Belt drive with a gearbox is basically superior to chain and derailleur in every way but only on ebikes. I’d gladly take that on my bike. It takes about 2 weeks for me to bang my shifting out of whack after I’ve adjusted it. Though I’ve gotten pretty good at twisting it back into correct(ish) position trailside by my hands.
Yes, I should have wrote something like “True, unless you ignore…”. But you got the point :)
Rohloffs are amazing. Just be warned that if you do run into trouble, you’re likely going to have to send the gearbox to Germany and wait for a replacement/repair. If you’re on tour, this may not be ideal.
I guess that’s the thing with internal gearboxes and pinion gearboxes. They are incredibly reliable and very low maintenance. However, if you do run into a problem, you won’t be able to fix it yourself.
That’s one of the reasons why world cycle tourists still like old-school 3x setups with readily available parts sold anywhere in the world.
To my knowledge they only require an oil change every year or so and the belt doesn’t require any maintenance. Chain and a derailleur need that constantly.
Belt drive with a gearbox is basically superior to chain and derailleur in every way but only on ebikes. I’d gladly take that on my bike. It takes about 2 weeks for me to bang my shifting out of whack after I’ve adjusted it. Though I’ve gotten pretty good at twisting it back into correct(ish) position trailside by my hands.
Unless you ignore cost, maintenance, dealer network/service centres, added weight, efficiency loss, special frames, worse gear ratios, and fewer upgrade paths.
But the advantages can often outweigh these negatives, depending on use and user.
You may have meant
UnlessIf you ignore cost,…If so, I heartily agree. That said, I’m contemplating a Rohloff ebike build… and would choose that for an around the world tourer…
Yes, I should have wrote something like “True, unless you ignore…”. But you got the point :)
Rohloffs are amazing. Just be warned that if you do run into trouble, you’re likely going to have to send the gearbox to Germany and wait for a replacement/repair. If you’re on tour, this may not be ideal.
I guess that’s the thing with internal gearboxes and pinion gearboxes. They are incredibly reliable and very low maintenance. However, if you do run into a problem, you won’t be able to fix it yourself.
That’s one of the reasons why world cycle tourists still like old-school 3x setups with readily available parts sold anywhere in the world.
Damn Sir, solid and valid arguments.
To my knowledge they only require an oil change every year or so and the belt doesn’t require any maintenance. Chain and a derailleur need that constantly.
I meant that these internal hubs or pinion gearboxes are often so complex that you’d have no chance of servicing it yourself.
But yes, in the context of regular maintenance, there’s very little to worry about.