tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post3251885527782086826..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Belt Driving ImpressionsVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-14628015864676895392013-08-13T21:12:46.344-04:002013-08-13T21:12:46.344-04:00Doug, when you're on that long ride and the be...Doug, when you're on that long ride and the belt breaks (as it has for me) all you can do is walk! For all the bad things that a chain might be, the fact that you can fix it on the side of the road out shines any of the good points that a belts might seem to have. I'd rather finish a ride with greasy hands and my butt in the saddle than walking my bike along the side of the road waiting for a ride. I have since converted my touring tandem to a chain drive. I'll never go back.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46025448051746938972013-06-22T13:59:07.829-04:002013-06-22T13:59:07.829-04:00Yeah, cool and all that and the belts last 4 to 5 ...Yeah, cool and all that and the belts last 4 to 5 times that of a chain. 80 km’s on a new tandem and we broken a belt!!! Can’t do much with a broken belt on the side of a road but walk. The following weekend, we broke a chain on the other tandem, fixed in 10 minutes and were riding again. The new tandem was over a week before we could get a belt. So, a belt might be like a leash but at least it won’t let you down if it breaks! Ultimately, you have to decide if those 118 grams of weight savings are worth anything when the belt is broken on the side of the road in the middle of a long ride!!! By the way, I an converting the new tandem to chain drive! Sure a carbon belt might weigh less, but I was told not to kink it or it might compromise its strength and longevity, maybe they should have made it out of kevlar, it is much more durable and flexible and certainly less likely to break, but then again, you can't fix it - EVER! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-69561139376882150352013-02-06T04:14:51.727-05:002013-02-06T04:14:51.727-05:00Hola Stranger,
English Cycles out of Eugene did j...Hola Stranger,<br /><br />English Cycles out of Eugene did just that: http://www.englishcycles.com/custombikes/project-right/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27455664915342462222012-12-16T05:30:34.847-05:002012-12-16T05:30:34.847-05:00I really think the belt drive thing is more of a n...I really think the belt drive thing is more of a novelty than anything. They are just trying to reinvent the wheel (chain). I have to admit I'd like to try one, but they gotta bring the price down if they want it to catch on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-53007829927723286312012-12-07T02:32:37.789-05:002012-12-07T02:32:37.789-05:00I was wondering if they could build a wheel where ...I was wondering if they could build a wheel where the rear drive gear sits outside rather than inside the frame. As long as its just a single wheel/gear rather than a cluster..why not?john bailohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01856116708814148994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70441830955160857882012-04-19T02:59:24.988-04:002012-04-19T02:59:24.988-04:00Greetings, those look like cafe-style racer handle...Greetings, those look like cafe-style racer handlebars. Would you mind sharing any/all details of that particular handlebar? I would like to find one in a different finish. Thanks for your time and effort! <br /><br />W.Wissamhttp://infinitecomplete.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82146633530373103722012-03-18T04:55:51.891-04:002012-03-18T04:55:51.891-04:00Thanks for the feedback - very interesting.
Rega...Thanks for the feedback - very interesting. <br /><br />Regarding the chain case vs the Gates belt - how does the belt drive compare in terms getting trouser / jean's pants legs caught in them? I understand that you shouldn't get grease stains on your pants anymore but are your trousers still prone to getting "eaten" by the belt drive the way a hungry, unprotected chain will do?<br /><br />Thanks for any advice.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11017979115411192042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58773327410127660402012-01-08T16:05:25.066-05:002012-01-08T16:05:25.066-05:00I am riding one Fixie inc for several month now al...I am riding one Fixie inc for several month now all in fixed gear only.Now to the issues;swooshing sound comes from lousy front sprocket that has 1.5 or 2.0mm runoff so you have fiddle with the wheel position,tension adjustment is not a big issue don't need a $60.00 tool for that, otherwise it is much better than I expected,now that I read all these comments maybe I shouldn't brake by back pedaling however if Harley's 1200cc and 200lb of torque doesn't bust the belt I am sure not be able to stretch it despite some totally moronic comments about stretch and longevity of the Gates belt ,it needs some more work since it is only 3 or 4 years in use and rushed to the market good old American way ; test it on the paying customer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32586623589097466052011-11-18T19:09:49.869-05:002011-11-18T19:09:49.869-05:00I've been intrigued for a while with Gates'...I've been intrigued for a while with Gates' belt drive and this is where this blog shines. It attracts a lot of different people who have, one way or another, actually experienced the thing. So much better than a forum in that regard. <br />Love it... and the blog off course. ;)JaccoWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-92152491000503667542011-11-17T17:12:20.049-05:002011-11-17T17:12:20.049-05:00This is not really on topic to this or any other p...This is not really on topic to this or any other particular article, but I've just begun to read your blog recently, and although I think the blog is wonderful, this one thing has been driving me crazy. Why do you put brand names in italics? That's not correct according to any standard stylistic rules of English, and I wouldn't really care, but when I'm reading, it always makes me think there's some kind of strange emphatic tone being assigned to that particular word, so it's distracting. Just curious whether you do this for a particular reason or whether someone incorrectly told you it was a writing norm. Love the blog! =)Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22145383263517663432011-11-17T07:50:23.535-05:002011-11-17T07:50:23.535-05:00@cyclotourist
There are many options for retrofit...@cyclotourist<br /><br />There are many options for retrofittng. S&S makes couplers for many sizes of tubes including 3/4", the size of many seatstays. I used a Paragon Machine Works Tube Splitter. Paragon also make dropouts that split. I had my favorite framebuilder do the work. It cost less than the average American spends in gasoline for a month of driving. <br /><br />Having said all that, it isn't even necessary because there are as many as 60 models of belt drive bikes on the market today. And more becoming available each year.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09090802854306112252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29782128838362719822011-11-17T04:12:35.515-05:002011-11-17T04:12:35.515-05:00Paragon Machine Works already make an easy way to ...Paragon Machine Works already make an easy way to retrofit a belt drive. http://www.paragonmachineworks.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=TS09Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-64885981462284599392011-11-16T23:28:33.575-05:002011-11-16T23:28:33.575-05:00I bet a smart builder (Soulcraft comes to mind cou...I bet a smart builder (<a href="www.soulcraftbikes.com/" rel="nofollow">Soulcraft comes to mind</a> could come up with a retrofit kit that lets you split a rear stay. Something that bolts on like the Seven or screws together like a mini S&S coupler. Wouldn't be cheap, and someone would need to braze it on, but would let you retrofit onto the bike of your choice. Heck, maybe Seven should market that rear drop out to builders for just that.cyclotouristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432432995861421062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87239225455389585392011-11-16T23:03:48.037-05:002011-11-16T23:03:48.037-05:00I fail to see why all the skepticism. From the fir...I fail to see why all the skepticism. From the first time I heard about Gates Carbon Drives over three years ago, I thought it was the perfect application for urban bikes. A year ago I retrofitted my favorite all-weather commuting bike, a Surly Cross Check, with a Gates Belt Drive. This year I upgraded to the CenterTrack (a really great 2.0) and ever since my other bikes, bikes that I love to ride, have been collecting dust. <br /><br />The belt drive is buttery smooth, more responsive than a chain, quieter than a fixed gear, nearly maintenance free, and a pleasure to ride. A chain drive now feels gritty, even a clean one. And I can feel the chain stretch, the belt doesn't stretch at all. The belt should out last at least three chains. Over the long run the belt drive may even be cheaper.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09090802854306112252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70036615037091158502011-11-16T20:54:09.284-05:002011-11-16T20:54:09.284-05:00DC, Noel linked to some impressive pictures but I ...DC, Noel linked to some impressive pictures but I look at them and go, "yeah, but what are the other 70 dudes running?" Once you get to the point where you need both a smart phone and app to align the thing...well, you get my point. Stuff fails at an exponential rate in racing compared to normal riding. You can't win if you don't get to the end; belt drives haven't been proven enough to mitigate dnfs. <br /><br />As for Hardly Ableson, guys around here tune and dress their bikes for "macho performance" and they go pretty quick for an agricultural engine, and they've had a long history of successful flat tracking, but those bikes and the ones you get at Burly Man HQ aren't remotely similar.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-43293431449564339502011-11-16T20:26:46.577-05:002011-11-16T20:26:46.577-05:00So if trouser cuffs don't get caught, how abou...So if trouser cuffs don't get caught, how about a skirt hem? It rains a lot here, and I prefer a long rainskirt to rainpants. Consequently, the chaincase always wins on rainy days. Seems like a belt would just eat the flapping thing.Kirstennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6037939810347567662011-11-16T20:24:57.298-05:002011-11-16T20:24:57.298-05:00Ground Round Jim-Good point :)
They don't ma...Ground Round Jim-Good point :) <br /><br />They don't make long travel dirt bikes (or short tavel) though,do they? Nor did they ever with much success ;) <br /><br />Since I was refering primarily for mountain biking\cyclocrossing purposes,though a good one,still kind of a moot point-though I could be wrong (I've been accussed a time or too,LOL) :)<br /><br />Disabled CyclistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40907360237422797102011-11-16T19:32:06.617-05:002011-11-16T19:32:06.617-05:00you mean from the same fur...you mean from the same fur...Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90329855626126087042011-11-16T19:28:59.842-05:002011-11-16T19:28:59.842-05:00Well, Peps, cut from the same cloth.Well, Peps, cut from the same cloth.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87836669586711730772011-11-16T19:20:00.594-05:002011-11-16T19:20:00.594-05:00Hebie (www.hebie.de) makes full chain cases that w...Hebie (www.hebie.de) makes full chain cases that will work with modern cranks. They are limited to certain chainring and cog sizes as well as what length chainstays they will fit. They also are somewhat modern and technical looking compared to a classic chain case.Christopher Stefanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17542828573208066338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88306406043936763322011-11-16T19:18:54.760-05:002011-11-16T19:18:54.760-05:00Anon 6:22 - Bella Ciao would have to significantly...Anon 6:22 - Bella Ciao would have to significantly alter their frames for it, since it does not have a bolted rear triangle. Pashley on the other hand does. A belted Guv'nor?Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67446046159487225552011-11-16T19:06:20.230-05:002011-11-16T19:06:20.230-05:00You bicker like kittens.You bicker like kittens.Peppy (an adult cycling cat)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15770060930350507762011-11-16T18:42:32.514-05:002011-11-16T18:42:32.514-05:00Noel,
Hey that's better - linking to pictures...Noel,<br /><br />Hey that's better - linking to pictures that actually prove a point! Awesome.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2616741237149531452011-11-16T18:22:06.459-05:002011-11-16T18:22:06.459-05:00At V: Maybe a belt drive Bella C?
Been toying wi...At V: Maybe a belt drive Bella C? <br /><br />Been toying with the idea of putting a belt drive on my Dahon Curve foldingbike for light and dirtless drivetrain. Chainstay and seatstay is one oversized curved construction. Belt should be perfect for foldingbikes, light and no grease.<br />badmotherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46579114593211456692011-11-16T18:21:13.042-05:002011-11-16T18:21:13.042-05:00@Jim,
> That said, that isn't cross. It'...@Jim,<br />> That said, that isn't cross. It's a race on dirty grass - look at those spotless uni's!<br />Hardly refutes my point. <br /><br />Sigh. Do you need pictures for every weather condition?<br />http://ridewithgarrett.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/big-weekend/<br />http://themostfunnest.blogspot.com/2011/11/playing-in-mud.html<br /><br />That covers "dirty grass", mud, snow...anything else?Noelhttp://noel.weichbrodt.orgnoreply@blogger.com