Comments on: A belt-drive bicycle?

By: Barry

Barry — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:03:03 +0000

I like the idea of a belt. It’s a good thing that has taken a long time to get here. If you think about it, we are still “derailing” a steel chain on aluminum cogs.
I was on the Rohloff site the other day and they have a 14 speed internal that is weight comparable to a freewheel set-up. They are also doing a Gates belt drive bike. That my friends is intelligent and the wave of the future.

By: hakan

hakan — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:03:47 +0000

Does the belt skip?
http://www.cycledrive.com/faq.html
This is a belt -driven gear manufacturer.
The CDRIVE system will not jump or skip under any normal pedaling pressure. In some circumstances, a strong and experienced rider ‘putting the system to the test’ might be able to skip the belt. This is not recommended as it can lead to shortened belt life.

my 2 cents:this tech is still not geared towards high performance cycling,more likely it is good for city bikes.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:21:09 +0000

A little late in contributing, but the bike is not a single speed. It’s probably an 8 speed. The rear hub has internal gears. You can ride in the biggest gear, stop, change to the smallest gear, and start peddling in the smallest gear! No cogs for the chain to have to jump off.

By: The Forbes

The Forbes — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:44:01 +0000

I still don’t get it. I see that you’d get more out of your pedaling but you’d never be able to ride it well. With just one gear it would be too slow on flat ground, too hard going up a hill and almost useless going down a hill.

By: LT

LT — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:57:05 +0000

very cool looking…might have to get back into the “bike-thing”

By: graeme

graeme — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:46 +0000

Single-speeds, and more specifically fixed-gears, are more efficient than geared bikes. This is because the drivetrain is a straight line and doesn’t have a derailleur. The power transfer is more direct.

A geared bike provides more ratio options, so it is easier to ride, say, up a hill. But you’re still bleeding power.

By: 300baud

300baud — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:10:25 +0000

Hah hah, I arrived hoping to hear it had a variable transmission like a snowmobile.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:11:14 +0000

I’ve seen this sort of thing in Korea for about a year now. The really nice thing is that it makes it a lot better for everyone when it comes to taking your bike on the subway or bus. No grease!

By: The Forbes

The Forbes — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:44:16 +0000

I’m no mechanic but isn’t that a single speed? I heard they’re more efficient than regular chains but without gears it kind of makes a moot point doesn’t it?