Is a Gates belt drive worth it?
The claimed advantages of the Gates Belt Drive compared to a traditional chain drive are lower maintenance and less mess (no lube is required), quieter and smoother (no metal to metal contact), lighter weight, and better durability. Gates also claims that the system provides twice the lifespan of a chain-driven system.
Is belt drive bike good?
Final Thoughts. Belt drives are superior to chain drives in many aspects. They are easier to clean and maintain, last longer, and are quieter and smoother as well. However, they are also more expensive, which raises the overall price of the bikes who have them integrated.
How long does a Gates Carbon Drive belt last?
You can expect a regularly cleaned belt drivetrain to last upwards of 30,000km/19,000mi. Additionally, belts will not rust if they get wet regularly (or are subject to salt near the beach).
Are belt drive bikes slower?
What is this? Belts are less efficient at low power inputs- If you’re just cycling casually, you’ll burn more energy while riding a belt drive bike vs a chain drive. Belt drives may cause the bottom bracket and rear hub to wear out faster- This happens because belts run at a much higher tension than chains.
How long do belt drive bikes last?
Belt drives can last 10,000-20,000 miles before they need to be replaced. One way to extend the life of your chain drivetrain is to swap chains every 500 miles or so. Some riders have 4 chains that they rotate between. The idea behind this is that your cassette will wear more evenly and last longer.
Can I convert my bike to belt drive?
Generally no, for the simple reason that unlike chains belts are continuous and can’t be split, so belt drive bikes need a split chain or seat stay, or a removable dropout.
What are the advantages of using a belt drive over a chain drive?
Unlike chain drive, which requires very frequent cleaning, tightening and maintenance, belt drives are relative maintenance free. They run clean as they don’t have to be lubricated with sticky lubes and don’t require cleaning either.
Which is better gates or Rohloff belt drive?
Gates Carbon belt drive is cleaner than a chain and more reliable, custom pulley system routes the belt over the rear swing arm for easier wheel maintenance and replacement (no frame cuts here). Electronically shifted Rohloff geared hub is durable and provides a huge 265-degree gearing ratio with 14-gears for use on any sort of terrain
What makes a Rohloff hub so resilient?
Rohloff gears are hidden away, protected by the safe confines of a sealed aluminium hub shell. That makes a Rohloff hub extremely resilient against mud, grit, dust, snow and sand, and as a result, quite hard wearing. 2. Rohloff drivetrains have less parts susceptible to external damage.
What kind of crankset do I need for Rohloff belt?
You’ll need to look up the chain line of the crankset you’re planning to use with your belt drivetrain. A triple 104BCD crankset has a 55mm chain line (when the chainring is mounted on the outside location), making them popular for Rohloff belted setups.
How is gear shifting done with a Rohloff hub?
Gear shifting is completed via an easy-to-use twist shifter. As the chain does not have to move between sprockets, shifting works out to be quicker and more consistent than a regular drivetrain. Rohloff hubs are perhaps a bit more common than you think.