An autobiography very much worth reading - Rated 
'When it came to physical violence...Being kicked about the head was so different from being kicked about the body...there was also a much, much more hurtful thing called social exclusion' (page 2)
This is a very personal,truthful and holistic story about a man who was a social outcast as a child, a husband and father, a sufferer from severe bouts of depression, an eccentric, a person who has attempted suicide several times and an innovator and DIY man who famously built a revolutionary bike upon which he twice broke the world mile record and won two world pursuit championships.
Told in his own straightforward prose, Graeme Obree isnt one for self flattery but rather facts and honesty- which make the additions of the L'Equipe extracts at the back very much welcome in their providing a 'jaw-dropping' and poetical outsiders perspective on his phenomenal record breaking:
'Eddy Merckx, climbing off his bike, said: 'Never again'. Obree got on the track twice within 24 hours and the second one was the good one' (page240)
However such are the twists and turns of his life that Grame's personal account didnt stop this reader from being very much uplifted by his accounts of smashing records,winning championships and recreational tours with friends...
'I spent a few happy days at Paco's farm and while I was there I learned what 'siesta' really meant to the local farmers. Each would take a turn of being host to a wine and hash afternoon, before returning to their agricultural toil' (Page 63)
...or being downcast and shocked at his attempts at suicide, crazy acts and the loss of his brother:
'I took advantage of the free drinks on the flight to make life seem more manageable...I rewrote a poem which I had been working on earlier ...[and] passed it to some of the team in a hope that somehow they would understand me...A short while after that I told the entire team, including officials, that I was going to kill every one of them [!!!!!]' (page 225-6)
Painting a much broader and deeper picture of Graeme O'bree than the film of the same name does, Flying Scotsman is very much an autobiography worth reading whether your a cyclist or not (I'm a surfer)- It's no wonder that for some journalist's like Matt Seaton that its in their top 10 best cycling book's of all time (see http://books.guardian.co.uk/top10s/top10/0,,1518306,00.html). And it left me genuinely wishing nothing but a bright future for this astonishing man and his family.
Best cycling book I have read - Rated 
Had this book for a few months and finally got around to reading it. Wish I had started sooner as in no time I was finished as it is such a captivating read. This shows what it takes to reach the top in any sport especially one with limited funding. Even if you are familiar with the Obree story it is still worth the read to fill in the details. Now must get the DVD.
Bit disappointed by the writing, but still an interesting read - Rated 
Graeme isn't the best writer, and the book gets a bit tedious at times. But what he lacks as an author, he more than makes up for as a cyclist. I'm sure you'll already know that his life and cycling career are pretty interesting to say the least, and I hardly put this book down once I started reading it. This book is essential if you want to know more about the self-loathing, insurance-frauding, time-trialling DIY bike-building Hour record destroyer. Worth buying? Definitely.
I'd also recommend buying The Hour by Micheal Hutchinson, as this gives much more background information on the Hour record and tells you a bit about Obree and other Hour record holders.
A national Hero. - Rated
I'm glad this book was written as an autobiography by Graeme Obree and not as a biography by some one else. The last two pages were just heartbreaking, but he survived it all and long may he continue to do so. By writing his accounts on the 'black dog' of depression he has highlighted to the world what pain sufferers go through. His life story will bring hope to countless people and sufferers.
Keep Flying Graeme.........
A bit disappointing - Rated
Whilst Obree suffers from mental illness and this clearly affected his cycling, I felt he was making so many excuses throughout the book. At times the book was excellent (generally when he'd had a good ride), but at others it just annoyed me. Great detail on some parts and others are just brushed over.
|
