Nov
19
CNN: Coming to a store near you: chainless bicycles
By Rich Kelly, Filed Under Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike
At a time when gas prices are dropping faster than the stock market these days, the number of non-endemic, mainstream media pieces on bikes as transportation has really started to dwindle, unfortunately. This is despite the fact that shops still seem to be benefitting from this movement toward the bike over other energy-wasting forms of locomotion.
So it was refreshing to see bike story on the front page of a mainstream media outlet this morning. CNN.com featured a story about how belt drives for bicycles may be set to revolutionize cycling and commuting cycling especially. As can be expected from the non-cycling press, it’s a little behind the times as belt drives have been around for a while now and they really came out as the latest “overnight success” story at Interbike in 2007 under the Spot brand.
The CNN piece focuses on the fact that Trek is releasing their District belt-driven model and it is the first production-level effort in the category. I can’t think of any evidence to the contrary, so I’ll take their word for it.
From what I’ve read about the bike, it seems like a really nice package. The style is very current fixie-hipster with the de rigeur colored deep-v rims (Velocity?), leather saddle and grips, and low-slung flat bars - though it seems like it won’t be easy to convert to actual fixed gear operation. The bike uses the Gates belt drive system.
An interesting little tidbit at the end of the article is a quote from David Oakley, a manager at Agee’s Bikes in Richmond, VA:
“From a maintenance standpoint, it’s huge,” he said. “If this really, completely takes off, the lubricant industry is probably not going to be excited.”
Look for Pedro’s, Finish Line, White Lightning and the rest of the bike lube cartel to buy up belt drive patents and hide them away in some safe deposit box.
While searching for belt drive info for this post, I found this video from Interbike 2007 on the “Unofficial Trek District Blog.”
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4 Responses to “CNN: Coming to a store near you: chainless bicycles”
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Well-timed! A bike hugger reader just asked where the belt drives were.
I love belt drives. I’ve been round the Gates factory in Scotland. It’s spotless (no pun intended).
Very definitely a commuter product although Orange and Spot first brought out MTB singlespeeds.
Of course, belt drives have been around for ages. The Stida used one in 1980s (also a Gates belt although not carbon polychain). And Errol Drew/Delta’s Ixi bike used the belt that was current before the latest Polychain.
I hope Trek can make a go of it and that loads of manufacturers get on board. Well done to CNN for spotting a trend (that we knew about years ago, but still…)
I guess the only real issue for the District as far as its being an everyman commuter is the price. Over $900 is a bit steep for that category. For now will be a fun 3rd or 4th bike for the enthusiast, maybe? Best of luck to Trek and any others pushing ahead with the new technology - can’t wait to see more!
I knew custom builders and such were experimenting with belt drives but I had not heard of any actual bike lines until I saw Spot at the ODD this year. I thought the bikes were beautiful but my initial reaction to the belt drives was that of a “bike purist”. I wish I had tried one now.