Strap bike - what equipment to choose?

We've loved belt-driven bikes for a long time, but only this season did we manage to fully introduce them to our offerings. You absolutely have to check them out ( here ), because they turned out fantastic! However, this left us with a dilemma about which version to offer. We have some experience with this from our previous model, so I thought it was worth sharing. In this article, you'll find proven recommendations and comments. And if you'd like to learn more about why belt-driven bikes are great, we invite you to read our separate article on the topic .

Shimano Nexus

The most popular gear hub in the world. We install its three-speed version in almost all of our women's bikes . It's affordable, reliable, easy to service, and importantly, lightweight. It's perfect for city riding, but not necessarily for touring, which is often the case with belt-driven bikes. We recommend the eight-speed version. It offers a wide range of gears and is rugged. There's also a seven-speed model, but in my opinion, it's worth skipping – it's better to have one extra gear, and the price difference isn't significant. There's also an electronic version, but honestly, I'd prefer the analog Alfine.

Alfine 11 or 8 belt bike

Our entry-level belt-driven bike is equipped with a Shimano Alfine 8 hub. Why? It's similar in weight to the Nexus and has exactly the same gear range (306%). The difference lies in the quality of operation. The Alfine is significantly smoother and shifts better under load, which is important considering our bikes are often used for touring. It's also more durable.

For me, however, the ideal bike is the Alfine 11 belt-driven bike. A 409% range and 11 speeds are more than enough. We install it on many bikes, and I've known it for years in service – despite its complex design, it's incredibly durable in all conditions. The sealing handles even salty winter roads. I especially appreciate the oil-filled version. As if that weren't enough, it can be paired with road bike shifters. And even better, there's an electronic Di2 version, incredibly convenient and reliable. It fits belt drives like a glove.

Rohloff Hub

Not enough gears? There are also the legendary German Rohloff hubs. A 526% gear range and 14 speeds to choose from. Plus, they're built to the strength of a tank and offer top-quality performance. They also look great. Rohloff is a good choice for top-of-the-line touring bikes, but there's also no shortage of crazy people who ride them on mountain bikes. I respect that. The downsides? They're quite heavy (the gear-to-weight ratio is fantastic, though), and more than a bit pricey. Of course, there's also an electronic version. With them, you could create the ultimate belt-driven bike. Anyone tempted?

Or maybe a single speed belt bike?

So far, we've been increasing the number of gears, but let's not forget that our specialty is lightweight single-speed . Many people find a single gear sufficient for city riding. A belt-type bike requires minimal maintenance and servicing. It's worth noting, however, that the belt line must be chosen much more precisely than the chain line. This makes selecting the right components much more difficult – our belt-type single-speeds are assembled on BMX hubs, for example. You could always build a belt-type fixed gear!

As you can see, there are plenty of possibilities, and this is just the part I feel qualified to discuss. For example, I'd love to see a belt-driven bike with a NuVinci planetary ball-and-socket hub, which provides non-indexed, smooth gear adjustment. Could this be an idea for a new project?