Originally Posted by
ADAP7IVE
First: how does it perform in mud and other rough riding for MTB? I'm aware that dry conditions make it squeak and alignment is critical, but no one really talks much about its performance in muddy conditions. Does it really shed mud as well as Gates advertises? Does the advertised belt lifespan really long enough to justify the extra cost?
I've been riding a Gates system on my commuter bikes for over a year now. I rode during winter, and can at least offer that the belt and the IGH hub required none of the cleaning that I'd have to invest in a chain-driven bike in winter conditions.
Whereas my friend who rode his chain-driven bike this past winter had to replace his chain and cassette because he failed to stay on top of keeping things clean.
Second: A frame split seems like it might cause frame integrity issues over time, especially for MTB. I'm not an engineer so I dunno how to answer this for myself. Has anyone experiences stability issues like frame flex/split breakage/damage?
No issues so far. However, I'm mainly on pavement with my commuter bikes. Sometimes I venture off road, but almost always we're talking smooth off-road. I'm not rattling over roots and rocks with my commuter. Think packed sand. Smooth stuff.
How much mud do you plan to ride through? Sometimes I experience belt slippage when standing on my pedals to power through sand and mud puddles, and sometimes going up steep hills. Increasing the belt tension has helped some, and I have a CDX belt that I plan to swap in that I hope will help even more.