An alternative to the bike chain: The carbon belt

Trek's new belt drive

The bicycle chain has been around for about 130 years or so. Just when we were getting used to it, along comes Trek with an alternative – a carbon belt. Actually, Trek wasn’t the first bicycle manufacturer to try this out. There are currently belt-driven bikes from Spot Brand and Co-Motion, and possibly others. But Trek is planning to make a big push in the urban bike class with its Soho and District models which should hit stores in January of 2009. Soho is expected to retail at $990 while the District is scheduled to sell for $930.

Eric Bjorling, Trek’s lifestyle brand manager, said the belt drive bikes would “provide a lower barrier to entry with simple, low maintenance.” Bjorling claims that the belt drive is incredibly quiet and even more durable, lasting “the lifetime of three chains.” In addition, the belt drive system will be much less prone to shredding pants legs. The carbon-infused rubber belts are being made by Gates corporation, which also makes belts for automotive and motorcycling applications.

The many benefits of a belt – nearly impossible to break or cut, long life, no grease, easier on pants legs, no rust, no stretching, low maintenance – are offset to a great extent by the current lack of a derailleur design that can handle a belt. As a result, the Soho is being released as a single speed bike, while the District offers a modest gear range by virtue of its eight internal gears in a gigantic hub in the middle of the back wheel.

Humans are an inventive species, so don’t be surprised if the gear range limitation is overcome at some point. Belts are not appropriate for hard-core cyclists just yet, but for light commuting and urban errands it might just be the ticket.