MattoftheRocks

In that documentary he talked with great pride about his curved headtubes that he’d made for Colnago, but I can’t visualise it nor find examples on Google on either Messoris or Colnagos.

Anybody know where I’d find pics of these?

bulgie 

Nobody does holes in frame tubes like this guy:



Masi? Don't make me laugh!

iab

What's funny?

dddd

I'm recalling Masi and the term "fenestrated" applied to chainstays with such lined openings, this from decades-old discussions on the CR List.

Definitely a higher-effort build.

chain_whipped

Subjective about the looks and or purpose, but I'm more impressed how the small shop was able to take treated super thin pipe and then oblong punched with flange.

Perhaps had access to a factory that could punch flange copper tubing as used in refrigeration or air conditioner manufacturing.

To make the mandrel die mould, rig up the pneumatic or hyd or servo press and all that for a few bikes?

chain_whipped

Oops and I hadn't clicked the link in the OP.
Answer how the oblong holes appear punched flanges. He welded 8mm steel wire around the openings to stiffen.
This bike was commissioned by Colnago for display at the Milan fair.

quote from link:
Uno delle bici più originali Messori fu sicuramente il modello “Forata” che, su commissione di Ernesto, venne creata come “scultura” per attirare il pubblico negli stand Colnago alla fiera di Milano. Il problema fu che il telaio, così originale e affascinante “rubava” tutta l’attenzione a scapito dei modelli Colnago, ironia della sorte, a Messori fu quindi chiesto di rimuoverla per eccesso di ammirazione. La tenuta dei tubi nonostante i fori così ampi, fu possibile grazie al particolare filo di acciaio da 8mm saldato intorno alle aperture per irrigidire l’area.

Chuck M 

I didn't even see the link in the OP.

Atlas Shrugged

It’s really not that complicated. Labour intensive yes, experience with a torch for sure. I would do it with a milling machine and some metal working tools. The more skilled the individual the less time cleaning up and finishing.

steelbikeguy

That's some cool stuff!
It's worth poking around on the site. I quickly found the page for Fantini, with more curious frame perforations.
They seem to be done well, though.... (a quick screenshot)




I do like the mention of Roland Della Santa's "Ossobuco" frame with the perforated chainstays. I saw one at the 2015 NAHBS in Louisville, KY.
I was impressed by the metalwork of course, but also by the painting. How do you paint the inside of those tubes so nicely?? ... especially the small tubes...
Powdercoat?



Steve in Peoria

madpogue 

Insides of the main tubes open to the elements? What could possibly go wrong?

PlymouthJLA

Saw this at a manufacturing trade show back in 2018, which seems to fit this thread well enough. I think they were pushing lightweighting a bit far.

P!N20

They made up for it with that fork.

79pmooney

All this is about tubes that are "stationary" where weight matters not so much. But many bikes have rotating tubes. Lightening them you have much more effect on the acceleration of the bike and to its feel. And providing those holes would let that air at roughly 5 times the density of what we breath escape.

79pmooney

I'll bet that fork, stem and bars combo makes a good Columbus setup feel like lead. I've held a Ti Cycles truss fork and cockpit in my hands. Weighed nothing.