Belt-driven bicycle
Encyclopedia
A belt-driven bicycle is a chainless
bicycle
that uses a toothed synchronous belt
to transmit power
from the pedals to the wheel. The belts are typically made by the same manufacturing companies that produce timing belt
s for automobiles, machineries, and other synchronous belt drive applications.
The application of belt drives to bicycles is growing, especially in the commuter bicycle
market, due to the low maintenance and lubrication-free benefits.
belt-drive bicycle was introduced in the early 1980s. It used a tooth-belt drive like auto timing belt
s and Harley-Davidson
drive belts, along with a novel two-part chainring that increased belt tension with increasing load. The Picnica was a folding bicycle
, and part of the appeal of the belt drive was cleanliness. The Picnica was a small wheel bicycle
, so belt tension may have been less than on a bicycle with standard-size wheels. It was apparently successful, but was offered mainly in Japan.
Bridgestone did offer belt drive bicycles in the USA until they left the market about 1994. Since their innovation, they have continuously offered belt drive bicycles in Japan including their best selling Albelt model.
In 1984 and 1985, Mark Sanders, a designer who had earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London, designed a folding bicycle
as part of his graduate studies in an Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) program. The program was run jointly by Imperial College and the Royal College of Art
in London. He collaborated with a design engineer from Gates Corporation
to outfit his bicycle with a belt, rather than a chain.
When his project was complete, Sanders chose entrepreneur and former Greg Norman manager James Marshall and a Glasgow
manufacturer to turn his award-winning design into a product. The manufacturer coined the name STRiDA
, and in 1987 the bicycle began rolling off the production line. In 2002 production was moved to Taiwanese manufacturer Ming Cycle in order to meet increased demand, and as of 2007, Ming Cycle fully owned the STRiDA brand and intellectual property rights.
iXi
bicycles, distributed in the United States by Delta Cycle Corporation, followed in 2004 with a compact design that, like STRiDA
, featured a belt drive.
Possibilities for belt-driven bicycles have widened as hub gears inside the rear hub, were applied. In lieu of a derailleur, the hub gear allows riders of belt-driven bicycles to shift easily. Major internal hub makers include Shimano
(Nexus), SRAM, Sturmey-Archer
, Fallbrook Technologies's NuVinci and Rohloff.
In 2007, Gates Corporation
developed a high-modulus synchronous belt and sprocket system called the Carbon Drive System. The belt’s pitch allowed for lower tension requirements to help prevent skipping. Lightweight, patent-pending sprockets have Mud Ports, openings under each tooth, which work to slough off debris. Early adopters who helped evaluate, revise and introduce this system included Frank Scurlock of Spot Brand Bicycles and Kalle Nicolai of Nicolai Ltd.
In 2009 an increasing number of bicycle companies, including Trek
and f8 Cycles, offer belt-driven bicycles. While builders initially focused on single-speeds and internal hubs, in early 2009 f8 used a Gates-compatible fixed gear cog designed by Phil Wood & Co., offering a belt-driven fixed gear bicycle.
Chainless bicycle
A chainless bicycle is a bicycle that transmits power to the driven wheel through a mechanism other than a metal chain.Examples:* Directly driven "ordinary" bicycle * Shaft-driven bicycle* Belt-driven bicycle...
bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
that uses a toothed synchronous belt
Belt (mechanical)
A belt is a loop of flexible material used to link two or more rotating shafts mechanically. Belts may be used as a source of motion, to transmit power efficiently, or to track relative movement. Belts are looped over pulleys. In a two pulley system, the belt can either drive the pulleys in the...
to transmit power
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
from the pedals to the wheel. The belts are typically made by the same manufacturing companies that produce timing belt
Timing belt
A timing belt, or cam belt , is a part of an internal combustion engine that controls the timing of the engine's valves. Some engines, such as the flat-4 Volkswagen air-cooled engine, and the straight-6 Toyota F engine use timing gears...
s for automobiles, machineries, and other synchronous belt drive applications.
The application of belt drives to bicycles is growing, especially in the commuter bicycle
Bicycle commuting
Bicycle commuting is the use of a bicycle to travel from home to a place of work or study — in contrast to the use of a bicycle for sport, recreation or touring....
market, due to the low maintenance and lubrication-free benefits.
Benefits
- Belts do not rust.
- LubricationLubricationLubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load between the opposing surfaces. The interposed...
is not required.- Cleanliness due to lack of lubrication.
- Little to no maintenance.
- Smoother operation. A belt's teeth completely engage into the system for decreased friction.
- Quieter than chain.
- Longer life than metal bicycle chains.
- Some belt systems are more lightweight than conventional chains.
Disadvantages
- Derailleurs can not be used, so an internal-gear hubHub gearA hub gear, internal-gear hub, or just gear hub is a gear ratio changing system commonly used on bicycles that is implemented with planetary or epicyclic gears. The gears and lubricants are sealed within the hub-shell of the bicycle's rear wheel, as opposed to derailleur gears, where the gears and...
is used if multiple gear ratios are required. - The belt cannot be taken apart, as a chain can, so a frame must be able to accommodate the belt by having an opening in the rear triangle or an elevated chain stay.
- Belts come in limited length selection which the frame must accommodate.
- Belt-driven bicycles and their repair or replacement parts are scarcer at shops than bicycles with conventional chain.
- Belt-driven bicycles often incorporate proprietary plastic gears, which wear out more quickly than metal. Specially designed lightweight metal sprockets are available on some models and in kits.
- Front and rear pulleys or sprockets must be well aligned to avoid excessive friction and wear. A chain is more flexible in this respect.
- Problems in snowy conditions (up to complete inoperability in some cases).
History
The Bridgestone PicnicaBridgestone Picnica
The Bridgestone Picnica is a belt-driven bicycle introduced in the early 1980s and carried in the Bridgestone Cycle USA catalogs from 1985 through 1990. It weighs 29 pounds and uses a tooth-belt drive like auto timing belts and Harley-Davidson drive belts, along with a novel two-part chainring that...
belt-drive bicycle was introduced in the early 1980s. It used a tooth-belt drive like auto timing belt
Timing belt
A timing belt, or cam belt , is a part of an internal combustion engine that controls the timing of the engine's valves. Some engines, such as the flat-4 Volkswagen air-cooled engine, and the straight-6 Toyota F engine use timing gears...
s and Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
drive belts, along with a novel two-part chainring that increased belt tension with increasing load. The Picnica was a folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
, and part of the appeal of the belt drive was cleanliness. The Picnica was a small wheel bicycle
Small wheel bicycle
Small wheel bicycles are adult bicycles which have wheels of 20 inch nominal diameter or less, which is smaller than the 26" or 700c sizes common on most full-sized adult bikes. While many folding bicycles are small wheel bicycles, not all small wheel bicycles can fold...
, so belt tension may have been less than on a bicycle with standard-size wheels. It was apparently successful, but was offered mainly in Japan.
Bridgestone did offer belt drive bicycles in the USA until they left the market about 1994. Since their innovation, they have continuously offered belt drive bicycles in Japan including their best selling Albelt model.
In 1984 and 1985, Mark Sanders, a designer who had earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London, designed a folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
as part of his graduate studies in an Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) program. The program was run jointly by Imperial College and the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in London. He collaborated with a design engineer from Gates Corporation
Gates Corporation
Gates Corporation, based in Denver, Colorado USA, is one of the largest non-tire rubber companies in the world.In 1911, Charles Gates Sr. purchased the Colorado Tire and Leather Company located in southern Denver beside the South Platte River. He paid $3500 for a property that would soon become one...
to outfit his bicycle with a belt, rather than a chain.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
manufacturer to turn his award-winning design into a product. The manufacturer coined the name STRiDA
Strida
Strida is a portable, belt-driven, folding bicycle with a distinctive 'A'-shaped collapsible frame, designed by UK engineer and designer Mark Sanders...
, and in 1987 the bicycle began rolling off the production line. In 2002 production was moved to Taiwanese manufacturer Ming Cycle in order to meet increased demand, and as of 2007, Ming Cycle fully owned the STRiDA brand and intellectual property rights.
iXi
Ixi
IXI or Ixi can stand for several things.* Ixi, a Neopet* Ixi , a German singer* IXI Cisco IOS XML Infrastructure* IXI Limited* Ixi software* Lilabari Airport in North Lakhimpur* iXi folding bike...
bicycles, distributed in the United States by Delta Cycle Corporation, followed in 2004 with a compact design that, like STRiDA
Strida
Strida is a portable, belt-driven, folding bicycle with a distinctive 'A'-shaped collapsible frame, designed by UK engineer and designer Mark Sanders...
, featured a belt drive.
Possibilities for belt-driven bicycles have widened as hub gears inside the rear hub, were applied. In lieu of a derailleur, the hub gear allows riders of belt-driven bicycles to shift easily. Major internal hub makers include Shimano
Shimano
Shimano, Inc. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of cycling components, fishing tackle, and rowing equipment.In 2005, the company had net sales of US $1.4 billion. Bicycle components provided 75% of its sales income...
(Nexus), SRAM, Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer is a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produces bicycle hub gears but has also produced motorcycle hubs....
, Fallbrook Technologies's NuVinci and Rohloff.
In 2007, Gates Corporation
Gates Corporation
Gates Corporation, based in Denver, Colorado USA, is one of the largest non-tire rubber companies in the world.In 1911, Charles Gates Sr. purchased the Colorado Tire and Leather Company located in southern Denver beside the South Platte River. He paid $3500 for a property that would soon become one...
developed a high-modulus synchronous belt and sprocket system called the Carbon Drive System. The belt’s pitch allowed for lower tension requirements to help prevent skipping. Lightweight, patent-pending sprockets have Mud Ports, openings under each tooth, which work to slough off debris. Early adopters who helped evaluate, revise and introduce this system included Frank Scurlock of Spot Brand Bicycles and Kalle Nicolai of Nicolai Ltd.
In 2009 an increasing number of bicycle companies, including Trek
Trek Bicycle Corporation
Trek Bicycle Corporation is a major bicycle and cycling product manufacturer and distributor under brand names Trek, Gary Fisher, Bontrager, Klein and until recently, LeMond Racing Cycles...
and f8 Cycles, offer belt-driven bicycles. While builders initially focused on single-speeds and internal hubs, in early 2009 f8 used a Gates-compatible fixed gear cog designed by Phil Wood & Co., offering a belt-driven fixed gear bicycle.