Originally Posted by
electrik
ItsJustMe, you can extended the lifespans even further by rotating multiple chains. Eventually though the chains will continually snap apart due to excessive rivet wear.
irclean this centretrak is the belt or the cogs? did the lbs switch everything?
The CenterTrack is the whole system; belt, front sprocket, and rear cog:
http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/09/15/...rtrack-system/. My LBS owner is letting me use the cog off of his Ceres while Norco sorts out the warranty issue; apparantly there is a delay in retrofitting the old aluminum for the new steel cogs. It would be nice if I could upgrade to the CenterTrack system. If Gates offered me a nice credit I would certainly consider it.
Originally Posted by
JPprivate
I am not sold on the belt drive. I just don't get, what is the advantage?
That chains wear out every couple thousands of miles. .... well big deal. get a new one, it's not like the cost anything.
That you need a chain guard if you want to keep your pants clean? I don't see that as such a hassle, what's wrong with a chain guard? You don't necessary need fully-enclosed.
And whats the disadvantage of belt drives?
You need get a new bike (ouch!)
And don't think about getting one with derailleur gearing (big ouch!!)
Being a relatively new technology (for bicycles, anyway) there are of course going to be growing pains. For example, the tangs being sheared off of my aluminum cog and the alignment issues inherent with belt drive. Gates has addressed these issues with its new steel cogs and the aforementioned CenterTrack design. Belts won't work with a derailleur, therefore belt-driven bikes will not have the gear range of many chain-driven counterparts. And yes, they are more expensive than chains.
Belt technology, in and of itself, is hardly new. As the system becomes refined it will become less prone to failure. As we can all imagine, the modern derailleur suffered many growing pains before reaching the level of sophistication that it enjoys today. That being said, I have personally suffered more derailleur/chain/cassette issues over the years than I care to mention. As for gearing, the eight speeds provided by my Alfine hub are more than adequate for my commute. If I needed more gearing there's always the venerable Rohloff hub, and the Alfine 11 is coming soon. Cost indeed becomes an issue with IGH hubs, but those of us who enjoy their advantages are willing to suffer the added cost. SS aficionados, OTOH, can transition to belt drive easily.
While a chainguard may indeed protect a pant leg from chain tattoos, a chain-driven drivetrain still requires lube, and any maintenance runs the risk of transferring the lube to hands and/or clothing. Arguably the biggest advantage of the belt drive system is the reduction in overall maintenance and mess. Another advantage that I enjoy is the stealthy, almost silent operation of the bike and the indescribable slickness of the belt drive system.
Of course there will always be naysayers; those who will refute the idea of belt drive just because it seems different and therefore scary. As I've said before, the derailleur likely suffered the same sort of bad press when it was introduced in the early 20th century, and yet it has enjoyed some moderate success. And as for the unwillingness to embrace new technology, well you just can't graft a new idea onto a closed mind. For any doubters all I can say is, "Ride one... and you will understand".