Top of this document
Go directly to navigation
Go directly to page content

RIH experiment after "Old Faithful"

late 90's
Collection: RIH Sport Amsterdam

Mr. Wim van der Kaaij told that this unconventional track bike was built after Graeme Obree broke Francesco Mosers hour record on a home built bike in 1993. Mr. van der Kaaij keeps it in his shop for historical reasons although he calls it "ugly and heavy".

Obree, also called 'The Flying Scotsman', had built frames before and especially made one for his record attempt. Instead of traditional dropped handlebars it had straight bars like those of a mountain bike. He placed them closer to the saddle than usual and rode with the bars under his chest, his elbows bent and tucked into his sides like those of a ski-jumper. Watching a washing machine spin at 1,200rpm led him to take the bearings, which he assumed must be of superior quality, and fit them to his bike. Obree regretted saying that was what he had done because journalists referred to that before his achievements and other innovations.

A lot of bike manufacturers were requested to build similar bikes after Obree's victory. However, the cycling federation forbade the design because they were worried that technical innovations would have too much influence on competition results. They also banned Obree's peculiar riding position.

Contributions 
Mayken Craenen 
Comments