Commuter – Carbon Belt / Alfine / Mudguards

Rear dropout spacing for
Rear dropout spacing for hubs/discs is just standard (for a disc setup) at 135mm, but the frame needs to have a break somewhere in the drive-side rear triangle to allow belt fitment/replacement. This is often done in the seat-stay (like they seem to have done on the Canyon) or incorporated into the rear dropout assembly. The ‘belt port’ in the frame is the main thing that stops belt drive being a drop-in replacement for a chain on most singlespeed/hub geared bikes. Other than that there are no unusual frame requirements although Gates do have a recommended stiffness test for the rear triangle to ensure that belt alignment is not compromised by frame flex. I think that the current ‘centre track’ belt is more tolerant to this though. Some people have modified an existing frame to include a belt port but personally this is not something I’d want to incorporate into a brand new frame or into a frame that was not designed for it in the first place! You obviously also need a means of tensioning the belt like an Eccentric Bottom Bracket or sliding rear dropouts.

There are a few readily (in the UK) available flat bar bikes like the Canyon that would meet your needs, e.g. Revolution Shadow 14, Roux Bikes A8, Avanti Inc 3, Inc 2, Scott Sub as already mentoned, Cube Editor just to name but a few with belts….. and there are also a few hub geared drop bar road bikes (with discs but no belt) e.g. Genesis Day One as already mentioned, and the Cooper Monaco but nothing that I could find that combined belt, drops, hub and discs other than the already mentioned and slightly out of reach Shand Stoater! The Milk Bikes RDA can be had in flat bar or drop bar flavours and comes out a bit cheaper than the Shand but the frame geometry was a bit too ‘hybrid’ like for my needs. Really nice commuting bike all the same though.

Nick0 wrote:Forget the belt

Nick0 wrote:

Forget the belt drive; they are inefficient when compared to chain, if they weren’t we’d all be riding them (same goes for shaft drive). Also forget Di2; heavier than cable and ridiculously expensive and why do you want to rely on batteries to use your bike! Rohloff is very expensive and you can’t have STi style integrated brake/shifters.

So that leaves Alfine and Versa changers – both are seriously excellent, so much so in fact that I’ve got two disc braked Alfine/Versa change bikes, and forgive the shameless punt but I’m selling one of them over in the classified section. If you’re around 5’10” then it could be the bike for you. Check it out at

Classified ads

and let me know if you’d like any more information, I am losing a bundle selling it but if you come over for a test ride you’ll understand why – I can only just move get from one end of the garage to the other!

In real world conditions any differences in efficiency between belt and traditional chain are imperceptible. All published data I’ve ever read makes it clear that the chain system has to be in perfect wear/lubrication conditions to better the belt drive system. My ‘weekend’ bikes might be kept in something getting close to perfect condition but my commuter certainly isnt! Also the belt system will last longer and not require the same level of maintenance as the chain system. I have good experience of belt drive on a touring bike and think for certain applications (like touring and commuting, where reliability and low maintenance are a high priority) it is a fantastic option, hence why I am moving over to belt drive for my commuting bike now too.

I guess the reasons we aren’t all riding them are that we don’t all want to ride singlespeed or hub geared bikes all the time (me included!) also that the frame designers might struggle with the belt port in many frame types and also that the cycling world is generally quite conservative – look at the resistance to fitting disc brakes to road bikes! In continental Europe, belt drive bikes are much more common.

I’m with you on the Rohloff versus Alfine cost/value comparison though. I think that the Alfine 8spd or 11spd hubs are great and do give slightly better shifting options. The Versa lever setup is the best I’ve come across yet for use with drops and cable discs (which are lower maintenance than hydraulics but almost as powerful these days) but I can’t help thinking that if Shimano themselves produced a drop-bar mechanical lever assembly it would be somewhat better quality than the Versa one! I too can’t see the point of the Alfine Di2 system. Preventing missed shifts on a derailleur setup is no doubt a good selling point but I’ve never experienced a missed shift on my Alfine 8 and 11spd hubs! Also the motor adds even more weight at the back wheel (not to mention the extra battery weight).

if you want to get round the
if you want to get round the issue of the drop levers, Alfine does come in a Di2 flavour. For even more ££££

Forgot to mention, if you go
Forgot to mention, if you go to the gates carbon drive website there is a really comprehensive list of all manufacturers who use their belts. There were some names in there that I’d never heard of, including a couple of low volume UK based specialists (I forget the names) with some really nice drop bar bikes but sadly out of my price range! Also found the Spot Brand Rallye via this list – also pricey and no mudguard provision but a nice looking bike!

I’ve been doing exactly the
I’ve been doing exactly the same search recently. The Shand Stoater came closest to my spec apart from price! Plus the fact that it has the Rolhoff hub whereas I really wanted the Shimano Alfine 8spd or 11spd hub having had much more experience of them.

In the end I decided that there wasn’t a bike out there that met my very niche requirements for a super commuter so I have ended up building up my own! Picked up a bargain belt drive flat bar hybrid from which all the running gear will be used and am in the process of getting a Ti road frame direct from China. End resut will be an ‘uber commuter’ low maintenance road bike with drops, belt drive, Alfine 11spd, cable discs (not hyds) and full mudguard/rack mounts.

I did make a list of all the flat bar belt drive bikes I could find if you are still interested in something without the road bars?

Scott Sub 10?
Flat bar, plus
Scott Sub 10?

Flat bar, plus the colour is a bit challenging, but it’s relatively affordable.

RinseCharming wrote:The BMC
[quote=RinseCharming]The BMC AlpenChallenge AC01 ticks all of your boxes other than the drops. Alfine shifters for drops are rare and cost a bomb.

http://images.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/334/c1a/5d6/112554/bmc-alpenchallenge-ac01-alfine-11-di2-2014-hybrid-bike.jpg

It also happens to be completely beautiful and eye-wateringly expensive.

The snazzy custom mudguards are 120 quid alone!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/ac01-city-fender-kit-ec065583?country=GB&currency=GBP&gclid=CJOm9pGg38MCFdPMtAodZzsA9w&gclsrc=aw.ds%5B/quote%5D

good reviews on those £115 guards! =))

http://www.shandcycles.com/bi
http://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/stoater-rohloff/

Ticks all your boxes – but you might have to save for a while