Drilling aluminum frames
03-01-18, 09:26 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Drilling aluminum frames
Not sure if this question belongs in this forum and I know this sounds sketchy and maybe it is a bad idea. Would it be possible to drill the non drive side top tube of a cannondale or similar style frame to internally run the rear brake line or Di2 wiring? If anyone has had success doing this sort of thing can you provide some insight? If anyone has evidence that this very thing caused a frame collapse can you post links or pics?
03-01-18, 10:04 PM
#2
Randomhead
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I have seen people that had success with it, but it's not the best idea. The tubing on those bikes is very thin
03-02-18, 12:12 PM
#3
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03-02-18, 12:22 PM
#4
Banned
+1, large diameter, thin wall (you always ask what things weigh) .. be practical lay the wire down, tape over it.
Ride the bike ..
Ride the bike ..
03-15-18, 11:02 AM
#5
-
Not sure if this question belongs in this forum and I know this sounds sketchy and maybe it is a bad idea. Would it be possible to drill the non drive side top tube of a cannondale or similar style frame to internally run the rear brake line or Di2 wiring? If anyone has had success doing this sort of thing can you provide some insight? If anyone has evidence that this very thing caused a frame collapse can you post links or pics?
I added "internal cable routing" for a left-levered rear brake cable+housing to the top tube of a 1995 Cannondale M500 over a decade ago. I made the holes at 3:00 and 9:00 positions ~1" from the HT/TT and ST/TT junctions, respectively. At the time this was an old used frame with damage to one of the original 12:00 TT cable stops. I was aware of the issues/risk, and "internal cable routing" seemed like a good solution since I could not otherwise repair the cable stop. A couple hours with drill, file and sandpaper, new full-length run of cable+housing and I had myself a working rear brake. I put more than 5,000 miles on the bike afterwards, and the TT holes never showed any sign of cracking. Maybe I was just lucky.
This might get you hurt when a tube fails, or not. I am not encouraging the idea, simply sharing the experience.
03-18-18, 09:15 PM
#6
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I realize this info is two weeks late, but...
I added "internal cable routing" for a left-levered rear brake cable+housing to the top tube of a 1995 Cannondale M500 over a decade ago. I made the holes at 3:00 and 9:00 positions ~1" from the HT/TT and ST/TT junctions, respectively. At the time this was an old used frame with damage to one of the original 12:00 TT cable stops. I was aware of the issues/risk, and "internal cable routing" seemed like a good solution since I could not otherwise repair the cable stop. A couple hours with drill, file and sandpaper, new full-length run of cable+housing and I had myself a working rear brake. I put more than 5,000 miles on the bike afterwards, and the TT holes never showed any sign of cracking. Maybe I was just lucky.
This might get you hurt when a tube fails, or not. I am not encouraging the idea, simply sharing the experience.
I added "internal cable routing" for a left-levered rear brake cable+housing to the top tube of a 1995 Cannondale M500 over a decade ago. I made the holes at 3:00 and 9:00 positions ~1" from the HT/TT and ST/TT junctions, respectively. At the time this was an old used frame with damage to one of the original 12:00 TT cable stops. I was aware of the issues/risk, and "internal cable routing" seemed like a good solution since I could not otherwise repair the cable stop. A couple hours with drill, file and sandpaper, new full-length run of cable+housing and I had myself a working rear brake. I put more than 5,000 miles on the bike afterwards, and the TT holes never showed any sign of cracking. Maybe I was just lucky.
This might get you hurt when a tube fails, or not. I am not encouraging the idea, simply sharing the experience.
