"Deeply moving. His determination and single-mindedness was and still is a true inspiration to me". (Sir Chris Hoy). "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 Number 10 in Cycle Sport's Best 50 Cycling Books of All Time). It includes a foreword by Sir Chris Hoy. Graeme Obree's story begins with a tough upbringing in the Ayrshire valleys, where he found his escape by taking to the roads on his bike. He would emerge from total obscurity to smash Francesco Moser's World Hour Record, controversy hard at his heels for his unique riding style and pioneering construction techniques - famously using parts from a washing machine to build his bike, 'Old Faithful'. But amidst the record attempts, media feeding frenzy and thrilling head-to-head duels with Chris Boardman, Graeme was fighting another battle. With searing honesty, he recounts his biggest battle against depression which drove him to attempt suicide.
Flying Scotsman: The Graeme Obree Story
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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
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By J. Richards
Format:Paperback
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
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By vangoyen
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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".
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By R. W. Burton
Format:Paperback
At times appallingly honest, Obree's book is fascinating. How can anyone design, train and ride a bike into the record books? Obree is a one-off who not only proved all the sceptics wrong, but made cycling's ruling body invent rules just for him! As a personal history, a self-examination into his own soul, this book stands alone.
Thank you Graeme, and my best wishes for the future.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest!
Really great story , could not put it down , even when it was hard to take the despair . What a man.
Published 2 months ago by Fsd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Bought this for my cycling mad other half and he is very happy! By all accounts, an excellent read! Thanks
Published 2 months ago by ShellyC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational and very moving
I remember only too clearly the cycling events detailed in this book. Graeme Obree is a genius and like many extremely gifted people is also a tortured soul. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Stuart Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest, a book that tackles difficult subjects, is inspiring and...
This is a fantastic book. It places describes in a down to earth and honest way the struggle with depression, the hardship of making a living in difficult economic services. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sean Missin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
A wonderful, extremely truthful evocation of human frailty and driven ambition. A superb cyclist, but an extraordinarily vulnerable human human-being. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. J. Nibbs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic true story
What a fantastic true story about Graeme Obree. He is a person to be admired. The things he fought through all his life both man and boy are truly inspirational. Read more
Published 3 months ago by BUZZ
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Flying Scotsman
I bought this book as a fan of Cycling but this is the story of a truly remarkable man's struggle with his demons of mental disorder. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kevin.M.Peace
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest
I finally got around to reading this and thoroughly enjoyed it. He gives an honest account of his battles with cycling's burearocracy and his own personal demons.
Published 4 months ago by Ian White
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Window on a Tortured Soul
I watched with awe as Graeme Obree broke the 1 hour record and won rainbow jerseys, little did I know then that behind the facade was a man whose inner self was almost always in a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr C M Patrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emotional Journey
Honest and often amazing story results in a very immersive reading experience - particularly interesting for those with an interest in cycling, but also a book about people and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. A. W. Maule
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