I am willing to try new things - those of you who use them - tell me the pros and cons of Nelson vs Hanson. Wait, Damn yankees vs Bon Jovi - no! wait....
here is one: if you want to change the gear ratio from more than like 4 teeth you have to buy a new belt . with a chain you just break out the chain breaker
this has been discussed to death, it depends on the person mainly, I ride 2:1 pretty much everywhere I go, i usually only change my gear when I am out of shape or know I have a brutal ride coming up, I pretty much suck at remembering to lube my own chain (I'm a mech so I do it everyday for all my customers but never remember on my own bike) I like quiet bikes and like off the wall parts.
if I changed my gearing as much as my underwear, always maintained my bike and liked the run of the mill normal stuff I would have a chain bike.
I tried it to see how it works and haven't regretted my choice since. I was stuck with 2:1 at SSWC but what the hell "Run Whatcha Brung"
Pro:
Quite longer
Creek crossing possible w/o relubing.
Con:
Chain line (belt line) Must be spot on.
Belt tension requires higher quality hubs.
Lowered GC with larger chain rings.
Lowered GC increases rock strikes which can damage belt.
Requires a larger chainring/cog for the same ratio. This reduces chainstay clearance so that reduces tire clearance, so to get it back it will require longer stays. I think it would work better on road SS's.
Pro chain, con belt:
I already have a few chain-driven singlespeeds, so no cost outlay to stay with what I've got.
No problem with what I've got, so why seek a solution to no problem.
Requires a larger chainring/cog for the same ratio. This reduces chainstay clearance so that reduces tire clearance, so to get it back it will require longer stays. I think it would work better on road SS's.
From one graph I read I was under the impression they were the same.
Is there a table that converts Chain Drive rings and cogs to Gates rings and cogs??
Im wanting the equivelant of a 32-20T in Gates....any ideas?
From one graph I read I was under the impression they were the same.
Is there a table that converts Chain Drive rings and cogs to Gates rings and cogs??
Im wanting the equivelant of a 32-20T in Gates....any ideas?
the closest that you get is roughly a 32-19.5 (half tooth??) from the stock gearing that comes on the Spot Longboard. It is a Gates 46t front and 28t back using a 122t belt. To switch to a 25t rear cog, you have to use a 118t belt.
one word of advise if you get one, do not buy the belt whip tool that they sell. It is simply just a rubber strap wrench which you could purchase at a hardware/auto parts store. I snapped mine the first time I used it. my lockring was on a bit tight.
the closest that you get is roughly a 32-19.5 (half tooth??) from the stock gearing that comes on the Spot Longboard. It is a Gates 46t front and 28t back using a 122t belt. To switch to a 25t rear cog, you have to use a 118t belt.
one word of advise if you get one, do not buy the belt whip tool that they sell. It is simply just a rubber strap wrench which you could purchase at a hardware/auto parts store. I snapped mine the first time I used it. my lockring was on a bit tight.
Thanks for the tip. if the 46-28T combo gives 47.64 gear inches ( 32-19.5 ) then I think the new 39-24T combo will get closer at 47.12 gear inches.
A 32-20T chain drive is 46.4 gear inches.
My main concern is whether Gates rings and cogs are dimesionally the same so as to give the same mathematical gear inch equation. For example, is a Gates 32T the same as a standard 32T ring?
I can see you making Gates rings and cogs in about 3 years from now.....LOL!
It wont happen over night....but neither did suspension forks, hydraulic discs brakes and tubeless tires. I never thought I'd see Tubular Singles on Mtb's either until I witnessed multiple XC Elite Men racing on them at the recent UCI World Champs in Canberra Aust.
Pro:
Quite longer
Creek crossing possible w/o relubing.
Con:
Chain line (belt line) Must be spot on.
Belt tension requires higher quality hubs.
Lowered GC with larger chain rings.
Lowered GC increases rock strikes which can damage belt.
... snip ... My main concern is whether Gates rings and cogs are dimesionally the same so as to give the same mathematical gear inch equation. For example, is a Gates 32T the same as a standard 32T ring?
When I was researching the belt I'm pretty sure I ran across an app on Gates' website that provided conversions from standard chain drive systems to an equivalent belt drive system. Might have to do some digging to find it. I can't remember where it was.
FWIW, I'm sticking to chains too. Seriously considered the belt drive but decided I just don't like the idea of not being able to repair it in the 'field'. I plan on doing at least one very long race/ride & the thought of having to carry multiple belts just doesn't excite me. YMMV.
There's someone on MTBR that's successfully modified standard frames very cheaply.
And, it's also possible to fit a coupler to a seatstay. Kinda spendy though. Couplers alone are expensive to begin with, plus the added cost of installing it would make it hard to justify. But for those folks getting custom frames made it wouldn't be that much more expensive to include a coupler in the frame build.
I was fortunate that my new Blacksheep frame will except the Gates belts without even thinking of it, the adjustable chainstay pulls apart just enough to feed the belt in....bonus!
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