Belt Drive Fixed Gear Build

Gates Carbon Belt Drive Fixed Gear Time! I have always wanted to try out a belt set up and today is the day. This thing is so much smoother and quieter than I had imagined, the only audio my mic would pick up on is the panaracer tyres purring on the ground. Absolutely stoked how smoothly the set up went, definitely going to ride this set up a lot. Have you guys ever built or ridden a fixed belt drive?

Massive shout out to the team at Gates!

00:00 Intro
1:15 Parts
3:36 Fitting Belt Drive
4:48 Chain Line
7:18 Fitting Belt Drive
8:17 Belt Tension
9:28 Outro
10:21 Riding Clips

WaveyWheelies

[addvurtbikes]

Measuring the tension with a guitar tuner blew my mind :D Such a cool build!

[IAMTHECONTROL]

I've always been curious to see a belt drive fixed gear build, especially to see how the belt would hold up to brakeless riding.. That thing is clean as hell, and so quiet!

[stevekelly]

Perfect for winter and wet weather- no more rusty chains….that bike is 🤘🏼

[simonbrans]

Very nice build! One tip for measuring the belt tension with the Gates app: measure the tension at different positions of the cranks. The chainring ("beltring" in this case) is almost never perfectly concentric with the BB axle, which means the tension will increase at certain positions of the crank. As a constant tension of the belt is really important for proper functioning and durability of the drivetrain, I would advise to check the tension at quarter turns of the crank and make sure the tension never exceeds the limit. If there is a big discrepancy in tensions, try to get the beltring centered better on the crank. The belt will also stretch slightly during the first few rides, so make sure to check the tension again after a while.

Also like you mentioned in the video, a higher tension can create a bit of drag on the drivetrain components. In my experience with beltdrive bikes, belt-slip is really never an issue unless the belt is completely loose. I run an internal gear hub with beltdrive and have the tension at about 40Hz, as that is recommended for internal gear hubs, and have never had issues. To save the bearings of your hub and bb I would personally run a slightly lower tension, but I guess 65Hz is still within the recommended range, so if it gives you peace of mind, go for it.

Also really love the Surly Tuggnuts! I use them too for tensioning the belt, though I have found, just using one on the driveside to tension works fine. Just make sure you centre the rim between the chainstays.

Have fun with the bike!

[COFR]

Sick build! My 2025 project is a Surly Straggler belt-driven 11-speed IGH using a Veer split belt. Nice to see the fixed gear community getting in on the belt drive act!

[wockstantinople]

Super sick. That Tuggnut kind of completes the look

[justintrexler]

My first bike when I got back into cycling as an adult was a cinelli tutto just like this one. I rode it as a singlespeed a ton, including with a Gates belt set up, and also ran it with a 2-speed sturmey archer kickshift hub that also could use the belt drive. Awesome bike, very fun and versatile to work on and build up. cheers

[darkstar]

it's the combination of simple things like this makes me happy. I bought my Schindelhauer Ludwig first for the aesthetics but on the end what I really love and enjoy the most is how quiet and calm to ride and how peacefull it is...especially outside the city at nature arround a lake. you could notice the airflow arround yourself and you notice every little thing like the birds, water etc.
I would be never switch back to a noisy, dirt collector chain drive again.

[schwinnguy]

This channel is the most expensive to watch on Youtube, Ebay must love this stuff.

[metalheadmalta]

That is so slick! I was stupidly thinking, why the joint in the frame? Of course, a belt cannot be passed otherwise. Love your videos dude, owning a fixie myself. So much fun!

[haerloom]

as someone who has weariness with chain maintenance due to getting their finger caught in the chain and almost severing the tip of my index, this has always peaked my curiosity about making the switch to belt. 🥰

[CiclistaComunista]

wow, your fixed is awesome!
the music during the ridding is so cool I watched a hundred times that part

[benkaplan]

Incredible build! My daily rn is a Schindelhauer viktor fixed and it’s unbelievable to have the belt. Dead silent and instant response.

[Louis_B]

Measuring the frequency of the ping to work out tension is very cool

[jaimegomezgarcia]

I think it's a fantastic transmission: quiet, long-lasting, maintenance-free...
I don't know if a non-fixie bike could be made. But it would be a good option.
The set up is very, very nice.

I've been looking at that exact frame just the other day. Will try to build a single speed gravel with it.

Awesome build, btw. And really slick skidding.

[andyinabox]

Would have been nice to get your impressions on what it was like riding fixed belt drive! I know that's not your usual format but I'm curious....

[danwebber]

I’ve always thought belt drive would be optimal on a single speed/fixed, since belt efficiency increases at higher wattage when compared to chain systems. Cool build!

[lpil]

That's gorgeous. I gotta get me something like that one day

[donniedjunior]

I am riding the Schindelhauer Hektor. Belt drive is the future🔥