Scottish record-breaking cyclist Graeme Obree will close TechFest 2018 with a motivational talk about his legendary career, including how he broke a world record using a bike he built himself.
Graeme made the journey from club cyclist to an international star in 1993 when he smashed the UCI world hour record using a bike named ‘Old Faithful’, which he made from washing machine parts.
Known as ‘The Flying Scotsman’, Obree went on to break the world hour record again in 1994 and was the individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1995. He then set a new world record for cycling in prone position in 2013, using a bike made in the kitchen of his Ayrshire flat.
His autobiography The Flying Scotsman inspired a movie of the same name and his training manual The Obree Way has been praised by Sir Chris Hoy. The film Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree's Story follows his journey to Battle Mountain, Nevada to compete in the 2013 World Human Powered Speed Championships.
In Graeme Obree the ‘Flying Scotsman’ at Arts Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen on Saturday, September 22, Graeme will share stories from his incredible journey and provide advice on how people can work to achieve their goals.
Graeme said: “I’m thrilled to be part of TechFest this year and I’m looking forward to sharing my career highs and lows with the audience as well as discussing the best way to make improvements in your own life.
“I became a world champion even though the odds were stacked against me, so I hope I can demonstrate that with the right mindset and processes, people can apply themselves to make their dreams a reality.”
TechFest 2018, the North-east’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), runs until September 22.
As well as delving into wildlife, history, technology and music, TechFest 2018 also pays tribute to its milestone year with a range of events exploring the history and uses of silver.
Speakers from the festival have also been presenting at schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire this week to inspire budding scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians as part of TechFest’s Secondary Outreach Week
Sarah Chew, managing director of TechFest said: “Graeme is an inspirational athlete who is known around the world not only for his sporting achievements, but for his excellence in engineering so we’re very proud to have him join us at this year’s festival.
“It’s the perfect closing event to the festival which has explored the importance of STEM skills and the varied roles and sectors that rely on these invaluable subjects and I’m sure it’s one that people of all ages will be interested in.
“None of this would be possible without the help we receive from our sponsors and supporters, in particular our joint principal funders Shell and BP, whose continued backing allows us to engage people of all ages in the fantastic opportunities that STEM can offer.”
To view the entire TechFest public programme, sponsored by Equinor, please visit www.techfest.org.uk