The Great Benefits of a Belt-Drive Bicycle
Some of the world's leading bike companies have recently started to incorporate belt drive models into their ranges - usually into the premium model. This represents a huge step away from the use of the traditional chain.
The bicycle chain has been around in all probability since the invention of the bicycle itself,
and a very smart invention it is too. Linked metal sections are strong, flexible in one direction, but resistant to distortion in the other, sideways direction.And it goes without saying, the great advantage of a chain drive is that it can use derailleur gears. The development of derailleurs over the years has been just amazing. With numbers of gears going from 5 up to 30, derailleurs have been found on bikes of all kinds - from mountain bikes to Tour de France racers. So why alter a successful formula?In reality there are features of a chain drive that result in problems for the rider:-
- A chain needs to be lubricated, so you run the risk of getting oil and dirt on clothing.
- If not kept lubricated, the chain will corrode and get noisy.
The belt drive gets over these disadvantages.It replaces the chain with a toothed belt made of a high-strength, low friction material - often polyurethane reinforced with carbon fibre.However, other components have to be redesigned to suit - both rear sprocket and front chainwheel have to be made to match the belt. Furthermore the frame has to be adapted, as the belt is continuous and has to be fitted over the chainstay, which has to be made with a break, or by the use of a removable dropout.In spite of this, the advantages are clear to see:-
- Totally clean running, as the belt does not need lubrication at all.
- Silent operation
- The belt will have a life 2 or 3 times that of a normal chain.
The other main point is that derailleur gears cannot be fitted, so belt drives will thus be restricted to single speed or internal gear hub bikes. Not truly a setback, as the technology behind internal gears is improving all the time and they are now obtainable with up to 11 gears.As an illustration, the SUB 10 from Scott uses a Gates Carbon Drive to significant advantage, coupling it with an 8-speed Alfine drive to give a pretty much maintenance-free city bike that will get you to the office swiftly and cleanly.It may be that the belt drive is the convenient practical solution to one of the main problem areas of the commuter bike.
