Questionaire - Customization and Personalization

i have a sad story.
about 3 years ago i went to my local auction house on market day just to check it out.
lo and behold, there was a raleigh randonneur up for sale, worn but in very good condition.
this was their top of line tourer, £700+ back in the 80's, its the one with 2 spare spokes on the chainstay........... i could not believe my luck when i got it for £28...... hardly anyone else bid, they were all after crappy "mountain bikes ".
so i took my purchase home and had it in my workshop to check it over. it was worn, groves in the crank arms from shoe wear told me that it had done a lot, a lot of miles but it was in remarkably good service, loads of grease and nearly new bearings in the bb, headset smooth as butter, the only rust was under the cables where they had been rubbing. shimano 105 kit throughout, all in good service....... £28 ??????????
it turns out that the guy who had it died and his wife put it up for auction without really knowing its value, hence no reserve......i contacted her and explained the situation, offered her a reasonable amount, but she would not have it, especially if i was going to ride it, something to do with her hubbies memory, shit, i have not changed the bike since, just kept it as he did and replaced worn out stuff, i have done over 10000 miles on it, grooves in cranks are still there. its my favorite ride and i was going to rebuild it all and respray, until i found out its history.
its the first bike i have had that means anything to me.

This is one of the best posts I've ever read on this forum ever ever ever.

slowstephen I really think his wodow was right to say that, that you;re going to ride it and love it, and the mere fact that you offered her more money, means that its in the 'right' hands.

Bless you!

@Sammy

When you say 'custom' do you mean an off-the-peg frame and forks built with components selected by you, or do you mean frame actually built to your sepcification, tubes selected for your specific uses and geometry carefully designed around your needs?

Big difference.