a belt will never do this to you . . . http://sheldonbrown.com/images/fing-.jpg


then again, neither will a chain, unless you stick your fingers in the bite.

So remember kids, lobster claws are NOT a substitute for bike chains.

More intelligent discussion in the Touring section:
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=388076

i want to tinker and build a belt driven cvt system for a drive train now....

I read that thread. It reminded me of my ex-colleague Kimmo who has a collection of vintage (and some not-so-vintage) motorbikes. He told me he positively hates his belt-driven bike, and how the belt lasts much less than the chains on the other bikes.

By the way; in an enclosed environment (no dirt), a chain can last pretty damn long. Like, hundreds of thousands kilometers.

I'll personally stick with the tried and true chain drive system. This seems like a gimmick

The belts we're talking about here are pretty un-stretcheable. So I guess such a belt, if it's tensioned right, might not cut your finger off, but it very well may squish it nicely. Any volunteers to try?

just what i need, rubber bands on my bike.

Why have a belt, when you can have a shaft?

http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/chainless/index.php

http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/admin/bikes/l161908.jpg

^^^Apparently, those have a terrible transmission efficiency. Hardly anything beats the good ole chain in that respect.

That said, shaft drive is probably the most dirt-resistant transmission of them all.

That's what she said.

Sounds like child abuse in the making...

Can someone explain to me how the shaft works?

You have seen yonderboy's post, haven't you? Well, there's a link at the beginning of that post. Click on it. Good. Now at the Dynamic's webpage there is a "Shaft Drive Animation". Click on that link.

Any more questions?

so dumb

Are you bi-curios?