The Belt Drive and Gearbox thread

2/5/2025 12:47pm
The drag isn't rolling drag, it's efficiency loss from pedalling, after the road gap at hardline you don't pedal, so a gearbox wouldn't cause a problem...

The drag isn't rolling drag, it's efficiency loss from pedalling, after the road gap at hardline you don't pedal, so a gearbox wouldn't cause a problem there. 

I'm sure I heard some arguments about how the cogs spinning while coasting would create a lot of drag and make slow race bikes somewhere.

Anyway,

1
2/5/2025 5:24pm
The drag isn't rolling drag, it's efficiency loss from pedalling, after the road gap at hardline you don't pedal, so a gearbox wouldn't cause a problem...

The drag isn't rolling drag, it's efficiency loss from pedalling, after the road gap at hardline you don't pedal, so a gearbox wouldn't cause a problem there. 

luckymixes wrote:

I'm sure I heard some arguments about how the cogs spinning while coasting would create a lot of drag and make slow race bikes somewhere.

Anyway,

cogs don't spin when coasting. There is no drag.

6
Roryb
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2/5/2025 7:00pm

Effigear run a fixed rear hub so the chains always spinning. WRP have a similar system with a crank based freewheel. 

These likely work well on clean fresh chains and get worse from there. 

You could probably do the same on the pinion as it has a freewheel up front but it would suck for rolling speed. 

There's no reason to add that drag. 

3
2/5/2025 10:30pm
Roryb wrote:
Effigear run a fixed rear hub so the chains always spinning. WRP have a similar system with a crank based freewheel. These likely work well on clean...

Effigear run a fixed rear hub so the chains always spinning. WRP have a similar system with a crank based freewheel. 

These likely work well on clean fresh chains and get worse from there. 

You could probably do the same on the pinion as it has a freewheel up front but it would suck for rolling speed. 

There's no reason to add that drag. 

I got it wrong then, thanks for the info!

2/8/2025 3:26am

Just finished watching Hardline. Gearboxes, belts or "regular" bikes didn't make the difference. Lines and commitment did. 

Which to me is great news, it is awesome to see so much variety of bikes performing at the absolute peak on a long track that has it all.

The level is so good right now, both in riders and bikes.

Personally, I think gearboxes and belts have so much positives, I love the concept. And this is the "worst" versions we will ever see, it is only up from here!

1
Roryb
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2/8/2025 3:27pm

For racing, it's never really the bike, it's the rider and feeling comfortable on the bike. 

People win without drivetrains, on dry tires in the mud etc. 

Roczen is kicking ass on a 10 year old Suzuki with a Kickstarter...

None of that has anything to do with what's an improvement mechanically though. 

3
5/23/2025 9:48am

Did any of the gearbox / belt-drive riders do well at Biesko Biala?  Seemed like there were some mud issues.

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