Reading the latest belt drive tbread (I'm a skeptic), started thinking of alternatives.
I remember all the street bikes in Japan had enclosed chains. Don't see why it wouldn't work for singlespeed, a simple aluminum sheet? Or send chain through a pair of tubes on its way to/from the rear cog. Just something to keep the chain from being hammered with wet trail grit.
It would sure be nice to never need to think about chain maintenance.
Yeah... I get it that there are places and times you can ride that don't require frequent chain maintenance.
Right now it is rainy time in the pnw and I clean my chain after every ride, scrub with hose and brush to clear out the big woody debris, then relube with oneball (less toxic version of rock n roll extreme). Chain stays spotless and doesn't rust, it's 2 minutes every time I get home, before I put bike away.
But I'm imagining a world when I didn't need to do that. The answer ain't some better lube, needs to be a way to keep chain from gathering leaves and sticks and being pressure washed by the rear tire.
I guess a guard is a bad idea otherwise everyone would have one already?
I honestly don't give my chain much thought, I just have a routine that I use. I use a dry lube in dry conditions every third or fourth ride. I use a wet lube in wet conditions every third or fourth ride. I clean the chain once in awhile. I have yet to break one. (SRAM 8 or 9 speed).
Also... I'm lucky to get 60 miles of dry mtb without relube, at most I've had 110. In the rainy muddy wet its never more than 30 miles before chain needs lube. At certain times of year the rear tire picks up cedar cones and some get scrunched into the chain.
Yeah I posted a bunch of stuff about my belt drive bike recently. I never thought about getting a belt drive bike until one walked into my life.
While the concept of belt drive is beautiful the execution is only slightly less so; that's what I think. As for efficiency, my impression is that if it is less efficient, I can't really feel it.
The only problem I have, so far, is with the sound it makes sometimes. It's much quieter than a coasting Chris King hub, but it's totally annoying when it happens. Noise is energy - energy being lost, (not what you want to hear climbing your ass off)!
Yeah I posted a bunch of stuff about my belt drive bike recently. I never thought about getting a belt drive bike until one walked into my life.
While the concept of belt drive is beautiful the execution is only slightly less so; that's what I think. As for efficiency, my impression is that if it is less efficient, I can't really feel it.
The only problem I have, so far, is with the sound it makes sometimes. It's much quieter than a coasting Chris King hub, but it's totally annoying when it happens. Noise is energy - energy bring lost!
You're a belt user (victim) so I'd especially like to hear your thoughts... why not keep the chain but protect it from the environment? Is that just too simple?
I just don't see why belt it preferable to an enclosure. I bet an enclosure could look terrific and be removable for racing.
Just need some frame mounts I guess. Or band clamps?
This thread is about chain maintenance, and belt drive discussion is superfluous.
Chains are excellent and can be quiet as a mouse as well.
The idea of fabricating a chain case for our single speeds is an excellent one. The main drawback I see is when it inevitably gets out of alignment. Perhaps some sort of self centering mechanism could be contrived.
However the beautiful open drive train is simple and free from the extra weight of a chain enclosure.
In the early years of cycling Major Taylor successfully campaigned on a shaft driven bike.
I ride in North Vancouver/Squamish all year, it gets just nasty in the winter/wet season.
Same routine all year long...Hose the bike after every ride with a garden hose. Dry with a dirty old towel. Couple drops of triflow on the chain right before the next ride starts. If it gets a little loose I pull back the dropouts to take up the slack. I don't think it gets easier than that.
One of the main benefits of riding single speed, especially if you ride all year where it's wet and gross. No gears and pulleys and skinny chains and fancy lubes for different conditions, etc.. to fuss over.
I will add I get down to ride in Arizona once a year and my bike is cleaner after my whole trip than it is after I wash my bike up here! You guys got some fun stuff down there!
I ride in North Vancouver/Squamish all year, it gets just nasty in the winter/wet season.
Same routine all year long...Hose the bike after every ride with a garden hose. Dry with a dirty old towel. Couple drops of triflow on the chain right before the next ride starts. If it gets a little loose I pull back the dropouts to take up the slack. I don't think it gets easier than that.
One of the main benefits of riding single speed, especially if you ride all year where it's wet and gross. No gears and pulleys and skinny chains and fancy lubes for different conditions, etc.. to fuss over.
I will add I get down to ride in Arizona once a year and my bike is cleaner after my whole trip than it is after I wash my bike up here! You guys got some fun stuff down there!
i started changing out my chain once a week and takes little time. I dump the dirty chain in a degreaser and later it sits in an oil bath. Blow and wipe off the excess and I am good to go. Sparkling clean chain once a week. Reduces wear, quiet and looks great on my Unpainted Ti HT.
how hard is chain maintenance? a few drops of lube, wipe clean with rag. it takes 30 seconds. let's talk about making something easier that matters, like getting all those little Velcro seeds off your favorite socks.
yes, that is one method of cleaning your chain but it does little to remove the dirt inside the chain. So you get more wear on the chain, cassette and crank. How much more? I do not know but with my cassettes costing near 400 USD and light weight chains and cranks not cheap either, I need to keep my equipment in service for as long as possible. Besides, I like the look, sound and shift ability of a clean chain.
I leave my chain alone until it looks REALLY dusty and actually feels dry to the touch. Then I'll drip some Phil Tenacious Oil on a rag and wipe the chain until lit looks cleanish and wet again. Seems to work for me, and I only change chains out once per season or so.
I have never liked the feel of a chain after you've dripped lube directly on it, or degreased it and re-lubed. It always feels different to me.
Even on my geared bike (Yes that same 10-42 $300 cassette) I lube the chain when it makes noise. I got 5000+ miles from my old XT 9spd cassette and have probably 1500 on my 1195 cassette.
I never remove my chain to clean it. Heck I never clean it. Just wipe it down if is really dusty or got wet and relube. Same for Geared or SS.
the problem with adding any new gizmos to a singlespeed is that it takes away from the beautiful simplicity.
lube chain, wipedown, ride till the chain gets funky, repeat...
i honestly doubt you meticulous cleaners get many more miles but who knows. some people need a clean bike; so long as mine works well i'm good. but if a clean chain gets you on the bike clean away!
KMC 8.93 Chains... $9.99 on JensonUSA. Wipe down after each ride, remove and soak every month or so, replace after 1500 miles. Cheap and easy.
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