As a matter of fact, I was thinking that when the time comes to replace the SKS P35s with something a little wider to accomodate 32mm tires, I would use SKS P45 Longboards in cream - and if the color doesn't quite match, I can paint the fenders to match the head tube and seat tube panel.

Several More Rare Bikes
 

1974-75 Alpine. Alpine Cycles was the house brand of frames sold by Georgetown Cycle Sports (GCS) located in the Washington D.C. area. They had frames made by several dozen European builders plus a few from the US including Albert Eisentraut. This frame was probably built by Tom Board in the UK.

Next is a 1987 Colnago MTB with a Shimano Deore gruppo. It road like a tank and handled like a criterium bike. Ernesto didn't have a clue about MTBs.

Another 'Nago - 1st generation 1988 Technos with a Shimano Deore gruppo (my Campy free era). Super light Columbus Gilco tubing. It climbs like a mt. goat.

Early 90's Gitane Team bike. I got the frame from the UK and built it up with mid range Shimano components. The frame is Columbus Oversize ELOS tubing. It had been raced in France by a sponsored semi-pro team.

1988 Peugeot Chorus. Reynolds 753 tubing and Campagnolo 1st generation Chorus components.

Last - a real one-off. I built this frame in 1992 for off road trekking. Lugged heavy gage Reynolds 531, 700c wheels NOT FRIGGIN' 29ers! Rides and handles perfect on and off road. Had a bad neck at the time and got Salsa to build me an ultra short high rise stem. Eventually switched the TA cranks to a Deore triple after I ovalized several 26T chainrings.

Very nice!

There's one living at our co-op but it's been built into a tall bike. This is my only shot of it.
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Here's another find from the same co-op, a Swiss-made Condor. Regular production machine, no doubt, but I've never seen one until I found this one. Sturmey 3-speed on 700C wheels. Nice little bike that I'll get going some day.
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Something a little different that began as a Chiorda mixte road bike in white. I built it into a mountain bike in '83 for my then-girlfriend (shortly-after-and-ever-since-wife). CroMo cruiser fork, drum brakes, Peugeot-branded Stronglight 99 triple, etc. Additional brazing and paint by Marinoni with lettering by a Burlington VT sign guy.

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Another Alpine, this one by Eisentraut:

Original owner bought the frame from Georgetown Cycle for his wife, while working in D.C. Then brought it home to Olympia, WA, & had Bill Stevenson build it up. Husband later sold it to me in almost unridden condition.

Rare for sure, but it was very small, 48cm or less. Was going to give it to 1 of my grand daughters, but a growth spurt changed plans. 1st pic was as bought and last was right before I traded it for my Specialized Expedition Touring bike. Don

Why is this thread 24 pages long? I have a few bikes that have been built uniquely, but one that nobody else has? I've got nothing.

technically all of my bikes no one else has, because i have them. If i give them to someone else then someone else will have them.

I have what Andy Gilmour himself told me is a 1984, 85 Team Frame, so seeing that he was a small builder, there were not very many of these made. He was supplied 10 sets of Tange Prestige tubeset`s as they were his team sponsor. Cat 1`s got those. Others were made from Tange 1 or 2 or a mix of Columbus Sl and Reynolds 531. He was not sure what this one is made from but at 19.6 lbs it is pretty light. Cinelli BB shell and fork.

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Took my new to me Bill Vetter on its maiden voyage today.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2duw86f.jpg

@Steve Whitlatch -- I'm still lovin' that Tucson steel! And yeah, pretty sure it's more qualified for this thread than many. :)

The thread originally began as a joke...although I've long forgotten what it reacted to. It was a play on how people used the terms custom, unique and hand made...

You know, there's something to that. I didn't look at all 24 pages. There are a bunch of bikes here I've never seen before. Some of them are even interesting. I wanted to play, but I look at my collection and, like you, I've got nothing.

Most of my bikes are built in ways that nobody else would build them. My Grand Record has a bunch of braze-ons that other Grand Records don't have, but Grand Records are all over the place. My 1973ish DeRosa is fairly uncommon, but they pop up from time to time.

Probably my rarest bike (yeah, I'm going to post a picture since I'm here) is my 1984 Pinarello Gran Turismo.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4193/...d2192f76_b.jpg

Sure, it looks like just another mid-80's Pinarello...but it's got fenders! :p More to the point, it has eyelets for the fenders that are original to the bike.

But can I really say no one else has one of these? No. Here are two more:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ring-bike.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...andonneur.html

The next project bike that I do a full paint on will be badged as a Harry Potter, or a Dumbledore, or such. I need it to fill a different niche than my Grateful Dead marshmallowmobile.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4513/2...c4465089_b.jpg

Starting to think this one over. :innocent:

I like!

I will have to move most of the herd to get to the 72 P-15 (Full Campy) and the 85 50th anniversary Paramounts to take photo's and while I am that deep in the corral I can shoot a shot of the original Klein "Medusa" Is that unique enough to bother with?

Fewer words. More pictures, please.

I am with you. I love what I have seen in this thread but my most unique bike is a 93 Paramount Series 50 mountain bike that I have owned since new. I love that bike and if I had to choose one color for all my bikes, it would be that red, but it is not unique.

Right, but like I said it's a lot of work to get back to them
 

I hav'nt touched the back 2 rows in 10 years but I will try to make it this winter

Not completely rare, but maybe not more than a few examples in the US.

1948 Peugeot PH-60

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4333/3...8d18539d_b.jpg

Another bike with fender eyelets
 

@Andy_K here's another unexpected bike with fender eyelets. My 1984 Holdsworth with a Reynolds 753 frame. All Campy Super Record except for the Victory cranks (38t small chainring). It has Campy 1010B dropouts with eyelets. They are forged in not brazed on. Never saw them in any literature???

Airborne Single Speed
 

This is my 1993 Airborne 'Ti-Hag' Single Speed. Bought it from my stepson who had it set up as a single speed mountain bike. I like the frame and so have converted it to a ridable street bike. Replaced the Bottom Bracket Cassette, Cranks, Saddle (NOS Brookes B17), Front Forks (From Fox Suspension to Surly Rigid), Tyres from MTB to Road friendly.
It is a great ride. The Wheel Hubs are Hope with Mavic SXS 819 rims, really nice. I bought the Brooks Saddle in the local bike shop, owner said it had been in the display cabinet when he bought the shop, it is so comfortable straight off, I expected to have to wear it in.

They were made in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England by Dan Albone, who also invented the first Tractor, one tractor still exists and is seen running occasionally.

1955 Freddie Grubb Massed Start Meteor
 

There are not many Freddie Grubbs around and I have not seen or heard of another Meteor, maybe rotting in a shed somewhere. They said it was 60's or 70's but it was 1955 by its serial number and features.https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b95473a804.png

Original Auction Details, only the frame was salvageable.



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be4233f66f.png
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c6f043fa15.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...56b781c081.jpg
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https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...513e663671.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8691ebab8.jpg

Here is my 86' Nishiki Altron , it's a one off custom ie: Franken bike . No one else has one like it and no one else want's it . I tried to sell it here and on CL , not one call . I have decided to keep it , actually that worked out pretty well because I have new interest it . I just scored a Fizik Tri seat for it and will be adding a rear disc . Not that I'm going to do a Tri !


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/...c60158edb5.jpg
IMG_0001 by mark westi, on Flickr