Yes, thanks for introducing me to Jim Merz. I can certainly understand your fandom. Of course, I knew about the Specialized Allez when it appeared on the scene, and understood Merz's contributions via Specialized. I just didn't have a name to associate with all that, nor know about his solo exploits. So your links and comments have led me to all these other "random connections". And of course the SF Bay Area had tons of bicycle connections in those days. I was a regular at Wheelsmith and have the frame I have now. Like you say, the connections are, indeed fascinating!

This is a thread about rarity, and yet there are so many connections to things both famous (Specialized) and not-so-famous (Enochs, Merz, Jevelot . . . ).

Jimmi Hendrix died in Sept 1970. He drowned on his own vomit. Purple Haze is a reference to the illusion when you digest rat poison (strychnine) and your visual perception becomes pixiated by a hue very much like the highlights of your bike.

Rare
 

Yep, just follow the wild hare or the yellow brick road. Merz was a friend/customer of Sinyard well before Big S who slept on Jim's couch when he came to PDX. Later also before it took off Jim tested touring tires that there were no good ones of at the time, they were drop shipped to him on the road as he toured. When they finally hit the target with them is when Big S took a quantum leap toward the juggernaut we have now. ;)

I think my Brian Rourke would qualify, at least for the U.S.

Could be, lets see it! :)

OK. I'll try to post a link. My Photobucket account was frozen. :notamused:

Sounds good. :thumb:

My Motorola Team bike, my wife's Cinelli 'The Next Machine' and my daughter's Falcon Victory of Reynolds 531p (professional) steel. My daughter also has a Raleigh Team Professional in the pearl paint scheme which is rare.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e439a1b9ea.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...210bdff1f5.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b14a6e2348.jpg

The one i would say is rare that i have (the IM guys already know which one im talking about) is a 1988 Ironman Master Pro (probably Mike Pigg's) its a Zunow built frame with Centurion Color scheme and decals. Given each rider got two a year and there was 2 riders i know of Dave Scott and Mike Pigg, but Dave was riding Carbon at the time. my guess is there is only two (?)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...907cd99520.jpg

as acquired in October

^^^^^ "Rare" here meaning "the opposite of well done"....
Def. "Wacky world" thread material. Cryptic text that looks like the dude pays by the word. Only one photo with space-bending fisheye effect, non-drive side (though in this bike's case, it hardly matters....). Two different prices. Almost a grand slam.

I have never seen that shade of yellow before. Is it rare?

Now that is pretty. How many did they build?

And that paint is giving me ideas for another project.

Hey!,...... I think that's a super duper rare 1981 "Col de Cudahy Superleggeri Speciale", Lovingly Hand brazed together by famous builder, Emmet Smaltz in his shack, under the shadows of the old Schlitz Brewery, north of Milwaukee.....

^^^^^ With Lenny on the paint gun and Squiggy on final build.....

The rarest in my small collection is this prewar (1937) Hobbs of Barbican
The paint is original, very unusual and unique.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/...bcb2cac8_c.jpg
Hobbs ready for Cino by NBend, on Flickr

More pics and info bitte.

Pretty bike, of course.

All of NB's bikes are top shelf.

Eye candy.

^^^^^ I just love the name. Wouldn't it be cool to burst through the front door of the Prancing Pony Inn at Bree of a busy night and proclaim "I am Hobbs of Barbican!"

"You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr. 'Hobbs'!"