Trek Embraces Chainless Bikes, Via Carbon Belt Drives

I agree, a bit of a stretch that the 'first chainless bike has hit the market'. Certainly not the first, but I guess it is a good title to get readers in!

I have seen this technology on motorbikes! Those belts being much wider.

Supposedly twice the life, with none of the pesky recyclability. I'll pass and stick with regular chains thanks.

Before anyone starts whining about the minuscule amount of chain lube chains need (in comparison to cars etc) there are soy based chain lubes out there.

I dunno about the "recyclability" of the belts, but I really dont see the difference. mebbe thats just me.. because I used a cycle for nearly all my life, and I remember going to the cycle shop to get the chain lubricated twice... once each for 2 separate cycles

the second one lasting me 7 years of very rough handling on the streets (when I was still in school)

I never faced any problems with the chain at all... no breaking, no squeaking, though it did lose tension a couple of times.

So I really don't see how this belt drive should seriously affect the ride of most city cyclists... the performance riders, and professionals could benefit in a big way though...

Belt drive on commuter bikes can reduce the risk of messing up your clothes while dragging the bike up the stairs. I think that is the main argument against the need of lubrication, not the concerns over the impact of 1CC of oil...
Can similar belts be used with rear shifters? If so, maibe there is a way of adding gears or maibe even get a variable transmission for bikes?

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Writers Note:

Veiko: The Trek 'Soho' comes with an internal rear hub offering 8 gears.

The only advantage a chain has is that it can be easily repaired if it stretches, or breaks. All you really need to carry around is a small chain-breaker tool and a master link.

That said, I like the idea of belt drive. it is technology which has been used in the motocycle industry for over forty years.

The big improvement would be the mainstreaming of shaft drive bikes:
http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/buy/Bikes.php?prodid=60
These get rid of the whole exposed drivetrain and replace it with something much sturdier.

_______________________

Writers Note:

Michael, we've profiled a few of driveshafts over the years, as well. Sturdier, maybe. But possiblly not as efficient as a chain or belt. The verdict, so far, seems to be that they struggle somewhat on the hills. But certainly they are much cleaner. And no doubt the efficiency questions will be resolved.

Hey Raiyn,

Recyclability of chains? Really? So you actually go to a waste metal collection facility to drop off your chains? 'Cause, of course, tossing it in with your cans and bottles is a big No No and will only result in the chain being tossed in the trash at the separation facility. Of course you know that, right? So you would never toss that old Shimano IG90 chain in with your household bottles and cans recycling, RIGHT?

As for the nitwits here who lube their chain one in a friggin blue moon, you people are very much loved by pot smoking shop mechs the world over. Lets just say that not lubing AND CLEANING your chain on a regular basis is as drop dead STOOOPID as never checking your tire pressure. What? Tire pressure? Ugh... :-/

Just bought a bike myself to start commuting. My three year old played with it and got grease all over his hands from the chain. Any suggestions on something I can clean/lubricate the chain with that won't make a mess? Going to be a while before I can justify a $900 bike so for now my $160 used one will have to do.

I'm a bit confused with all the fuss about chain drives for single-gear (or internally-geared) bikes. Whether it's shaft or belt drive, they always make a big deal about the "high maintenance" chain. Gimmick?

I've taken 3-speeds from dumpsters and done nothing to the chain. Even bikes that have stood for years outside often need little more than oil. Granted it needs a chainguard, but so does a belt. And using a dry or wax-based lube can mitigate much of the mess.

Not to be confused with externally-geared bikes because those chains are messy. And we allow the manufacturers to make it worse with more gears and narrower chains.

Gates' claims about efficiency and lifetime should be taken with a grain of salt. A roller chain's performance in a single-gear application is fantastic. Also, the chain can be assembled in any length, no need for a special frame to get it on and off, and it's field-repairable with readily-found parts anywhere in the world.

So why go with a non-standard belt that has limited availability? If you're willing to go with one speed then all you need is a good chainguard.

Ross bicycles introduced a belt drive beach cruiser in 1989 or 1990. It was not the best execution- the belt stretched d elaminated and wore out quickly because the belt was exposed to the elements, sand dirt dust, etc.

And exercise bikes have been using belt drives for years.

My only concern with the trek belt drive is the belt is exposed to the elements. Fitness bikes are indoors and completely cover the belt. Most motorcycles do a good job of keeping the belt enclosed for much of its travel.
Then again, Spot Brand has been making singlespeed mtn bikes with a carbon belt for the past 2 years and that's completely exposed and is subjected to really harsh conditions and torque loads. I haven;t heard of any negative feedback.

I'm pretty sure that in order to have gears on a belt drive, it would need to be an internally geared hub.

Because the way chain tensioners work on a derailleur, you'd need to have teeth on both sides of the belt. Not that it coulnd't be done, but with the internal hubs now, with 8 or so gears, it's more than enough for the clientele that the belt drive likely going to attract, also looks cleaner.

My only concern with a belt drive is where do you get a replacement belt that's the right length? Do you have to order it in? Chains are easily available nearly everywhere, not including dedicated bike shops, and with a chain break tool, you can fit it into most any bike.

Granted, for the average commuter, who travels roughly 3Km to/from work, putting low mileage on a bike, a belt seems like a fantastic, low-maintenance idea.

You have to somehow be able to disconnect that belt to be installed in a regular framed bike, or at least be able to separate the rear frame triangle of your bike. Or have a bike that does not require feeding the chain/belt through the rear triangle. That cannot be practical.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

"Just bought a bike myself to start commuting. My three year old played with it and got grease all over his hands from the chain. Any suggestions on something I can clean/lubricate the chain with that won't make a mess?"

There are wax based lubricants that are fairly clean. Most bike shops carry them, especially ones that cater to mountain bikes that ride in filthy conditions and don't want dirt and grime to stick to an oily or greasy lube.

Seems pretty stupid of them to clearly target the urban crowd (the single speed clearly tries to look like a fixie) with these bikes, and then make them of aluminum.

Hey Willie do you even know how to use Google?
Here's a link Google "Recycled bicycle chain"
Try searching before making your grand and (from what I've seen) misguided pronouncements on stuff you know very little about..

I agree, the only advantage is that it's more friendly to your clothes if you commute. The Soho has a 8 speed internal hub on the back, and is belt drive as well. I asked Trek about how hard it would be to get proper belt tension, fix flats on the road etc, and it sounds like it is actually a pretty solid set up.

You can see their answer here --> http://trekdistrict.com/2008/10/28/belt-tensioning/

Eugene, White Lightening's "Clean Ride" is pretty good for keeping your chain cleaner. It's wax-based like JC mentions. You do have to apply it more often, and it sucks in the rain. But it might help with a child:)

I commute each day for 15 minutes on my Strida, which has a belt drive, and the main benefit I get from it is clean pants. It takes about 3 petal rotations to get the bike going, maybe because of the belt, maybe because of the small tires, and hills are a bit hard to climb without momentum, but man, clean pants everyday!

Hey Anon, you bloody nincompoop,

Why don't you READ my post? Try it again, then answer this question:

What recycling method was I SPECIFICALLY referring to in regards to a bicycle chain?

Frigging ijiot.

I have several comments on this post:

1. I don't know where the "3,000 individual parts" number comes from. A typical bike chain has say 110 links, each link "owns" 1 pin, 2 plates, and one roller. So that's 440 parts. Maybe if you have a roller-bearing chain (do they even exist for bikes?) you could get the figure up to 3,000. But if you had a RB chain, you wouldn't need to lube it.

2. The Treks are nice looking bikes. If the belts were really durable (say lasting 3,000-5,000 miles), I'd consider buying one.

3. It's very possible to lube a standard bike chain with paraffin wax and have it clean and non-soiling. See my post at Instuctables: http://www.instructables.com/id/Lubricating_a_Bicycle_Chain_using_Paraffin/

Willie, so easily upset.
It just so happens that my local steel recycler accepts bike chains as does the county. The county magnetically separates them just like steel cans from the trash. Get over yourself already.

Hey Raiyn,

Good for you, you are in the tiny minority. My problem is with eco-happy-hippie-nitwits who think "oh, its metal, I can toss in with the cans" and they go their merry and oblivious way. In fact, those types are the vast majority in the green movement. How many people are posting on how they will put biodiesel in the new Jetta TDIs? Not one of them bothers to investigate and discover that VW prohibits the use of ANY PERCENTAGE biodiesel. Some of the VW enthusiasts forums are already experimenting with BD and the new cars, and some bad things are coming of it.

Such stupidity is inexcusable in the age of Google. Mankind's entire knowledge is at your fingertips with milliseconds response time, yet so many nitwits still blunder around the planet.

Anonymous,

Paraffin does not stay clean. Reason being is basic chain wear. The metal "dust" mixes with the paraffin as it is warmed by friction, causing it to turn grey in color. Hot summer day, long ride, paraffin is nice and soft and dirty, not something you want to rub on your leg. I know, I ran a bike shop for years in NYC.

Our anonymous friend had a good point about the recycled chain jewelry/ crafts though. It's fairly common anymore. Also coming out of NYC, I'm sure you've seen old bike chain used to secure a saddle as 98% of crackheads don't carry a chain tool. I just don't see any "next step" for a carbon belt. I could be wrong about that, but I just see it as an answer to a problem that doesn't exist.

@ Willy
That last anonymous 11/24 2:03AM is me.

@ Willy

I'm Anon 11/24 @2:03 AM

It will take a long time with their '1st production' belt drive bike to catch up THE first production belt drive bike .. the Strida, which sells at a rate of 18,000 a year and rising rapidly.

As Anyone who has one of these wonderful bikes will know - simple, clean silent drive. Chains may still be liked by traditionalist/enthusiast racers, but belts are the future for the rest of us.

This is nothing new, every so often the use of toothed belts is proposed as an alternative to chain drive. The major advantage touted for this system is that it is cleaner than an open chain drive system.

There are serious problems to consider in the belt drive:

Belts can't be opened and re-closed as chains can, so it isn't possible to fit one to a standard frame, unless you cut the frame open, as Trek has done, because the belt has to be looped through the triangle formed by the right chainstay, right seatstay and seat tube.

Belts can't be lengthened/shortened as chains can, making it difficult to customize the gearing by going to a different sprocket/chainring size. Yeah, the Trek's got an eight speed hub, but that's no guarantee of anything.

As with the shaft drive systems, which get foisted on us every 5 years or so (as they have for about the last 100) by unscrupulous hucksters, all of the benefits hyped up for this system can easily and more economically had with an enclosed chain drive.

Hi, just want to take issue with the assumption that bikes are inherently lower tech than cars. There's a lot of room for growth in terms of better materials, more efficient design, etc. etc. with bikes that cars may or may not adopt A clunky old internal combustion engine is less technologically advanced than a modern bike made with high tech composite materials, hybrid electric assist (e.g. BionX) and employing design features developed in research labs. If we poured 10% of the ingenuity going into hybrid cars into bike technology, we'd see a far better return on investment (energy and $).

this is such a good idea! as has been noted, most city commuters are really, REALLY bad at bike maitenance so would love a bike that requires almost none. By the same token, so many more commuters will take to cycluing as a result.. anyone know when (if?) these will come to the UK?

http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/bikes/?gclid=CNn2-8OynYcCFUA2GAodUSJDpw

I thought that Trek was actually introducing something of consequence, like a true low maintainance drive that wouldn't catch pant legs or get other things caught in it. The above link is what I call truly 'chain-less' merely swapping a toothed belt & pullies for a metal chain w/sprockets doesn't impress me at all.