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Graeme Obree sets prone cycling speed record
13 September 2013 BBC

Former world champion cyclist Graeme Obree has set a new world record for riding in the prone position.

The 47-year-old from Ayrshire reached a record breaking speed of 56.62mph (91km/h) in his unconventional Beastie bike.

He is competing in the World Human Speed Championships at Battle Mountain, Nevada.

On Saturday he will aim to break the British land speed cycling record on a different recumbent bike.

Speaking from Nevada, Obree told BBC Radio Scotland: "The timekeeper announced it was a new world record and that is a strange feeling. I've not heard that for 20 year, so I'm still absorbing it, that's nice and anything else is a bonus".

He had travelled head first and face down with his chin just 2cm (0.8in) from the front wheel and with his eyes peering out of a small peephole.

The Beastie was constructed by Mr Obree in his kitchen and a friend's workshop.

It is made of components including a stainless steel saucepan, acting as a shoulder support, and parts from old bikes and roller-skates.

The revolutionary aspects were invisible: the position of the human inside it, and the fact that Obree was not pedalling, but instead operating a couple of push-pull levers with his feet.

Obree set a new one-hour cycle distance world record 20 years ago on Old Faithful, the famous bike he built himself.

His life story has since been told in the film The Flying Scotsman.