[CR]digging drillium (in moderation though) --was about the solidflange p reviously

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: <"tom.ward@juno.com">
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 01:37:30 GMT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]digging drillium (in moderation though) --was about the solidflange p reviously

Picking up on a throwaway comment here. Peter Kohler (whom I enjoy--and I can tell when he's being intentionally controversial) wrote:

"...wonderful foil to that silly (and mercifully shortlived) fad of drilling little holes in every single component in the early 1980s."

You be the bad cop, I'll be the good cop, ha ha! Now really, Peter, I know just where you're coming from on this--and I wouldn't dream of creating new "drillium" out of old parts--But: it started long before the early '80s, and I think it's kind-of enjoyable when you find it already existing, when done tidily and not too profusely. It's amusing, at least quasi-functional, and there's precedent. I fully realize your operative word was "every" in the sentence above, so I suspect you're with me in this...as I wander on.

There's documentation of the occasional home-drilled levers and whatnot at least back to the late '60s, and while I think of it as more typically a racing thing, "ah has" to rock back on muh heels and angle a thumb back toward some '70s factory drillium that has a touristic bent--I've got a Stronglight 105 triple with factory drilled rings over there on that wall back there (sadly, still hanging on a peg). I think that goes back early enough in the seventies to be almost an extension of the sixties--at least that's how I justify it in my mind--where, aesthetically speaking, it is usually somewhere around 1965, plus or minus a few years (see postscript). Okay, okay '75 or '76 for the 105, I believe, but you know what I mean.

What I'll grant you though is that un-perforated hubs (like the Hardens in question) look both fab and gear--and further that there's a fine line between "drillium" that looks pleasingly avant garde, maybe even a touch "badass", and then on the other hand the examples that look blazingly absurd. The fad you speak of was slow to build, but peaked and rapidly fizzled at the point you mention. There was mercy in that--but then again, what came after was truly merciless! Apres, le deluge, for sure.

Just having fun adding on to and splitting off from your comments, Peter. I class drilled stuff more or less with gold (etc.) anodizing--that is: seldom, certainly--but not never! I was surprised to find how far back colorful anodizing seems to go, as I associated that with the '80s as you do the drillium....

Tom Ward New York, New York

P.S. You (whoever you may be) who trouced me regarding the '55 Hetchins Vade Mecum at auction last night--that one of my size, color, and degree of plain-ness, relatively speaking--I'll take it when you're through with it :-) someday. I plan to be living and riding at least another four decades! ;-) Not sure if the winner is on list, actually. Just having additional fun. You beat me fair and square--and saved me from myself. Thanks for the opportunity, Pete Paine!