Belt-driven bicycle

A belt-driven bicycle is a bicycle that uses a rubber and fiber belt (such as typically drives automotive accessories) to transfer power from the pedals to the wheel. The belts are typically made from the same manufacturing companies that produce timing belts for automobiles, machineries, and other synchronous belt drive applications. The application to bicycles is growing especially in commuter bicycles due to the low maintenance and also grease-free benefit.

Belt-driven bicycles are typically used with hub gear, an internal gear system inside the rear hub. This allows belt-driven bicycles to have gear shifting capabilities. Major internal hub makers include Shimano (Nexus) and SRAM.

Benefits:
* Lubrication is not required.
* Smoother operation.
* Longer life than chains.
* Belt lighter than conventional chains.
* Does not rust.
* Quieter.

Disadvantages:
* Possibly more difficult to get (though often readily-available automotive standard belts are used).
* Belt-driven bikes often incorporate proprietary plastic gears, which wear out more quickly than metal, in their drive trains. Specially designed lightweight metal sprockets are just becoming available on some models and in kits.
* Derailleurs can't be used, rather a internal-gear hub is used for shifting.
* Relatively new application to bicycles.

See also

* Chainless bicycle
* Belt-driven motorcycle

External links

* [http://www.abiobikes.com Abio Bikes]
* [http://www.strida.com Strida]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/id/nonfractal/strida.html Review of the Strida II bicycle.]
* [http://www.ixibike.com/ iXi]
* [http://www.cycledrive.com CDRIVE belt system]
* [http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/ Carbon Drive Systems]
* [http://deltacycle.com/product.php?g=69 Delta's Hybrid Belt Drive Bike]
* [http://www.raincitychoppers.net/ Rain City Choppers Red Line]
* [http://www.spotbikes.com SPOT Brand 2008 belt drive bikes]