Unfortunatly Greame Obree came a cropper at the National 10 as dispite taking it careful (he said he slowed down to 25mph on the round about) a wrong tyre choice lead to a crash. Looking in todays Cycling Weekly his bike was as intresting as usual. It looks like a fairly traditional narrow tube stell frame with what looks like thin steel forks. Its fixed wheel - he road a 55 -12.
The rear wheel looks like it is about as deep as 303, the front about as deep as an alloy rolf vector pro. His position is fairly standard. The most intresting feature is the handle bar set up - straight carbon extensions (looks like the type he use to manufacture) that are bridged. He must set them up fairly narrow with his hands overlaping slightly on the bridge. The bull horns are extremely flat(you can hardley set them front on), narrow and minimalistic - just for starting and may be a bit of cornering. The front brake lever is an old bmx one attached to the extensions. I am guessing his pedals are still melted to his shoes as the photos just seem to show a pedal axel. All in all a classic mix of reto and innovative.
his other bike, same handlebar set up, couple of weeks before the national 10, belive he did a 52.41 oin a 25M TT after cycling 30miles there with a turbo trainer strapped to his back, also did a 19.?? on a very windy day a week later
belive he did a 52.41 oin a 25M TT after cycling 30miles there with a turbo trainer strapped to his back, also did a 19.??
Riding to a TT with a turbo trainer strapped to your back. That is awesome. I would love to see pics of THAT!
If I were following the lead of Slowtwitch fit experts, I’d have to say his arms are too far out in front. We want to see a 90 degree upper arm angle! Really though, who is going to say someone that good at TTing has the wrong setup?
Stretched out like that may not be comfortable, but it definitley is more aero. The more stretched out you are the smaller profile your uper arm is to the air. Also your shoulders will be lower. This is not nearly as stretched out as his superman postion which he showed a fair amount of success with. It was even copied by Boardman to break the hour record. Obree definitely thinks outside the box, However due to the UCI rules that is probably the limit to what he can do. What is the UCI rule on how far the extensions can go out? I bet that is how far his are. I think that he would probably stretch out further even.
For a tri-person, that agressive of a position may not work for 112 miles nor the run.
For the person who has trained into that position and can handle it for 53 minutes, it is appears to be a very aero position.
Position critiques based on static pictures are worth the cost of the advice, in every instance. Too many varibles to make even the smallest adjustment based on an opinion.
Well he has got a spot on his shorts by the W, or maybe a hole, and I can’t see the logo on the ring on his left ring finger. I also think he needs a Mavic Carbone front wheel. What a poser. He is not Slowtwitchable at all.
…and he is missing aero boot covers, he does not have aero FSA Carbon Cranks, he is riding too slack, he is not using vision tec aero cowhorns, he has too many spacers, his stem has too much of a rise etc etc etc. Clearly not good enough for the slowtwitch static position police.
Obree was and is the real deal. This guy has more hard results in cycling than the sum total of all the posters on this forum :-). Of course, it was unacceptable that some Scot with no pro trade team was whipping the likes of Indurain, Rominger, Moser and Boardman (in fairness to Boardman, he traded records with Obree much like the Steve Ovett vs Seb Coe days in the men’s 1500m), so they just changed the rules so a guy using washing machine parts for a bike could not keep taking the hour record.
Speaking of the hour record, we fans really went through a golden age for the thing in the early/mid 90’s. How come the pros are so reluctant to take it on now. By killing use of aero gear for the hour, did the UCI also kill interest in that event?
How come the pros are so reluctant to take it on now. By killing use of aero gear for the hour, did the UCI also kill interest in that event?
Dev
I can’t say for sure why they are so reluctant, but it’s probably because nobody wants to fail, and the chances of failing are pretty high. Sometimes pros take themselves a bit too seriously maybe? Why not just look at it as a good workout, that may or may not end up being a record? I’ll take a shot at it some day, just for you Dev
The only time I have attempted the hour record, I ended up just over 41K. Of course, there was a 1500m swim and a 10K run involved. It was at the Cdn Nationals in 1994 and the bike course was on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is 4.2K smooth as silk with approximately 1 m of climbing per lap (OK, perhaps 3m). In any event, this is the same course they use for the Esprit Ironman and half, but its the closest thing to a velodrome that I have been on
Something else was bothering me about those pictures. No speedo or power meter, round tubes on one bike, he really is the man. A true “il vecchio stampo”. I am not worthy. G
After reading his book, I think I fear for him. I hope he has shaken the ghosts and this is trully enjoyable and won’t lead to another suicide attempt. He’s broken most training and equipment rules that would put us to shame. What would happen with a disk in back as well, oh and of course a carbon 3 spoke front wheel. His helmet is a disaster as well. He would beat me one legged.
There’s a bit in Cycling weekly this week saying that he doesnt take it seriously anymore and only rides because he enjoys it. He has apparently sorted his head out and is looking forward to competing more often and as a veteran next year
