Graeme Obree speaking at an e-Olympics event

On 17th July 1993, Graeme Obree stunned the international cycling world when he emerged from obscurity (in deepest Ayrshire) to smash Francesco Moser’s World Hour Record. Graeme is Scotland’s own cycling prodigy and the RSC is pleased to invite him to officially open the Fife eOlympics, an e-learning event for staff in Scottish Further Education.

Apart from being a world record speed cyclist, Graeme is also famous for being able to think ‘outside the box’: the bike that he built to take the world record was different to anything that had been built before in several important respects. In order to achieve the fastest speed, Graeme tore up the cycle engineer’s rulebook: he invented a new aerodynamic riding position for himself and designed several new features for his innovative lightweight bike (now on public view in the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh). Graeme astounded the sporting world when the unorthodox nature of some of these features was revealed: the bike has handlebars created from bits of old tubing, a left crank made from scrap found on the Ayr bypass, and a bottom bracket made from a bearing found in an old washing machine.

cover of the cycling magazie 'equipe' showing Graeme Obree

Whether you’re a world class speed cyclist, or a lecturer in a Scottish College of Further Education wishing to use ICT to enhance and extend your learning and teaching, there is a lot to be gained by thinking differently: there could be no limit to what can be achieved!

At the e-Olympics, Graeme Obree will light the e-Olympic torch in grand style, introducing the event, speaking to delegates about his cycling achievements, and sharing his philosophies about trying new things.

Let the games commence!