Originally Posted by
dervish
how big of a scratch are we talkin here....
I don't know, because I'm not the one who said that a "scratch" could make bars fail. As far as I'm concerned a scratch is just that and there really aren't too many varying degrees of such. Until of course its deep, but then thats a gouge which I think is something totally different and depending on the severity of said gouge, could at some cause the bars to fail.
RE: the drill bars on the hour record bike..
It looks like they're only drilled where you would put your hands, which is bar far, not the highest stress area of the bar ie. either side of the stem..
just my .02
edit: I didn't click the link below the pic, but there is still a sleeve over the center of the bars... but still making my point somewhat less valid. my b