Drilling into aluminum frames
 

I have an aluminum frame which has no holes drilled for water bottle holders. Do you think it's safe to drill a couple of holes and just screw in a bottle holder? Or are the holes reinforced when drilled at the factory?

Thanks,

I don't know the answer to this question, but there are a lot of other options besides drilling if it doesn't work out.

rivnut
 

More than one company uses rivnuts on their Al bikes.

You can make a DIY rivnut setter.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...ng_rivnuts.htm
Or buy one of these
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...vetnuttool.php

Depending on the Tube size, ZEFAL make a Waterbottle add-on clamp called a Gizmo that requires NO Drilling and it very secure. I would try that before anything else.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=3478&PID=1204522
For extra bottle cage anywhere on frame. France. Specify Tube Diameter Size: M(1-11 8"), L(11 8-11 4") or XL(11 4-13 8")

Chris

Yup. Any decent quality bike will have tubing wall thicknesses that are too thin to tap or to hold a sheet metal screw.

And even if it's not too thin it is aluminum.

All my bikes have re-inforced holes for cage holders. Steel, Alu and TI. Just drilling will not leave enough service to tap and or hold anything but a sheet metal screw and that is funky.

OK. Seems the answer is a unamimous NO. Thanks for the replies.