It's one thing to drill shifters or brake levers .. but the chainrings? The crank or chainrings, probably the one part of the bike where stiffness is most important. Glad you got the onions to drill it.

Surprisingly, drilling the rings never seemed to make the cranks too flexible (not so that the chain would rub on the front changer or that you would miss shifts). In the early 80's there was a lot of drilled Super Record stuff around. I had a factory Colnago Mexico race bike with drilled rings on a pantographed and 'optimized' Super Record crank, which was really cool.

So why did Shimano go with the bulky looking DA10 cranks?

I'm considering drilling the cranks on my Apollo 1 for a laugh.

Brian

Extra stiffness. The chainrings are the stiffest you can get. Very little flex when in a sprint shifting into big ring.

_________________
MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT! HUH!

My whole bike feel stiff (with no rattles), I can't tell the difference in the chainring stiffness.
Does it really make a difference?
Has Jazzer made a really good move in drilling his rings?

Brian

compared to this guy.....
well yes... this Italian dude (Gino) a mad designer/engineer
his usual bike is 6,2 kg of nothing but holes






the article in Swedish you find here:http://www.utsidan.se/ddb/cykel/artiklar/658.htm
this bike he built during a expedition in Tibet to windsurf a lake ??
and his bike at home just weighted 5.755 kg

Here is my 'heavy' bike. Is an '02 Scapin EOS3. Columbus Niva OR tubeset, Advanced Carbon fork, '03 Centaur 10-speed group w/Chorus 11-23 cassette, Phil Wood ti BB, Chris King headset, Ksyrium Elite wheels, American Classic skewers, Connex stainless chain, Arrowhead saddle, Scapin seatpost, Forte Pro Ti/MG SPD pedals and a few ti bits from SRP. Weighs in at 19.52 with the Specialized Pro tires (285, each). Wonderfully compliant ride. Just hoping my new lightweight Ti ride is as good.

_________________
Just because you are not paranoid doesn't mean we aren't out to get you.
Those who ignore histroy are doomed to repeat it.

Well, I havn't used them yet. Here in Finland you can't ride a roadbike in the winter, so basicly you have about 4-5 months time to drill.
I did it more for the looks than for weightsaving, but of course it was experimental in that aspect too. The saving was minimal, about 10g, but 10g here and another there..... you know...
I could have drilled more, but wanted to be on on the safe side, so the holes arn't that big. I don't think stiffness has decreased much.

This is my bike with my training wheels.
I hope to get my new pair of racing wheels soon and I'll have to buy some light bottle cages and maybe some Al and Ti bolts. Then, the weights will reach the 7500g mark, not light, but with the heavy 58cm frame, I think it's a good weight.

Hey Joel...

Are you with telekom now?
Where is your c'dale?

_________________
'Tape was made to wrap your GF's gifts, NOT hold a freakin tire on.'

Follow me on twitter. I try to be interesting
On Facebook!

I drilld out my big ring on my carbon TCR.......the rings feel exactly the same, not flexy at all.....shaved 11 grams! So my CAT cranks, both rings, chainring bolts weigh 406 grams!!! non lighter. Pic isn't that good, but gives an idea

Klein Quantum Pro, Campagnolo Record 2004, American Classic CR420, Wr Compositi RS, SLR, Oval Concepts R950, Pazzaz Carbon, TA 52/42, IRD chain, Egg beater, Nokon.
I'm waiting for a set of Zero Gravity brakes
THe bike could be a little bit lighter but it has to cope with my 105 kg (231 lbs)

I just bought the bike from the Telekom team. And this year the ride Giant dude

oops, that a pinarello, I think i was a bit impulsive!

_________________
'Tape was made to wrap your GF's gifts, NOT hold a freakin tire on.'

Follow me on twitter. I try to be interesting
On Facebook!

Gino's bike looks like he stored it outside a space station in a meteor shower. Even more amazing is that is still weighs 6.2kg. Them's some heavy holes.