belt drive, hub gear, hydraulic hybrid

[Benengo]

I've got a fairly good idea of the spec of new bike I'd like: belt drive, hub gear, hydraulic disc brakes but need a website that allows me to down select across the entire range I've tried wiggle and Evans but they don't appear to be able to filter for belt drive or hub gear.

Any website suggestions or better yet bike options? (price circa £600)

[Pieman68]

Not sure if you can get it in budget but I think Marin do a belt driven version of the Fairfax

2016 model is the SC4 belt but think the RRP is about £900 on them. Maybe see if you can find a 2015 version

[Quickmoose]

Scott do some
Cotic too.
I went Schindelhauer but not for £600 sadly..

[anonymous-user]

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Travel-SL-2016-Hybrid...

Ok it's over budget, I was very close to pulling the trigger but have enough bikes!

[jamiebae]

I think for £600 you're really going to struggle to find that spec (unless buying used). For that price you're going to be looking at Nexus hubs rather than Alfine, and chain drive not belt.

Double the budget, add another £100 and you can have this though, which I absolutely love.

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/urban/2016/urba...

[Quickmoose]

I knew there was a good one about that I'd forgotten...that is class....

[TwistingMyMelon]

Whats the point of belt drive? Chain is perfectly fine, yeah belts save some issues but create more.

[Quickmoose]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Whats the point of belt drive? Chain is perfectly fine, yeah belts save some issues but create more.

you've answered your own question. For those that the issues a belt drive solve are more important than the issues it creates, then it's the answer.
The removal of grime/wear and maintenance, along with a whisper quite drivetrain overrides the fact that there is a join in the frame for me. I don't actually feel or see any downsides to the belt.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Quickmoose said:

TwistingMyMelon said:

Whats the point of belt drive? Chain is perfectly fine, yeah belts save some issues but create more.

you've answered your own question. For those that the issues a belt drive solve are more important than the issues it creates, then it's the answer.
The removal of grime/wear and maintenance, along with a whisper quite drivetrain overrides the fact that there is a join in the frame for me. I don't actually feel or see any downsides to the belt.

Downsides for me:
Punctures hard work mid ride.
Cost and availability: not many for sale, not cheap
shops not familiar with it

Im lucky I haven't had too many punctures over 4 years commuting and only had one mid commute , last week on my single speed, was a complete pita to fix quickly in the dark and rain & loads of extra tools over a geared bike (3 x spanners) . It almost overrides the simplicity of having a single speed. Looking at diagrams for belt drive bikes they look even more time consuming to fix a rear puncture than my SS.

[r-kid]

slightly over budget

http://www.rouxbikes.co.uk/belt/

Edited by r-kid on Wednesday 20th January 14:47

[jamiebae]

r-kid said:

slightly over budget

http://www.rouxbikes.co.uk/carbon-drive-g8/

http://www.rouxbikes.co.uk/carbon-drive-a8/

That one looks a much better bet though - hydraulic discs rather than V Brakes, and Alfine rather than Nexus gears.

I may be wrong, but they both look like cheap and not especially well conceived bikes, priced up because of the belt drive, though.

[r-kid]

just noticed I'd linked the wrong one & you've quoted me already

[Quickmoose]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Downsides for me:
Punctures hard work mid ride.
Cost and availability: not many for sale, not cheap
shops not familiar with it

Im lucky I haven't had too many punctures over 4 years commuting and only had one mid commute , last week on my single speed, was a complete pita to fix quickly in the dark and rain & loads of extra tools over a geared bike (3 x spanners) . It almost overrides the simplicity of having a single speed. Looking at diagrams for belt drive bikes they look even more time consuming to fix a rear puncture than my SS.

Is that something specific to SS?
My alfine8 equipped bike only requires a cable dislodged from the hub... being able to get your fingers in the right places without grease is worth a few minutes and an extra widget IMO...

[Mr Ted]

Benengo said:

I've got a fairly good idea of the spec of new bike I'd like: belt drive, hub gear, hydraulic disc brakes but need a website that allows me to down select across the entire range I've tried wiggle and Evans but they don't appear to be able to filter for belt drive or hub gear.

Any website suggestions or better yet bike options? (price circa £600)

If you can up your budget a bit then why not build your own bike choosing the components that you want, I did just that and have a unique MTB : single speed On-One frame with a nu-vinci continuously variable rear hub, Marzocchi front forks and 26" wheels, no one else has one, it suits me perfectly and I had a blast selecting bits and assembling it, highly recommended!

[neilski]

This Novara Gotham seems to fit your requirements perfectly. All you need to do is find a way to get it from REI to the UK though.

http://www.rei.com/product/857590/novara-gotham-bi...

[anonymous-user]

neilski said:

This Novara Gotham seems to fit your requirements perfectly. All you need to do is find a way to get it from REI to the UK though.

http://www.rei.com/product/857590/novara-gotham-bi...

Ok if you're a midget, S/XS only unfortunately

[gazza285]

My mate has a Pipedream Skookum that had a belt drive on it, he persevered with it for six months of breaking belts before putting a chain on it. Probably ok for gentle commuting, but not for anything more vigorous, and definitely not for off-road...

[anonymous-user]

Strange, a workmate has ridden his Giant something with Alfine & belt drive, every day for 3 years (non car owner). Never missed a beat

[Quickmoose]

Indeed, you should check out Gates' website for their (slow) blog about their product. The trophies that riders and bikes that use a belt are numerous and varied and brutal...mainly a brand call Nicolai.
One bloke even rode across India or something...

also a good place to spot new brands that might have what you need OP

http://blog.gatescarbondrive.com/

[jamiebae]

gazza285 said:

My mate has a Pipedream Skookum that had a belt drive on it, he persevered with it for six months of breaking belts before putting a chain on it. Probably ok for gentle commuting, but not for anything more vigorous, and definitely not for off-road...

Apparently they're very fussy on belt tension, and alignment. Get it wrong and they can break belts and destroy the insides of the hub too