OK, we all hate Bicycling Magazine. In spite of constant revamping over the last several years, it's still the same old rag with the same old articles. The June 2003 issue's largest cover headline is "Ride 100 Miles in One Day." How many times have I seen that same headline? And, of course, we all love to complain that their product reviews are more like manufacturers' press releases. Granted.

Still, Bicycling is capable of occasionally publishing something worth reading. When they underwent their latest format revamp, Bicycling announced that they would publish more articles by freelance authors. The pay-off comes in the same June 2003 issue with an article on page 59 titled "The Race of Truth" by Steve Friedman. Read it.

The article is a profile of Graeme Obree. Obree is the eccentric Scottish cyclist who twice set world hour records in the mid 1990s, pedalling home-built bicycles of his own design and using innovative riding positions. The UCI stripped him of the title in both instances. Just before Christmas in 2000, Graeme Obree attempted suicide. The same demons that drove him to achieve record-breaking speeds, had pushed him to the furthest edges of depression and despair. When he was setting records, Obree was my hero. Now, as he finds daily strength to face his life, he is still my hero. Friedman's article is a compassionate look at the troubled life of a person who achieved greatness. It is well worth the cover price.

I haven't looked at a Bicycling in about a year.I subscribed for about 5 years but I just got burned out on them. I think I might give them another chance if I can find one at a stand here in Redneckland. I read a story about Obee once . I always wondered what the 'part of a washing machine' was that he used on one of his record breaking bikes.

it was a great article.

i dont know the part of the washing machine he used, but i believe it wound up on his bike as a bottom bracket spindle. maybe the entire bottom bracket assembly, even.

obree = one of my cycling heroes.

Yes, a fine article and is making me rethink my previous opinion of them. May Obree find serenity in life--and may his parents walk in front of a fast-moving train!