Bike porn

just not sure how much belt drive will catch on in the offroad world - great for off the shelf city bikes which require low maintenance - fit and forget but i don't see any real advantage for any other kind of bike, is it lighter or heavier once you put on the funny chainring guards? and what about chainline? belt drives look pretty thick, there are enough chainline issues with normal setups but what about when you've got a guard on each side?

I'd say off-road is were the belt will perform best (IMHO and stuff). Its a mega light set-up (there are'nt any chainring guards, just a lip on the beltring), and its performance is about the same as a perfectly clean and lubed chain, even after many shitty'n'wet miles.

Chainline is'nt really an issue, so much as beltring chainstay (beltstay?) clearance. But a little crimp in the chainstay solves that.

The main disadvantage is cost. I currently run 46:24, which I find gets me up tricky climbs, while being pretty quick on the flats. But I'd like to experiment with say 46:25/26. I'd also like to build an Afline geared extra rear wheel for versatility. Trouble is the sprockets are very expensive, not to mention the cost of a 'beltwhip'.

Apart from weight and quietness*, it dosent really offer much over chains TBH. But I like it, if only for it being little different to my other bikes.

(*the belt lasts longer than a chain, but cost much more so...meh.
the belt requires less maintainance than a chain, but I'm always fiddling with my bikes regardless so..again...meh)

(ED: Thats only a pic of a tiny bit of my bike. So not readers wives?)

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