Picked up an '83 FUJI Espree a few weeks ago and hadn't really had time to do much with it until today. It had one of those Cannondale velcro water bottle holders and bottles on it which I pulled off right away. Someone had installed it with sheetmetal screws and I just assumed they screwed them into the cage bosses, the bike was in the dark and I didn't even look at the frame. Hers's a before picture from the CL ad:



When I got it out today to hose it off and take a ride on it I discovered this:



It was probably done when the bike was fairly new. It wouldn't be so bad if they had at least drilled then on center so I could have used them as pilot holes for rivnuts. I'll fill these with black RTV and either drill new holes for rivnuts and position them so the cage will cover the holes or use old school cage clamps to cover the holes. Since it's already been violated I'm leaning toward rivnuts, I have the installation tool and rivnuts. Here's a shot after a quick hose off and wipe down. I probably paid too much but DANG does it ride nice. Yes, I need a new camera but I keep buying bicycles.

I bought an otherwise nice 70's Centurion (whatever the top model was called with a Superbe group) that had the same issue but on the seat-tube, way off center like yours. The paint was really nice so there was no way to do a proper brazed repair.

I ended up reaming the holes round to the next nominal size, tapping them for a fine thread screw. Epoxied in some stainless screws then very carefully cut them and filed them flush with the tube. This is very hard to due without messing up the paint, but if you use some duct tape around the tubes and work slow you can get pretty close. Then use some touch up paint, or a decal to cover the repair.

I was lucky as one hole was through the crest decal, so I was able to replace that decal. Then I added WC bands to cover the other one.

Then you can sell it to the next sucker (just kidding!)

It came with the Brooks?

I guess you win on that one.

Wow a Primitive Pete reference sure takes me back a long ways.

On the bright side, I doubt the frame has been compromised much other than for pride purposes because of the drilling.

Nah, this one's a keeper. I'm the 3rd owner and I'm pretty sure the guy I got it from never had the bottle mount off.

Not a Brooks but close, it's a Fujita Belt saddle, probably purchased as an upgrade when the bike was bought new. Still a definite plus though. It's splayed out a little and they let it dry out pretty badly but it still rides pretty well, I wiped it down with Proofide inside and out to extend it's life a little.

Yeah, I'm not worried about any loss of structural integrity, it just bums me out that they did this since the thing is in such good shape otherwise. The shop the bike came from has been gone for years but they had a pretty good reputation, ya' never know what goes on when the boss leaves for lunch though.

Just Googled rivnuts to see what you were talking about. Cool. Nice bike, by the way.

Use steel rivnuts. BTW, I haven't heard the term "Primitive Pete" since Aircraft school days.

Finally got the rivnuts installed, the holes were on opposite sides of the tube centerline and just far enough that I had to compromise to get the rivnut holes to takeout the existing holes so my cage sits a little off center. Once I decide on a permanent bottle cage I'll slot the holes in it so I can center it on the bike. No pics, if you've seen one rivnut you've seen them all.