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Thu 20 Nov, 6:47 pm UTC

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Are carbon belt drives the future?

By Richard Peace

The fact that Trek are to introduce two new carbon beltdrive models has recently been picked up on by the mainstream US media.

Although bike companies such as Orange have already experimented with polychains from US automotive giant Gates, CNN news channel’s recent report suggested that Trek’s use of carbon beltdrive models on mass-produced bikes could herald a sea change for chains. Until now they have remained niche products, for example being used as standard on the Strida, a lightweight A-frame folder with a cult-following.

The chainless Trek models will be introduced as the single-speed District (US$930) a single-speeder and the hub geared Soho (US$990). They are due for US launch in December and January respectively.

However, Trek’s lifestyle brand manager Eric Bjorling, whilst recognizing the huge potential of the new belt drive models, was quick to play down any suggestion that their launch heralded the demise of the chain.

"Are we going to see a ton of people switching from a chain to a belt drive?" Bjorling said. "I think in some urban environments yes, but it's definitely not the coffin that's gonna bury the chain."  

User Comments

There are 6 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 comments

  • Not sure it will catch on just yet....one word....mud

  • I want this to be the future! Virtually maintenance free, lubricant free, silent, cheap(?), light, long lasting.....correct me if I'm wrong.

    With the recent innovations/improvements with hub gears & that multi-geared crank thing with the Germanic name, which eludes me, this would make a perfect drive train.

    Co-incidentally, Harley-Davidson & BMW Motorcycles have been using belt drive for at least a decade so there must be some information & experience to tap, surely?

    I can't see mud having much of an effect on these toothed belts. It would probably affect them less than shifting with a mud-clogged chain, in my opinion.

  • Mud? It'll thrive on mud.

    This could mean the end of the ugly dangling derailleur and its greasy chain.

  • might see more development going into hubgears. The rohloff? hub is silly money at the moment.

  • Strida make 16-18,000 belt drive bikes a year, A LOT more than Trek ... so they are already 'mass market'. To be more accurate Trek should have said they are the 1st big brand to bring Belts to the market ... it may be some time before they catch up Strida in the mass market.

  • i can see alot of snapped belts though

  • 1

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