Return of the Flying Scotsman

I just listened to this video while I was packing to leave NYC. Talk about an inspirational story. It’s a shame that he has to resort to a human-powered land speed record because the UCI has it out for him. Here’s the background:

“Meet Graeme Obree. “When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.”

These words of wisdom from Jonathan Swift certainly apply to Graeme Obree and his treatment in the world of cycling. A man castigated for triumphing innovation. The Flying Scotsman broke the World Hour record twice and won the World Championships on two occasions, combining ruthless ambition and a unique investigative engineering nous that propelled him ahead of his peers.

We visit him in Saltcoats, Scotland, 45 minutes outside Glasgow where we find Obree preparing for another World Record attempt – the human-powered land speed record.

To read the interview in full go to humansinvent.com

5 Comments »
by prolly |
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  • Aaronmartinsen

    what a cool guy. for real. i love the big stack of hand washed dishes in the background.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GVLXSUONHVDXMQCYPZ5L7G2K2A Sean Naes

      The mans a fuckin legend although I am suprised that you North Americans ken what’s he’s sayin! 
      ‘Hand washed dishes’ ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha 

  • lester

    does he know that ‘re-cycled chain ring’ is about as straight as a pringle? someone might mention that to him before he tries his hand at the record.

    • Kos

      Graeme has probably factored-in some kind of miniscule “oscillatory drivetrain” benefit that everybody else overlooked :)

      A true legend: 
      Recognized as such by numerous people who “know” about guts, innovation or just personal adversity;
      Ignored and hindered by those who SHOULD know = all at the UCI.

    • http://prollyisnotprobably.com John Watson

      How many hour records did you break?


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Prolly is not Probably started in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York. For over 6 years it has thrived as John Watson, the sole author, documents multiple facets of cycling. With the boom of urban cycling, Prolly is Not Probably has grown to be the number one blog for the culture surrounding it. In recent years, a large push for original content has spawned a steady flow of photosets, profiles and portraits.

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