Belt drive fixed

For all you absolute belter, a 'beltwhip';

Nice!
Those belts are not cheap, so I assume its costly.
I been trying to sort out my beltline for a while (now waiting on some 1mm spacers). I've been careful to use anti-sieze, and not to over tighten my cassette lockring. The sprocket is pretty easy to grip, but I would want to have to resort to clamping it in something.

I think that could find a place in the market.

Chains just have the advantage at the moment because they're established already.

I think it makes an interesting commuter alternative?????

Whilst visiting the fixie.inc guys in Karlsruhe I had the chance to try out a fixed belt drive bike.
All I can say is that I am sold.

Their joining method for the driveside seat stay is one of the cleanest that I've seen and will be available (Possibly already is) as an after-market retrofit part.
http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/blog/belt-new-chain

The first thing that was instantly noticeable was the zero lag between forward and backward pedalling. Basically a really positive connection between pedal movement and bike movement. I am already seriously considering modifying my Surly so that I can run belt drive.

that's the drawback to me, what's the best method to modify the frame to make it compatiable for belt drive? so far the S+S Coupling is the best solution, but I fear it won't be cheap.

The fixie.inc coupling will be a lot cheaper and is a nicer way of solving the problem in my opinion as it doesn't involve stressing the frame every time you want to change the belt.

I prefer the SpotBrand solution to belt installation personaly (bias). Its barely visible and very strong.
http://www.lfgss.com/post1148623-147.html

KNow what you mean about the responsive feel though. I just wish the systems were'nt expensive to buy separately. I was thinking this morning about the viability of putting together the ultimate winter bike. The cost of the belt system would smart a bit though.

Titanium cycloX frame with EBB, disc brake tabs, and belt compatibility (XACD?)
Carbon disc brake compatible cycloX fork (wound up?).
Alfine 11 speed hub
mechanical disc brakes (Avid?)
Midge bars.

The bike would be pretty light with all the weight of the gearing system over the rear tyre contact point. Which would be ideal.

sweet
http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/sites/default/files/neuigkeit/FI-coupler-prototype.jpg

and looks retro-fitable

For the bike nerds....
...Belt compatible geared crank, designed to compliment a geared hub.


http://www.schlumpf.ch/news.engl.htm

I am already seriously considering modifying my Surly so that I can run belt drive.

Note the thickness of the beltring and the clearance issues with the chainstays on the diagram above. To my mind this is a serious problem for after market instalation.

just had a look at the rear stays/crank/cog. if it's centered over 10mm, it will fit.
even then, i have a 45t x 17t you could go smaller on both and have more room.
how wide are the belts?

just had a look at the rear stays/crank/cog. if it's centered over 10mm, it will fit.
even then, i have a 45t x 17t you could go smaller on both and have more room.
how wide are the belts?

There's no 17t sprocket as the carbon fibres in the belt dont like to bend that sharply. So you're looking at a 20 : 55 ratio for road use.

The belts are something like 15mm wide. I can measure it tonight.

i meant wide.
15mm?

drats

i meant wide.
15mm?

drats

Ermm yeah me too (edited)

Sprocket width is 13.1 mm apparantly
http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/images/uploads/forbikemaker_1254387638.pdf
There's a frame makers guide on the Gates site. Which lists types of frame break and clearance requirments.
http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/images/uploads/forbikemaker_1251480796.pdf

hmmmmm looks nice any decent belt drive bikes in the shops in London as I wouldn't mine having a test ride on one

thanks, judging by that and some crude measurements, i can (possibly) get away with some kinda gearing :)

diable, quite a handful of them have those trek one, my local have one hanging up for sales at £600 since they couldn't shift it.

hmmmmm looks nice any decent belt drive bikes in the shops in London as I wouldn't mine having a test ride on one

not sure if they can handle +18st :)

@ edscoble cheers, I'll have a search around

@ murtle cheers, I'll keep knocking one out in your beer seeing as you like salt so much ;p

ha, evan's chiswick have one.

For those interested it should be noted that there are currently only 3 belt lengths available from Gates, though a fourth is in the works.

As such it will not be possible to run all GIs on all bikes.

If you really want to retrofit you are going to have to do some maths.

that's where you come in :]

You can haz spreadsheet?

So you have to get the correct belt length for your frame (chainstay length) AND gearing combined, right? Obviously with track ends you can take up some slack, so can run a range of sprockets in the same way as with a conventional chain?

That's the theory yes.

i sort of want one on my hinde, but ive become confused about belt ring size necessary, and whether its going to clear the frame.

my instincts tell me to just buy it and try it out, but im not convinced its going to work. i certainly don't want to pay someone to fit it, as its already going to be an expensive bike for me.

i want something like 75-80" for the road, with the possibility to change to something higher for the track with a change of sprocket.

i could just put a fucking chain on it, which in all honesty i wouldn't mind and it would be a lot easier. but i do like the idea of having a belt system.

Will you definatly be able to use this on the track? I wouldn't be surprised if there not allowed yet or no ones thought about it, although I really don't have a clue.

It also sounds like theres limited gear selections mainly because you need a certain size of rear cog that cannot be too small so getting a gear high enough for the track might be impossible.

I'd seen a photo of the fixie inc system before but never knew who was making it. I really like it, very neat and I imagine slightly easier to retro fit to frames than the S&S one. Is there any belt drive frames yet that run on a 120mm rear hub? If so I can't see any reason why most frames couldn't be altered to use one but it will probably need a new chainstay as well the coupling put in.