Graeme Obree

[Anonymous]

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-reveals-he-is-gay-29111

Im a little reticent to even start a thread on this, but hopefully the members here have the maturity to deal with this in an adult manner without resorting to stereotypes and insults.

For me, good on him. When you know of Obrees mental history over the last twenty years I can only think this is a huge weight off his shoulders. Cycling is still very stuck in the dark ages as far as sexuality goes, which is sad really.

But good on Graeme. Hopefully now he can lay some of his demons to rest.

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-reveals-he-is-gay-29111

Im a little reticent to even start a thread on this, but hopefully the members here have the maturity to deal with this in an adult manner without resorting to stereotypes and insults.

For me, good on him. When you know of Obrees mental history over the last twenty years I can only think this is a huge weight off his shoulders. Cycling is still very stuck in the dark ages as far as sexuality goes, which is sad really.

But good on Graeme. Hopefully now he can lay some of his demons to rest.

It sounds very positive for him, and that's good to hear.

I get the feeling this was sort of alluded to in The Flying Scotsman - but it's been a while since I've watched the movie. Vague recollections of a guy having some sort of dirt on him.

 

[jens_attacks]

what Jamsque said:

It's a damn shame he felt he had to hide that from the world for so long, I'm glad he's been able to come out.

 

[Archibald]

can see how it's not an easy thing for him, but it's not our business and i really don't care what team he bats for...

 

[Moncoutie]

Good for him. *** edited by mod ***

 

[euanli]

*** edited by mod ***

 

[Silver]

If you get a chance to catch it, HBO did a segment on Real Sports about Gareth Thomas that was really great. Here's an SI story on him:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168953/index.htm

Sounds like Obree went through the same inner torment.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

One warning to everyone: behave yourselves.

Susan

 

[Anonymous]

If you get a chance to catch it, HBO did a segment on Real Sports about Gareth Thomas that was really great. Here's an SI story on him:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168953/index.htm

Sounds like Obree went through the same inner torment.

Very good read that (a quick scan through). Will read it again properly later.

Its sad really that he didnt have the confidence to come out sooner. How much of his life has been effected by it. And ultimately, how much more could he have achieved on the bike. Hopefully this is one sad story that will have a happy ending.

 

[flicker]

I do not care his preferences, truly a fascinating character, in his film I could not have cared about the hour record. Something inside of him is intelligent and introspective, completely different than most athletes.

 

[Hawkwood]

Back in the 90s he came down to Kent to ride a local 10 on the Saturday, and the national 50 on the Sunday. I went to spectate at both events and on the Saturday saw him break the national 10 record, and on the Sunday the 50 as well, and all on a fixed! In the national 50 he caught his ten minute man and he was no slouch! A great character, and hopefully now he can move forward with his life.

 

[ansimi]

Around here, cycling has long been a popular sport and past-time in the LGBT community and I think the cycling community is very gay-friendly. I know it's not like that everywhere but I think he'll find himself getting lots of support and some of it will be from unexpected sources.

Thanks for staying on top of the moderation Susan

 

[sublimit]

Back in the 90s he came down to Kent to ride a local 10 on the Saturday, and the national 50 on the Sunday. I went to spectate at both events and on the Saturday saw him break the national 10 record, and on the Sunday the 50 as well, and all on a fixed! In the national 50 he caught his ten minute man and he was no slouch! A great character, and hopefully now he can move forward with his life.

Seems a lot of people know of the hour record but he had ultra quick ITT times on the road and the only other rider capable of similar times was Boardman, both of them head and shoulders above the other testers of the time thats how good he was. All my training colleagues and I thought he was great and had total respect for the man even from deepest Hampshire, and being road racers and not into TT racing particularly.

Good luck to the guy.

 

[JA.Tri]

As per many others: Good for him and yes, a real shame he is only now in a position to "come out".

 

[rolfrae]

I'd echo the sentiments aired on the thread so far and say I'm glad he's finding peace and finally sorting his head out. His sporting life story has been dogged by frustration, what ifs and if onlys - he was truly great but he could have been even greater. Selfishly I think, if only he'd sorted out his personal issues as a teenager then Scotland would have an even greater cyclist to be proud of, but perhaps the inner demons also shaped his sporting persona and without them he might not have been the same cyclist.

I remember being told about him by members of my cycling club back when I was a junior and the general opinion was that he was a bit odd, something of a maverick. One Saturday I was riding a 25 mile TT, struggling toward the turning point, cursing the headwind, when this hunched man on a bike flew past me like a f***ing cruise missile - it was Obree.

 

[mango_tarbash]

Stomach churning

He's been exploited by a psychiatrist - like so many others these days.

Why does anybody need to know if anybody else is a stomach-churning, bug-chasing, shirt-lifting, revolting, filthy ******?

You're all a bunch of ***, touchy-feely PC, brainwashed ***.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the amount of well wishes on twitter
http://twitter.com/#search?q=@GraemeObree
Will mean a lot to him.

Im just pleased to see one man get through depression, the suicide attempts and come out the other side, when so many in cycling, Shay Elliot, Pantani etc havnt.

Kudos to Boardman with his support of him today despite the rivalries. Class Act.

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

A great cyclist. Vividly recall Obree signing professional terms with Le Groupement back in the 1990's and he missed the official team launch and stuff. Saw him race once at a Newtownards Time Trial. Boardman came over too. What a great day that was. Boardman a Olympic Gold Medal and racing for Kodak and Obree with his washing machince part asisted bike. All good memories and they sure don't make them like that anymore.

 

[Jamsque]

I remember being really disappointed when he called off his most recent hour attempt, the bike he built for it was just incredible. He whittled the seat post and aero bars out of blocks of solid aluminium.

[edit] Found the CN article : http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/graeme-obrees-amazing-bicycle

The thing is gorgeous, I would kill for a chance to ride that bike (although I probably couldn't turn that gear if my life depended on it)

 

[euanli]

Graeme Obree has been a constant reminder to me that no matter how much I suffer on the bike its never as bad as life can get.

 

[Cobblestones]

This kind of stuff shouldn't even make news any more in this time and age.

Someone's gay? Well, good for him, but really it shouldn't raise any eyebrows any more.

It was sad to read what Graeme went through to get to where he's today.

 

[Descender]

Wow, I just finished watching The Flying Scotsman and then I log in and read this news... what a coincidence!!

I'm glad to read he's better now, that's the news for me really.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This kind of stuff shouldn't even make news any more in this time and age.

Someone's gay? Well, good for him, but really it shouldn't raise any eyebrows any more.

It shouldn't, but it does. Graeme's British, and will have been well aware of the rough treatment from fans, opponents and teammates alike that footballer Justin Fashanu had faced upon his coming out in 1990 and for the rest of his career. I could understand why somebody from an upbringing like Graeme's would be afraid of inflicting that upon themselves.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Not sure what the point of this thread is - there's no possible discussion to be had, and it doesn't have a great deal to do with cycling.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don't want t stir any political, religious or cultural sentiments but I was shocked when I read the article. I thought this would happen in some other cultures different to Countries like in Western Europe. I know in my home country is still a big issue to be gay, but we are still a country under cultural change for the better. I can understand some other countries from the Middle East a maybe Far East having these kind of issues, but I never thought that a gay person would have problems being gay from early life in Western Europe. Not even in conservative states in the USA. Maybe other forum members can give me more information about it. I hope Geaeme Obree wasn't exagerating on the matter.

Thanks.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/graeme-obree-reveals-he-is-gay