those cut outs are no match for a good piece of gravel or an odd shaped stick I think it would be cool for a roadie but things in the dirt need chains
http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/ You can use it with a Rohloff Speedhub to get a good range of gears.
So these are pictures of my rear drop out on the drive side. If you remove the two allen bolts you can spread apart the seat stay from the dropout/chain stay just enough to slip a belt in there. The belt drive thing has been around for a while. I just don't think it took off. This frame is 5 years old. Hope this helps.. HUGH
Totally helps--very clear in your pics. Looking back at the Spot site, the break where the dropout splits is quite obvious now. Thanks, Hugh.
Hmmm... interesting. Still waiting for a real world end user to give a review. I applaus Spot for being a pioneer here. They seemed to be really on top of the game in the SSpeed world 5 years ago... But seemed they missed the early boat on the 29'ers. Comes down to cost to benefit ratio for me. One manufacturer means one expensive price for chain rings, cogs, and belts right? Besides, with a laterally stiff frame, I haven't broken a chain in a long time. (hope I didn't just jinx myself). Chain SSpeeds are pretty maintenance free as it is. So can't see a reason to go to the belt system unless the performance jump is tremendous.
Carbon belts are extremely strong. Cogged designs such as this are not really affected by sand and small debris but water can be a problem (causes the belt to slip even with cogs) I'd like to see a real world test in water and mud. The advantages are that they are clean, quiet and virtually maintenance free. They would most likely outlast a chain by a longshot. In an ATV application they are comparably priced to a non-o ring 520 chain. They are also sealed to prevent water and debris from causing problems. Maybe with the lower torque output of a bicycle it wouldn't be a problem? C
Pretty interesting but I wonder about the reliability of a belt versus chain. IE: Nissan cars all use timing chains versus belts. The first thing that comes to mind that could easily effect this belt is dirt/mud/water/heat. Any kind of exposure to weather changes can harden the rubber on a belt making it prone to cracks, etc.... Anyone want to do a long term test?
Rubber compounds are resistant to water at ambient temperatures. Some rubber compounds degrade in UV light or ozone if they don't contain antioxidants or antiozonants. I would suspect that these belts account for their intended use and use stabilized rubber compounds that can withstand normal outdoor conditions. The Rohloff idea brings the belt driven bike idea to life. Me likey.
ooh... and no one has ever considered a belt tensioner? look under the hood of your car for an idler pulley or a tensioner.
youd have to run an internally geared hub for any gears , for ss a belt tensoner but after ss ing my vertical droput jump bike I learned that even if you do drop 1 or 2 teeth you might not be able to properly tension it unless you ran it through something like a normal rear derailer
I run a rohloff with an uzzi slx i would love to try a belt just for arguments sake. If anyone has the companys info for the belt drive please send it to me thanks
i was saying like a normal derailer size wise you would have to have a large belt and run it way low like a medium or long cage , that would equal out to more weight then a chain with the extra metal in the pulleys for the belt, plus the drawbacks of using a belt in a dirty enviorment = benifits of 1 percent efficiency dont beat the drawbacks of increased weight, susceptibility to dirt and rocks plus a bolt together part of the chainstay to creak.
chains weigh more than belts do you drive your truck through water? mud? dust? dirt? your serpentine belt in your truck survives..... it wont have any issues on a bike setup. and the toothed pulley it rides on has 'drains' to let particulate and debris escape. touche! the only drawback is not being able to run a geared setup without a planetary hub.
www.carbondrivesystems.com I asked the guy about water and he said it actually makes the system run smoother/quieter when it's wet...
the serpentine belt on the truck isnt sitting exposed right behind the front wheel it can only drain small things odd shaped rocks and twigs will get thrown form th front wheel into the front pulley and cause a rough ride or belt failure, you could rin the system enclosed, but then agian why, O and the chain neing heavier comment a hollow pin chain with a small tensoner like my dmr is not heavier then a belt and large pully tensoner system, with the added metal of the pulleys
if the belt is tension right, water will not make it slip. I seen cars with wet timming belts and they dont slip, even at 7000 rpm.
