Lou
Hey mastodon bike nerds, any opinions on belt drive bikes? Say as commuters or touring/bikepacking rigs. Are Rohloff hubs worth the price if you go that way? Any preferred frames that are belt compatible or are split belts good enough? #bike #bikes #biketooter #bycicle #bikepacking #biketoot
Jul 26, 2023 at 3:18pmWeb
Show threadnothingfutureJul 26, 2023
@lougrims My impression is that in gear-limited applications, they are very low maintenance and quiet. When the timing chain on my tandem needs replacing next, I’ll likely move to a Gates belt.
If the gear range of an internal hub works for you (Rohloff or otherwise) I wouldn’t hesitate to use one on a commuter/city bike.
For remote touring… they’d likely work just fine, but I’d hesitate to give up the parts availability of a conventional drivetrain. My $0.02 anyway. #BikeTooter
Show threadnothingfutureJul 26, 2023
@lougrims As a side point (and not a very important one), I mostly don’t care for the feel of most gearbox/internal geared hubs. All that I’ve tried feel kinda… slithery? Indirect? I dunno.
For most of my riding, I find I prefer the direct and crisp feel of chain/cogs/hub.
This is entirely my personal preference. #BikeTooter
Show threadDr. Raphael WeylandJul 26, 2023
@lougrims for day to day commuting happy with my #gates belt. The #Rohloff might be overdosed, but was one of the few availables post pandemic. The #Vortrieb (bike components Aachen) frame not the fastest/lightest geometry. Overall a comfortable + safe cruiser, and quite pleasant appearance ;)
Show threadLouJul 26, 2023
@raphaelweyland Thanks for the feedback. Definitely a clean looking bike!
Show threadSamJul 26, 2023
@lougrims as usual, it depends. They are durable and low maintenance but somewhat limited in gear settings. So great if you're trip takes 3 months and you don't want to go up the alto de l'Angliru fast. If you only do trips of a week the low maintenance thing is less of a necessity. But you're asking bike nerds, we are as much about feelings as we are about logic. They look cool, I still remember when I first saw one on a Specialized Awol. If you like it they're worth it :)
Show threadLouJul 26, 2023
@cloudedjudge They are definitely tickling my engineer brain.
Show threadJames GallagherJul 26, 2023
@lougrims I've a Cube Travel SL 2016 with a belt drive and it's been excellent for me. Though I've used it less since getting myself a Gazelle PuurNL . There isn't a Travel SL anymore but Cube have a few belt drive bikes that could be worth a look. Frames are beyond my competency
Show threadMojJul 26, 2023

@lougrims I love my Priority Apollo (Alfine 11+Gates belt). It's my only bike at the moment and handles a wide range of city & gravel touring.

Eventually I'll get a carbon road bike and a steel touring. But at the moment it handles both; simply changing the tires skews it to handle one or the other.

It has not been hassle-free, though. My Alfine was defective and had to be replaced, which took multiple visits to a local Shimano service center, and several months of waiting for the replacement. Also I needed to adjust the cog ratios; stock maybe great for NYC but we have steep hills in SF. And changing the cogs+belt isn't cheap.

The Rohloff's sound great but at 3x the cost I'd stick with Alfine. The CyclingAbout guy has a great in-depth review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhXTl7gApVA

Show threadRobert CassidyJul 27, 2023
@lougrims I have a R&M Homage belt with Rohloff and it’s like riding a Rolls. So glad I sprung for it.