Is it safe to drill cable routing holes into aluminum handlebars?
12-18-20, 06:21 AM
#26
Senior Member
Nevertheless, back when I rode bikes with a single, coaster brake, this method came in handy a couple times after a dropped chain.
12-18-20, 11:35 AM
#27
Senior Member
done it to drop bars. I kept the hole size within 1/32 of the cable housings used. Made them oblong holes, set on the left & then on the right that allowed for two cable housings each to pass thru. The holes face downward as much as possible.
If i could have bought bars with the holes already, I would have done so.
Going on 4 years in service.
If i could have bought bars with the holes already, I would have done so.
Going on 4 years in service.
I drilled holes in at least two handlebars. Am still alive. Lots of riders did this when aero cable routing was new. Have seen Rene Herse completely original bikes with drilled holes. Herse was a very conservative mechanic to say the least.
And I would never do it again. Not worth the chance. Will only say that every broken handlebar ever seen (this used to be much more common than it is now) broke right next to the stem. If your holes are any distance at all away from the stem you might be OK. I said might. The other good tactic would be to start with overstrength handlebars, such as Nitto. And if it breaks on you don’t blame me.
12-18-20, 11:48 AM
#28
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Or an aluminum fork crown with a machined plug press fit into the steerer, then a headset race slide over to hide everything. (First generation Lambert. As an engineering student, I often wondered ow they did the steerer/crown interface on mine but knew no one would ever do that!)
