Drilling a steel classic road frame like swiss cheese...still safe to ride?
08-22-17, 07:06 PM
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Drilling a steel classic road frame like swiss cheese...still safe to ride?
Hi All,
I have a potential project in the works...buying a classic steel road bike for cheap, and then drilling holes across the top, down, and seat tube. such that the frame now looks like swiss cheese. the welds would remain intact and untouched.
For a road bike only riding on bike trails and commuting, this should theoretically make it lighter. the downside it being more flexible and possibly shock absorbing!
What's your take on this everyone? Its seems like a cheap way to get a light steel frame road bike to me.
the holes would be big like in this musical flute
I have a potential project in the works...buying a classic steel road bike for cheap, and then drilling holes across the top, down, and seat tube. such that the frame now looks like swiss cheese. the welds would remain intact and untouched.
For a road bike only riding on bike trails and commuting, this should theoretically make it lighter. the downside it being more flexible and possibly shock absorbing!
What's your take on this everyone? Its seems like a cheap way to get a light steel frame road bike to me.
the holes would be big like in this musical flute
08-22-17, 07:25 PM
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the holes would be perhaps half or slightly greater than half of the tube diameter. and then there would be holes that go perpendicular to those. So up/down holes, then left/right holes like in this picture.
The strange thing is that the wind passing by might actually make the frame resonate and generate some type of tone, or steady chorus of tones!
The strange thing is that the wind passing by might actually make the frame resonate and generate some type of tone, or steady chorus of tones!
08-22-17, 07:48 PM
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I would think the wind passing through the holes would create drag, negating the decrease in weight.
08-22-17, 07:56 PM
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send us pics from the hospital if the frame fails
Remember pics or it didn't happen
Remember pics or it didn't happen
08-22-17, 08:07 PM
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I think the frame will fail and collapse, causing injury, within 10 miles. Do you really think that there is that much "extra" steel in the frame? Why don't you shed that weight from your body instead? Why are you so focused on weight as an impediment to speed, and why are you so focused on speed at all?
08-22-17, 08:31 PM
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What could possibly go wrong?
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
08-22-17, 08:57 PM
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This is best done with a very rare and highly coveted collectable frame.
08-22-17, 09:02 PM
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My experience - bad idea
08-22-17, 09:14 PM
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A smart person would sand the frame. Reduce weight without aero penalty.
Sure, you might ruin the structural strength and find you have invented a new type of folding bike but it would be worth it wouldn't it?
Seriously, the practise of drilling holes n bike parts is called drillium. And it is stupid to do it to a frame. Just plain stupid.
Drillium - drilling on racing bicycles
Sure, you might ruin the structural strength and find you have invented a new type of folding bike but it would be worth it wouldn't it?
Seriously, the practise of drilling holes n bike parts is called drillium. And it is stupid to do it to a frame. Just plain stupid.
Drillium - drilling on racing bicycles
08-22-17, 09:39 PM
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Even small holes such as for water bottle bosses get reinforced, so what does that tell you about the safety of adding holes. Please don't do it. Your family will thank you.
08-22-17, 09:41 PM
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Hi All,
I have a potential project in the works...buying a classic steel road bike for cheap, and then drilling holes across the top, down, and seat tube. such that the frame now looks like swiss cheese. the welds would remain intact and untouched.
For a road bike only riding on bike trails and commuting, this should theoretically make it lighter. the downside it being more flexible and possibly shock absorbing!
What's your take on this everyone? Its seems like a cheap way to get a light steel frame road bike to me.
the holes would be big like in this musical flute
I have a potential project in the works...buying a classic steel road bike for cheap, and then drilling holes across the top, down, and seat tube. such that the frame now looks like swiss cheese. the welds would remain intact and untouched.
For a road bike only riding on bike trails and commuting, this should theoretically make it lighter. the downside it being more flexible and possibly shock absorbing!
What's your take on this everyone? Its seems like a cheap way to get a light steel frame road bike to me.
the holes would be big like in this musical flute
08-22-17, 09:42 PM
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If you don't see it being done, there is probably a good reason why not.
08-22-17, 09:53 PM
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I would start with heavy parts where drilling would reduce a lot of weight and not compromise structural integrity - things like crank arms.
Pop a few holes out of the front of the head tube. Lots of track bikes have decorative holes at the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. Why not?
There is a guy who got a Catrike from 36 lb to 22 lb with drillium.
An 18v Makita with a hole saw isn't going to cut it though. <--notice that pun?
-Tim-
Pop a few holes out of the front of the head tube. Lots of track bikes have decorative holes at the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. Why not?
There is a guy who got a Catrike from 36 lb to 22 lb with drillium.
An 18v Makita with a hole saw isn't going to cut it though. <--notice that pun?
-Tim-
08-22-17, 10:32 PM
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Curious, other factors aside, how do you intend to drill the holes themselves? I suppose you want a good looking job, all the holes equidistant apart, inline, finishing the inside of each hole, etc.
08-23-17, 05:03 AM
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I wouldn't think you are reducing the weight enough to amount to anything. Those holes would let water in cause rusting. I think the holes would be good stress points for cracks to develop.
08-23-17, 05:31 AM
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Stop and apply to an accredited engineering school. Obtain a mechanical engineering degree, emphasizing material science. Do the drilling problem as a senior research thesis, with design analysis and scale model experimentation. Publish.
Then attempt it in real life, using volunteer participants as riders. Have them sign liability release forms...
Then attempt it in real life, using volunteer participants as riders. Have them sign liability release forms...
08-23-17, 05:44 AM
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Race care builders did that for years ... and quite a few drivers survived.
I'd say anyone with sufficient background in engineering to calculate the tiny quantity of weight that would be removed versus the enormous loss in rigidity when the uniform surface of the tube was compromised, would have no problem deciding when, where, and how much to drill.
If you lack such .... then turn on the video camera, head downhill, and say hello to Mr. Darwin when you see him.
Seriously ... the idea is to remove material from places where it adds no structural strength. If you do not understand why a drilled tube is tremendously weaker ... then turn on the video camera .....
I'd say anyone with sufficient background in engineering to calculate the tiny quantity of weight that would be removed versus the enormous loss in rigidity when the uniform surface of the tube was compromised, would have no problem deciding when, where, and how much to drill.
If you lack such .... then turn on the video camera, head downhill, and say hello to Mr. Darwin when you see him.
Seriously ... the idea is to remove material from places where it adds no structural strength. If you do not understand why a drilled tube is tremendously weaker ... then turn on the video camera .....
08-23-17, 05:44 AM
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You guys have no sense of adventure.
-Tim-
-Tim-
08-23-17, 05:51 AM
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08-23-17, 07:01 AM
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I remember a decade or so back an entire NASCAR team went out with rear axle issues in one of the lower series. Seems someone on the team decided to save weight by drilling out U-bolts holding the axle to the car
