Originally Posted by
staehpj1
Well you don't need to reject it, but... It would seem to me that to go for a completely different setup than what is proven to work, it should offer substantial advantages. I have yet to see any, not even one that was at all substantial and I see lots of disadvantages.
Even the belt goes as far as they say that is still the same as or less than I am routinely getting on a chain, NOT twice as long.
What are the pluses:
1. Not life of the belt. That sounds like about a wash to me
2. Not repairable. If it breaks you need to have a spare.
3. Silence. Maybe, but so what if you are going to use a noisy Rohloff.
4. Efficiency. Not even in their own tests.
5. Cool factor. Maybe if that floats your boat.
6. Not cost, especially if you have to go to a Rohloff, which would seem to be the only way to get a reasonable range of gears.
7. Not the ability to pick and choose ratios it seems to come in only one.
8. Not availability of spare parts. There is only one source at this point.
9. Not ease of fitting it to an existing frame. You pretty much have to go to some weird frame or go custom at this point in time.
Did I miss any?
Roll your eyes all you want, but at this point in time there appears to be very little reason to go with this technology.
Lighten up! These are not surgical instruments or techniques we are talking about here, we're not saving lives, it's a bike ride, you know wind in your face, smiles, fun and games. New technology tends to have a snow ball effect, one invention leads to another. Rohloff is not the only makes of geared hubs, there are other less expensive options out there. There are also patents out there for variable speed belt drives, maybe someone will perfect a lightweight version.
Even on face value, with a glass half full attitude.
1. The life of a belt is at least as good as a chain. Belt also weighs less and you don't have to carry lube.
2. Not repairable, so what they are different, carry a spare, they are not heavy.
3. Silent, good point! Again, Rohloff is not the only maker of geared hubs, and if belts become more popular, you can bet better geared hubs will follow.
4. Efficient, wash. But as a chain wears and stretches the shifting gets worse, not so with belts.
5. Cool, yea, remember this is all just kid stuff.
6. Cost is all relative. Again Rohloff is not the only maker. Compared to Four wheelers and jet ski's, even expensive bikes are cheap.
7. Gearing, this is a function of the gear hub not the belt.
8. Availability of parts, Oh Lord, ever heard of a cell phone and next day air.
9. Weird frame, yes you need a "weird" frame, or you get to have a cool new frame, depending how you look at the world.
No you didn't miss anything.