RE: [CR]Drillium / Frank Spivey

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

From: "David Bilenkey" <dbilenkey@sympatico.ca>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]Drillium / Frank Spivey
In-reply-to: <3DECDBFC.10276D99@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2002 21:54:52 -0500

So having read the articles, looked at the photos and pondered the idea, I'm considering turning my '73 Bevilacqua project bike into a showcase for drilled/profiled and lightened parts. I have a few light parts kicking around (Alloy Maillard Course FW, Ti BB parts, and other bits) and some parts that are right for the '73 bike that are no longer cosmetically perfect and might actually benefit from some creative drilling and filing! :-)

Now my question to the group concerns things like longevity/durability, flexing, breakage. I'm pretty light (145 lbs, 5'10") and I'd say I've been pretty easy on components so far, so I'm fairly certain that I could have some fun with a drill and file without too much concern, but does anyone have any insights they'd like to share about parts like those shown below from personal experience? Things that whistled madly in the breeze, or other problems? Those Mafac levers look awesome (and I have lots of old ones in the shop) has anyone used anything so radically drilled? How'd they feel? Did they bend? Did they crack?

Given that there are 20+ bikes in my collection at the moment it's doubtful that this project if/when completed would get tonnes of miles logged on it, so I'm thinking that lifespan will likely not be much of an issue....

Anything that you wouldn't drill? Any other thoughts?

David Bilenkey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of Chuck Schmidt
> Sent: December 3, 2002 11:30 AM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Drillium / Frank Spivey
>
>
> Here's a bunch of photos of Frank Spivey's parts as mentioned in the As
> Light As Air article in Bicycle Guide that featured his work and Peter
> Johnson's comments
>
> Frank Spivey:
> http://www.velo-retro.com/spivey1.html
> http://www.velo-retro.com/spivey2.html
>
> Peter Johnson bike:
> http://www.velo-retro.com/peterjohnson.html
>
> As Light As Air by John Derven:
> http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/MagazineArticles/AsLightAsAir_1.jpg
> http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/MagazineArticles/AsLightAsAir_2.jpg
> http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/MagazineArticles/AsLightAsAir_3.jpg
> http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/MagazineArticles/AsLightAsAir_4.jpg
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> SoPas, SoCal