Thinking about belt drive.....

gtvlusso
gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
edited May 2011 in Commuting chat
So,

With the single speed MTB built, I am not looking at a Gates Carbon drive system. Looks fairly easy to install (for the mechanically minded) - depends on costs. Anyone know of a uk distributor/prices or done anything similiar?

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=560950

The above thread is for my exact frameset!

Comments

  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    Don't know about UK, I've only dealt with Germany after I snapped a belt (LBS had over tensioned). The distributor replaced the belt free of charge.

    I love my belt in the winter.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • Wrath Rob
    Wrath Rob Posts: 2,918
    So, who's going to cut the rear triangle, you or the LBS? That's got to be the most nervous part
    FCN3: Titanium Qoroz.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Fixie Inc are really helpful but Gates will also deal direct.

    If your Google Fu is weak then pm me for contacts _ Welcome to the darkside Grasshopper!
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    gtvlusso wrote:
    So,

    With the single speed MTB built, I am not looking at a Gates Carbon drive system. Looks fairly easy to install (for the mechanically minded) - depends on costs. Anyone know of a uk distributor/prices or done anything similiar?

    http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=560950

    The above thread is for my exact frameset!

    Ha! And you thought you had overspent already! You really need a titanium frame now too.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    SimonAH wrote:
    Fixie Inc are really helpful but Gates will also deal direct.

    If your Google Fu is weak then pm me for contacts _ Welcome to the darkside Grasshopper!

    I have mailed Gates in Germany - nothing back yet. I think it will cost a bob or two....

    @Wrath Rob, I will do the job myself. I think that no LBS would take on the work aside Argos Cycles in Bristol or Bob Jackson in Leeds.

    The good old angle grinder with a slim disk will sort, but I will probably use the trusty hack saw.

    Quite happy with the procedure for fitting a belt drive. Not sure I can live with the cost, however, after blow-out this weekend on a trail with junior strapped to the bike - I can live without the chain oil getting everywhere!

    Now, Where is my thomson seatpost, Xc282 bars and XT crankset.....? :-)
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Hi Buddy,

    From Fixie Inc last summer when I converted mine;

    We can offer the rear hub we use in the Paecemaker bike seperately (currently brown anodized only, 119,- EUR). The front spocket 55T 130BCD is at 119,- EUR, the rear Multipulley can handle fixed/free and is available as 20/21/22T at 79,- EUR

    I've also got the full, from Gates direct, price list on a spreadsheet (well, November last year anyway) PM me an email address and I'll mail it over to you if you want.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Hmm - Got quoted £205

    46T front pulley 104BCD
    25T Sprocket
    113T belt

    Thats allot of cash for chain, front ring and sprocket!!!!

    **Thinks about it....
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Jeez that would be spinny as hell! 53.4", are you planning on climbing the Rhigos on it?
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    It is for a mountain bike, most singlespeed MTBs are 32 x 18 - 1.8:1 ratio.....

    I may go with a 24T rear though, just to be different.....

    It will be for mountains and singletrack.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Aha, makes sense then.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    And the bike has a junior seat on it sometimes - so, an extra 15kg!
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    gtvlusso wrote:
    Not sure I can live with the cost, however, after blow-out this weekend on a trail with junior strapped to the bike - I can live without the chain oil getting everywhere

    surely the answer is to use wax lube ? this way the chain is dry lubed and does't get oily stain hell, you just keep it washed and keep applying fresh lube over the top of the existing stuff
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    edhornby wrote:
    gtvlusso wrote:
    Not sure I can live with the cost, however, after blow-out this weekend on a trail with junior strapped to the bike - I can live without the chain oil getting everywhere

    surely the answer is to use wax lube ? this way the chain is dry lubed and does't get oily stain hell, you just keep it washed and keep applying fresh lube over the top of the existing stuff

    used to use that on motorbike chains, still messy sh1te and I believe that the belt drive clears mud more efficiently.

    I am talking myself into it.....

    @simonah - do you have any metal working gear that can cut and form stainless steel?
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    I do, to a level. What are you thinking of?
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Stainless steel insert for the dropout, I was gonna wing it with an angle grinder, but would rather make a decent job of it!

    Basically a "U" shaped piece to fit over the dropout.

    Not sure on my tap and die kit either.....I don't think it is man enough to thread holes made in a dropout.....

    Also considering pillar drill to drill dropout rather than electric drill!

    Hmmmm - stlll, pickin up XT cranks and BB on Thurs night!
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    I'm sure I can help out.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • armymankin
    armymankin Posts: 213
    very interesting project, very evil one too :twisted:

    i like the belt drive idea alot. was hoping a mtb with belt come out on the market soon. didnt think of to convert one into it.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    See: - www.milkbikes.com

    They are designing a hardtail MTB with belt drive......
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    SimonAH wrote:
    I'm sure I can help out.

    Sweet! Do you have access to CNC or milling machine?
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,484
    A friend who built his own SS DH bike from scratch, bought himself a pillar drill for the dropouts IIRC. No real experience of metalwork, but I would think that you definitely want everything plumb and square to avoid problems later.

    Here's my friend's blog

    http://www.welwynmachineworks.blogspot.com/
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Yes I do, it'll cost in scotch though :D
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • gtvlusso wrote:
    See: - www.milkbikes.com

    They are designing a hardtail MTB with belt drive......

    Chuff me! They want £1450 for their commuter bike at a minimum! I also love their use of the term "Aricraft-grade 4130 chromoly steel", do they make planes out of steel? :lol:
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    LOL! Brand and # of bottles please!

    I guess you would need an engineering drawing of the part?
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Yeah, a drawing would be good. PM me with what you have when you're ready.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,484
    gtvlusso wrote:
    See: - www.milkbikes.com

    They are designing a hardtail MTB with belt drive......

    Chuff me! They want £1450 for their commuter bike at a minimum! I also love their use of the term "Aricraft-grade 4130 chromoly steel", do they make planes out of steel? :lol:

    4130 Chromo is fairly standard middle of the road stuff. They might use it for some bits of aircraft, but to describe it as aircraft-grade is overselling it a wee bit.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • snailracer
    snailracer Posts: 968
    rjsterry wrote:
    gtvlusso wrote:
    See: - www.milkbikes.com

    They are designing a hardtail MTB with belt drive......

    Chuff me! They want £1450 for their commuter bike at a minimum! I also love their use of the term "Aricraft-grade 4130 chromoly steel", do they make planes out of steel? :lol:

    4130 Chromo is fairly standard middle of the road stuff. They might use it for some bits of aircraft, but to describe it as aircraft-grade is overselling it a wee bit.
    But that's actually what it's called in the trade. 4130 comes in "aircraft" grade or "commercial" grade. Many small aircraft have fuselages constructed entirely out of the stuff, because it's cheap, strong and easily welded, and apparently not too heavy even for a single-engined plane. Here's an example:

    http://www.pilotfriend.com/experimental/acft/4.htm
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Well slap me with a hedgehog tied to a rolling pin with a Royal Wedding tea towel - every day is a schoolday (I supply the air industry with materials and never knew that :oops: ).
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,484
    Well there you go! Learnt something new.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • durrin
    durrin Posts: 123
    I have noticed, when looking online for gates carbon drive parts, that they vary wildly in price... I replaced my rear pulley a while ago, and bought it at universal cycles, they shipped to Europe, and it was cheaper this way than anyplace I could find it in Europe.

    But yeah, this stuff is very expensive, presumably partially because there is such a small market.

    http://www.universalcycles.com/search.p ... tes+carbon

    113t belt: USD 53
    104 BCD 46t front sprocket: USD 118
    25t rear sprocket USD 119
    USD 290 in all, about £180

    the 24t rear pulley is USD 50 cheaper than the 25t!
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Try direct to Gates, I can PM you the contact details too if that would help.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.