Woodrup Chimera - first impressions

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Fnaar

Fnaar

Smutmaster General
Location
Thumberland
Or they could replace that drive belt thingy with some kind of metal chain with links, which could engage with teeth on a "chain wheel" (runs off to inventing shed)
 
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vernon

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
Piemaster said:
Looks nice, but my ideal bike would have disc brakes. Or a least a disc front.
I'd be interested to see the rear triangle split too. It's not obvious from pictures so must be very neatly done.

Adoption of belt drives is still in its infancy though. I've never actually seen one being ridden. I think a change of frame design may be the way to go in order to accomodate them better rather than splitting the rear triangle. Attachment of the triangle above the the belt perhaps (the way some full sus mtbs do) or a longe axle/narrower frame so the rear pulley could be on the outside of the frame, though that would mean re-engineering of the hubs.
Click to expand...

The Shimano XT V-brakes hauled my lardy 24 stone arse to a halt pretty damn quick.

The rear split is neat. Pictures to be upload within the hour.

Apart from the Chimera I have only seen one other belt drive bike - a Dutch built tourer on the Danube Cycleway.

I have a bike that could, in theory, accommodate belt drive. The aesthetics are not that good. Putting the drive train outside of the frame is not a good solution. The frame offers a degree of protection.
 
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vernon

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
GregCollins said:
the chimera, with its use of S&S couplings on the mainframe, suggests to me that what the world needs is something like a seatstay (or perhaps chainstay) S&S coupling to standardise belt drive fitment.
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If you can persuade S&S couplings to considerable reduce their prices from £500+ a pair, I'm sure that the belt drive bike makers will each donate a bike to you to demonstrate their gratitude. :thumbsup:

The current engineering solution is neat and unobtrusive and it was the same on the Dutch belt drive bike that I saw in Germany.

It has to be remembered that the bike that I had, had lots of components from the high end of the ranges available and the S&S couplings are an option and are not a standard feature.
 
GrumpyGregry

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
vernon said:
If you can persuade S&S couplings to considerable reduce their prices from £500+ a pair, I'm sure that the belt drive bike makers will each donate a bike to you to demonstrate their gratitude. :thumbsup:

The current engineering solution is neat and unobtrusive and it was the same on the Dutch belt drive bike that I saw in Germany.

It has to be remembered that the bike that I had, had lots of components from the high end of the ranges available and the S&S couplings are an option and are not a standard feature.
Click to expand...

Does anyone who buys a Rohloff bike, let alone one with a Gates belt drive, really care what it costs? :whistle:

My point re the couplings for belt drive is different frame builders do it different ways, and everyone then argues, as cyclists do, over the demerits of each method. A standard method developed by a company with the reputation of an S&S, or indeed a Rohloff, would, imo, make belt drive more acceptable to many more people.

(that and an Alfine hub so mere mortals can afford it!)
 
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vernon

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
GregCollins said:
Does anyone who buys a Rohloff bike, let alone one with a Gates belt drive, really care what it costs? :whistle:

My point re the couplings for belt drive is different frame builders do it different ways, and everyone then argues, as cyclists do, over the demerits of each method. A standard method developed by a company with the reputation of an S&S, or indeed a Rohloff, would, imo, make belt drive more acceptable to many more people.

(that and an Alfine hub so mere mortals can afford it!)
Click to expand...

I care!

I've considered an Alfine hub - it is an option for the bike but the gear range demands a lighter more athletic rider than me in hilly terrain. :biggrin:

The Rohloff hub fits the bill perfectly.

Furthermore the gear change mechanism on the Alfine does not allow multiple gear changes from the rapid fire gear change mechanism. I was sceptical about the usefulness of being able to choose any gear any time but found it surprisingly useful when cycling through Northallerton on market day.

There appears to be a standard method - split seat stay. S&S and Rohloff do what they do best i.e. making hubs and frame decouplers I doubt that there's a financial case for the R&D for an endorsed 'standard method'. I had a long chat with the owner of a belt drive touring bike. He was an engineer, I have an engineering background. Neither of use could identify any improvements to the design apart from a 'split link' for the belt drive.

I asked the million dollar question - what to you do if the belt breaks?

His response was. DHL will deliver one within 24 hours - what's the problem?

I must admit I wasn't entirely comfortable with the response but if we carried spares of everything that might fail.....
 
A

ASC1951

Guru
Location
Yorkshire
vernon said:
Apart from the Chimera I have only seen one other belt drive bike - a Dutch built tourer on the Danube Cycleway.
Click to expand...
Trek were selling their Soho last year, which presumably they were turning out in large numbers. I'm not sure how they got on, but I see Evans have delisted them.

Putting the drive train outside of the frame is not a good solution. The frame offers a degree of protection.
Click to expand...
The only vulnerable bit of the drive train in normal use is the rear derailleur. I would have thought that following the standard chain line was absolutely fine provided you are using singlespeed or a hub gear.

In theory belts should be wonderful - they need no maintenance and will outlast the bike. There must be one or two 'issues' otherwise they would be mainstream.
 
GrumpyGregry

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
I might argue that a Strida is probably the commonest belt drive bike but you'd all argue it isn't a bike!
 
GrumpyGregry

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
vernon said:
I asked the million dollar question - what to you do if the belt breaks?
Click to expand...

Has anyone ever broken a Gates belt on a pedal cycle? I know of cases of belt slippage on MTB's in America, and a foaf had his Gates go on his Harley which was replaced under warranty iirc.
 
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vernon

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
GregCollins said:
Has anyone ever broken a Gates belt on a pedal cycle? I know of cases of belt slippage on MTB's in America, and a foaf had his Gates go on his Harley which was replaced under warranty iirc.
Click to expand...

Nevertheless it was a question that had to be asked by someone that wasn't in the know. :thumbsup:
 
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