wasn't so depressed because he knew he no longer had the lungs or the legs.

Yes, I live under the old stand

next door to Daves lock up/house which is next door to JC's.
Do you all get together to play cards at night?

he'd probably have tried it if he wasn't so depressed because he knew he no longer had the lungs or the legs.

That's what it sounded like to me, hence the comment about it 'not being about the bike'. Sorry, I think he's fucking awesome but in this case I can't help but think he's passed another hour attempt.

Manchester is not the only track, there's nothing in the rules about it having to be a 250m track is there? Although money is an issue, there are plenty of tracks around the world with shallower, wider bankings, I even think Obree made an early attempt or at least a test at Herne Hill. Granted there are few indoor tracks larger than 250m but there are many "stadiumized" tracks completely protected from the wind with suitable bankings...Leipzig for instance which is 450m

He could have used other tracks with the advantage of higher altitude, gives riders an advantage somehow I cant remember how, but he wanted his record attempt to be a all British affair on British soil.

Im fucking gutted he will not be making another attempt. Obree is a legend.

Personally, I feel Glasgow's new velodrome should be named after Obree. Not Hoy, without due respect for Hoy, he may be racing there during the commonwealth games of 2014.

He could have used other tracks with the advantage of higher altitude, gives riders an advantage somehow I cant remember how, but he wanted his record attempt to be a all British affair on British soil.

"...The most immediate response to altitude is the hyperventilation that occurs in response to a decrease in arterial oxygen levels above 2000 meters. ...The hyperventilation response varies from individual to individual. Those with a strong hypoxic drive will perform exercise tasks better at altitude than those with a blunted ventilatory response."
*
Could be this.

*"...or endurance events, adequate time should be allowed to complete acclimatization - 2 to 3 weeks..." **

...or this reason, 2 to 3 weeks of training when you don´t have a sponsor seem too much for Obree.

*rest here

Lower density air = lower drag. It takes money to race at altitude but not that much money. Obree wasn't putting out what was required to take the record.

http://www.wolfgang-menn.de/altitude.htm

Those shipping containers are pretty secure, fucking dark though

You're forgetting Specialized.. who built him an hour bike but he elected not to use it. He did use their wheel(s) to beat the record though.

It has been a long time since I read his book though so it might have been more personal, the arrangement.

had to share this, taken last November

Where is that? Same place, different display?

had to share this, taken last November

the white turbo saddle, a classic

Where is that? Same place, different display?

here

Thought some of you might like this photo I took in the Scootish National Museum in Edinburgh. It's Obree's hour record bike. I had a good look at it, and it's mental. He'd chamferred the insides of the crank arms to stop them rubbing as the BB shell was incredibly narrow. I'm surprised his knees didn't knock together!
*

*Full Size: http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3492/img08131.jpg

the Scootish National Museum

Blimey, Scoot is going places.