Trek Soho S

but i like this more but then i dont own one, if i did id like something else

oh god. Is that a rubber drive chain?

Yep. Belt driven.

Some might say its a solution to a problem that never existed. It also means they need to over-engineer the frame by adding a bracket so you can get a new one on in the inevitable event that the original one breaks.

And you dont want the rubber... oh, forget it.

Some might say its a solution to a problem that never existed.

You don't need to lube them, right? Save money, chemicals, time, dirtiness.
Also they don't wear out anywhere near as quickly as chains.

Sounds like a pretty good idea for commuting machines. The issue will be getting enough users to make the parts standard and available everywhere.

It seems fine, unless you want your chain to also be your brakes.

Hippy, are you seriously telling me that you think belt drive is a good idea? Strikes me as a marketing gimmick - I mean the bike is called a Soho ffs. They chose their market well before they built the bike. Imagine the sluggish power transfer due to the give in the belt. It would feel like riding a wet loaf of bread. There is so much I dislike about that bike, and the drivetrain is only the beginning.

Having said that, I dont really care because I wont buy one as long as my arse points to the ground

Also, It has a coffee mug which fits the bottle cage. To me, that speaks volumes.

Hippy, are you seriously telling me that you think belt drive is a good idea? Strikes me as a marketing gimmick - I mean the bike is called a Soho ffs. They chose their market well before they built the bike. Imagine the sluggish power transfer due to the give in the belt. It would feel like riding a wet loaf of bread. There is so much I dislike about that bike, and the drivetrain is only the beginning.

Have you ridden a belt drive? You know they have like a 3-tonne breaking strain or some bollocks? Someone post that video of the Orange(?) guys building them into their mtbs..

I'm not talking about the bike. I'm talking about the belt drive concept.
80% of all bikes posted on this forum make me vomit blood anyway.

Yeah, well... cant really argue with that. Its not like you can snap a fanbelt from a car easily.

Its still got a coffe mug. Reminds me of the vase in the new Volkswagen Beetle

Where's the coffee mug? Or is that "sold separately"?

Hippy, are you seriously telling me that you think belt drive is a good idea? Strikes me as a marketing gimmick.

I think it's a fantastic idea, long lasting too especially since if the belt in the car engine can handle the pressure, so can the one on the bike.

I used to be against belt drive on bike, but now I love them due to many advantage, previously on fixed wheel, the only thing you need to look after is the drivechain, but with belt, you don't need to, biggest problem? just a simple cast of removing/replacing belt (althought not occasionally really) and you can't retrofit them on normal frame.

YouTube - Fixie Inc belt drive fixed gear bike

Hell, there's already a custom made bike that have 8 speed internal hubs with belt drive for commuting.

Where's the coffee mug? Or is that "sold separately"?

http://www.tariksaleh.com/bike/mug.html

But what if you want to chop and change gearing?
Its not like you can add/remove links.

(Admittedly the same chain length can be used for a wide range of gearing, if you have the right chainring - cog combos)

if the cog is much bigger or smaller, then I think it's simply a case of changing the belt.

see the top part of the rear triangle? that how you can change the chain;

trek's langster ?

I think it looks pretty rad for a singlespeed.
Harley davidson use belt drive. They're tough.

Ok, so I've been categorically outvoted. For fear of taking the indefensible position and looking like I have no idea what Im talking about (which is true), I still think its wank.

And its got orange wheels... and a coffee cup... and its called the soho... and I know this has nothing to do with the drivetrain.

cupholders
NO frigging way

Probably not that quick to fix a rear puncture though?

Presume it requires taking the stay off, removing wheel, fix puncture, put stay back on and then retension belt. (Does it need more tension than a chain would have?)

you don't need to take the wheel off to fix a puncture.

Ed - you're not the man to be giving out advice on fixing punctures! ;p

you don't need to take the wheel off to fix a puncture.

You do if the tube has blown (like those 5 that you blew last week)