That hole at the bottom bracket / bottom tube junction is such a no - no in my books - i've seen it in the Norco Search and also in the Merida Silex. All these are on aluminium bikes - must have come from the same factory......only a NOOB would be Ok with something like that - it does nothing for the bike - it lets in debris/mud/water and makes it less strong around the area where the most power/torque goes through.