Is this the end of the chain? No, because the belt only fits bikes with a speedhub like the Rohloff speedhub.

The frame needs to be ‘belt-drive ready’. That means that the back fork needs to have an opening so the belt can get to its place.
With a chain you are able to open the chain with a tool. A belt is made of one long carbon fibre, so not divisible.

We have several beltdrive Koga Signatures and Santosses in our showroom.

The advantages of a Gates belt-drive:

• No maintenance. The belt does not require oil and hardly needs to be tensioned. If your belt is full of mud, rincing it with water is all you need to do.
• Less resistance (according to Santos). Well, you notice…, but is it real or between your ears?
• Less in weight. Very simple; carbon is lighter than metal. The belt weights 75 grams. A chain around 250 grams.
• Lasts longer. Over four times longer than a chain. But that depends on how you ride and the weather. In our rainy Dutch weather a bit less long.
• It only fits a bicycle with a Rohloff speedhub. Because a belt can only be used with a single chainring and a single sprocket. Therefor not possible with a cassette.

Disadvantages of a beltdrive:

• A belt only fits a belt-ready frame. If you put a chain on a bike, you can use a chain tool. To mount a belt, you need to open the frame. In order to do so, Santos has designed a back fork with an opening. Look at the red arrow on the picture on the left side.
• It is new. So, I cannot garantee a worldtour. But 10.000 miles should go easily.
• The amount of chainring / sprocket combinations is limited. Don’t know if thats a big problem, because the reach is equivalent to a 27 gear derailler.
• It is expensive. A complete set of chainring, sprocket and belt costs around € 230,-.
• You are a bit scared to buy a belt? Don’t worry. If the belt does not please you, we can concert your bike to a chain drive free of cost.

The maintenance free bike is one step closer. Rohloff speedhub, Son hubdynamo, hydraulic brakes and Gates beltdrive.

Sprockets are available in 19, 20, 24 en 25 teeth and cost (depending on the size) around € 100-.
Chainrings are with 46, 50 and 55 teeth, price (depending on the size) around: € 140,-.
Belts are available in 113, 115, 118, 120, 122 en 125 ‘tandjes’ and cost € 120,-.

Watch out: you cant just switch sprockets and belts! Look, a chain you can shorten a bit a taking out some links. Look, a chain you can shorten by taking out some links. A belt has a fixed lenght, and comes in combination with a chainring and a sprocket. On Gates’s website you are able to calculate your perfect combination.

Eric’s video: http://vimeo.com/17754034