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Graeme Obree's record-breaking Beastie bike expected to fetch £10-15,000 at auction next week

Other items going under hammer in Glasgow include world champion and Hour record medals ... and a Through The Keyhole key

​Graeme Obree’s Beastie bike is expected to be the star lot at an auction of more than 20 items from the former world champion and Hour record holder’s career go under the hammer in Glasgow next week.

Four years ago at Battle Mountain, Nevada, Obree hit a top speed of 58.62mph on the bike to set a new record for prone cycling under International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) rules.

Built by Obree in his kitchen, and including a repurposed part of a saucepan, it is expected to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000 at the sale at Great Western Auctions in Glasgow next Friday 22 September.

Other items up for sale include Obree’s UCI World Championship gold medal from 1993, when Obree won the individual pursuit using the now-banned ‘Superman’ position, with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.

There’s also the medal presented to Obree, who turned 51 this week, for breaking the UCI Hour Record in 1994, with bidding anticipated to be in the range of £1,000-£1,500.

For those on a more modest budget, lots expected to go for £200 or less include two national champion’s jerseys worn by Obree as well as a selection of prints and paintings and memorabilia from the 1996 Olympic Games,

The item expected to go for the least amount of money, with an estimate of between £30 and £50?

A key presented to Obree after he appeared on the BBC programme, Through The Keyhole.

As Loyd Grossman used to ask, “Who lives in a house like this?”

We’d like to think that all road.cc readers would have got the answer correct after one look at that kitchen-cum-workshop.

You can view all the lots here.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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14 comments

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Flying Scot | 6 years ago
0 likes

The man is a superlative athlete and thinker. Was a winner throughout the rule changes.

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Hypoxic | 6 years ago
3 likes

Absolute legend! "Inspiring" doesn't even come close to describing this guy.

 

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mikecassie | 6 years ago
5 likes

I'd say if there is anyone form that era who didn't cheat it was Mr Obree.  Christ the UCI tried everything they could to stop him and still, through sheer bloody mindedness and hard work won.  I really hope he isn't having financial issues, I'd sooner pay into a crowdfund for him rather than him have to lose his medals like this.

Avatar
Huw Watkins replied to mikecassie | 6 years ago
2 likes

mikecassie wrote:

I'd say if there is anyone form that era who didn't cheat it was Mr Obree.  Christ the UCI tried everything they could to stop him and still, through sheer bloody mindedness and hard work won.  I really hope he isn't having financial issues, I'd sooner pay into a crowdfund for him rather than him have to lose his medals like this.

 

It is said that it was his refusal to dope is what saw him leave  Le Groupement in very short order.  He was apparently fired for 'lack of professionalism'.

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Valbrona | 6 years ago
0 likes

The cheat never deserved his medals anyway.

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dottigirl replied to Valbrona | 6 years ago
5 likes

Valbrona wrote:

The cheat never deserved his medals anyway.

Sorry? In which way do you think he cheated?

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ChrisB200SX replied to dottigirl | 6 years ago
0 likes

dottigirl wrote:

Valbrona wrote:

The cheat never deserved his medals anyway.

Sorry? In which way do you think he cheated?

Presumably it's a reference to building his own bike, Superman position and stuff? Although I don't think any of that is cheating.

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rxpell | 6 years ago
6 likes

Absolute legend, saw him give a talk (with the Beastie) in Aberdeen in May - highly entertaining and inspirational.  Hope Graeme raises lots of cash to fund future endeavours (whatever they may be), and would like to think some of these might make it into museums and go on display.

... and the link in the article is wrong ... if you want to browse the catalogue of items, it is

http://www.greatwesternauctions.com/catalogues/es220917/page006.html

( the Beastie is Lot 342 )

 

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SteppenHerring | 6 years ago
9 likes

I hope he's not in difficulties. He really is a national treasure.

 

I met him once and mentioned that I was doing a 25 the next day and did he have any advice. He spoke at me for a good 20 minutes about breathing and positioning and pacing. Yes, I still went off too fast.

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simonmb | 6 years ago
2 likes

More likely he doesn't give a toss about these things only looks forward to the adventure of his next day. It's the best way to live. Aye?

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beezus fufoon | 6 years ago
1 like

maybe he's going to become a wandering monk and eschew all worldly possessions? - if so, I'm happy for him

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davel replied to beezus fufoon | 6 years ago
1 like
beezus fufoon wrote:

maybe he's going to become a wandering monk and eschew all worldly possessions? - if so, I'm happy for him

and get into adventures... Like Caine in Kung Fu.

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Flying Scot | 6 years ago
4 likes

It is really sad, I dont know whether graeme is skint or just wants a distance from this stuff, if I could  I would like to buy it and offer it back to him, whenever he wants it - especially the medals, you cant ever buy a medal, you need to earn it or youre just a caretaker.

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dottigirl | 6 years ago
6 likes

I find this really sad. I hope it's not a sign of him having troubles.

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