Obree

July 4th: Obree
Over the years there has been an abundance of true Scottish cycling hero's. From away back in the days of Billy Bisland and Sandy Gilchrist through to Robert Millar getting his spotty tee shirt in the Tour, good solid cyclists keep on appearing whether on the road or on the track. Chris Hoy is a present day example.

If we could only churn out others it would be so fitting to the achievements and legacy of those that have gone before.

Graeme Obree is something else. I watched the Flying Scotsman last night at the local cinema. When I first read Obree's book of the same name a few years ago, I was taken aback by just how extraordinary his achievements were and about how for having problems such as his (bi-polar disorder and depression) he beat the odds and made history.

I loved the part of the film where every time the suits worked against him the anger, angst and despair that Obree felt caroms around in his heid until he re-engineered the solutions that release his pressure like only a trepan might do and like a true hero he gets back on the saddle and sticks it right up em! Very good indeed.

This film had battles to contend with itself to get aired but at last it's here. It's pretty good as well. Johnny Lee Miller does a good job as Obree and does the role justice. It's not high budget but like Graeme and his "do it yer self attitude" this film does not suffer from a lack of money being chucked at it, in a way it makes it all the more special, a bit like his "old faithful" bike itself. The assorted River City cast alongside other good Scottish actors make it interesting to the eye. It's worth watching.

My older brother raced against these guys back in the day and he tells a story of the time he almost gubbed Obree. He was on his shoulder and shouted at him into the wind in an attempt to throw his concentration, get on his wheel and take him in the sprint to the finish. However, it didn't happen. He really was "The Flying Scotsman".