Roc D'Azur 2012: Cavalerie DH Gearbox Bike
For more than ten years now Cavalerie have been working on an alternative for the conventional shifter and mech. At Roc D'Azur this year they presented their range of gravity-ready bikes, fitted with internal gearboxes and carbon belt drives.
What do you think about the Cavalerie bikes? Does the combination of a trigger shifter, gearbox and belt drive at a sensible weight represent the future of mountain biking, or is it an overly complex solution to a problem that doesn't need solving? Have your say below.
www.effi-gear.com www.cavalerie-bikes.com www.ingeartec.com
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 Their DH bike, the Falcon. Vital stats are: 200m travel, 63.5 degree HA, 9-speed effigear gearbox, carbon belt drive and sub-18kgs (39lbs). |
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| A Gates carbon belt drive transfers the power to the rear wheels - one of the big advantages of the belt drive is that, unlike a chain, it doesn't stretch so all the power is transferred to the rear wheel. One of the big challenges with belt drives is that they need to be under constant tension, so they have used a concentric pivot around the drivewheel to maintain a constant distance between the gearbox and rear sprocket. To further keep the tension on the belt there is a tensioner just after the rear sprocket, although Cavalerie admit that the version here is still a prototype and they are not yet happy with how it performs. With these pre-production bikes they are using a freehub on the rear wheel, but the finished bikes will come with a fixed rear hub as the freewheel slows down the pickup of the system and there is already a freewheel at the crank. |
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| While this may look like a twist shift, it's actually a very different system altogether - it's a sequential shifter. That means that you change one gear at a time - so to drop through the box you would make a series of rapid movements, rather than one, long twist. Effiegear explain that this keeps your wrist position more neutral at the shifter, rather than having to over-extend like you would on a long shift with a gripshift system. Like many other gearbox bikes, it uses a two cable system to operate the gears. |
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| Sitting next to the Falcon in the Cavaleire range is the 185mm Squirrel. It's got the same gearbox and belt drive, a 66 degree head angle and weighs in a less than 17kg (37.5lbs). |
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| The Squirrel shares nearly all of its features with its bigger brother, including suspension layout and how the gearbox works with the bike. The close-up shot should show you better how the concentric pivot works - the swingarm pivots either side of the gearbox and the sprocket sits outside all of this. |
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| While the shifter may look identical to the one on the Squirrel, this one is a more conventional twist shifter. |
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| This is what's going on inside here. One thing that Effigear have done that we haven't seen before is offer a range of gearing - there is a full nine-speed box on offer, which weighs in at 1.56kg, but there is also a slimmed down seven-speed box that drops the weight down to 1.39kg. This is possibly the first gearbox we have seen that doesn't have a weight penalty either - Effigear claim it weighs exactly the same as the equivalent Shimano Saint setup. It's also worth noting that the spline for the crank is a standard ISIS fitting. Right now you would need to use their specific cranks, but only because of the spacing, and because it is an established standard they are in talks with at least one crank manufacturer to produce aftermarket options for the system. |
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| This is probably a big deal. We see a lot of comments from people waiting to see a gearbox with a thumb shifter. Here you go. At this stage it is a prototype, but it's a working one...This means that customers will have the choice of how many gears they want and what shifter style they prefer. |
What do you think about the Cavalerie bikes? Does the combination of a trigger shifter, gearbox and belt drive at a sensible weight represent the future of mountain biking, or is it an overly complex solution to a problem that doesn't need solving? Have your say below.
www.effi-gear.com www.cavalerie-bikes.com www.ingeartec.com
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The transmission gears in my motorcycle are barely any bigger than that, and they have needed zero service after 23,000km, and are known to last well into the 50k+ area... those types of gears just last a long time... this new Gearbox setup could very well be "maintenance free" aside from whatever mechanism they are using to shift gears, but it looks pretty well sealed up, so maybe we won't even have to worry about that.
As for the rear hub being fixed, that's even better, less weight for the suspension to deal with.
Gearbox good, belt drive bad.
I would like to see a chain over a Gates belt though, if only because belts are expensive and hard to get hold of in the middle of nowhere, plus using a chain would give the option to use cheaper bolt in sprockets, making servicing/repairs easier.
Now I want to see a 160mm frame with that gearbox and a full length seat tube, since the one Zerode were apparently making has failed to materialise.
belts certainly are the premium choice in automotive and industrial machinery applications, where they are shielded from contaminations
the trouble related to belt tension, and involved premature wear and tear to the rear hub bearings, rear freewheel mechanism, bottom bracket bearings, problems with the belt "crabbing" sideways on the rear cog (due to chainline issues) and actual failure of the Gates belt and Gates toothed cogs where they interface with the rear hub mounting splines
Gates have had to produce belt tension "setting tools" which resemble a 'tuning fork' as too high a tension causes the premature wear issues, and too low a tension causes 'ratcheting' where the belt actually slips over the cog notches under power. we also saw a number of the belts actually fail (split)
setting this tension is tricky (there is a narrow tolerance range), and requires resetting any time the rear wheel is remove (i.e. a puncture). many bike shops have never seen this tool. there were also rumours of a Gates APP for the I-Phone using the microphone to check the belt tension, but I have never seen this either.
this new gearbox bike looks FANTASTIC but I'd leave the Gates Belt Drive well alone and run with the tried and trusted Sedis-style bushingless roller chain that is common to all other bicycles (and many motorbikes)
Gates Belt Drive truly is a solution to a problem that really does not exist on pedal cycles....
That proto is running 2 free wheels, which I can see causing shifting problems while not pedalling.
@baca262 in a sense... but that is completely wrong... torque through the transmission is much more complex than just saying 102nm from a light guy on a 170mm crank.
The main crank gear in this displayed gearbox is quite large, which means the torque is greatly reduced there, then the second gear that sees the torque is also larger than the spindle... and so on and so forth.
I guarantee you if you could swap out the crank on a motorcycle for a set of cranks/pedals, you wouldn't ever be able to wheelie it.
Comparing the torque of the rear wheel to the torque of a rider at the crank spindle... doesn't even make sense.
A motorcycle easily climbs a steep hill that will put the hurt on your legs.
There are belt drives that have paddle like teeth on the "chain" ring, shedding mud and gripping like a chain. I know that this system isn't perfect, but with more demand and more developers working on it I bet it will be way better soon. Also you shouldn't have drive line issues on a SS if the designer has half a brain so that shouldn't be an issue.
How many rotten chains did you replace at the old workshop? I dealt with plenty. Any chain that is not maintained won't last 50 hours of riding. In fact, chains require constant maintenance and are very heavy. It's really a surprise there hasn't been further integration of belts into mtb by now.
The SS layout allows for a simpler chain setup, but there is real merit to a belt system, including unsprung weight savings and simpler maintenance.
@ samminett: does that mean every derailleur style bike is the same in your book? This frame linkage is nothing like the Zerode.
yea it may not look the same but the ideas are the same, but also the zerode looks a hell of a lot better!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8780719
I have seen first hand on these belt drives where a stone the size of about a pea gets sucked up into the gear (because the belt acts like a conveyor belt essentially) and the added tension as a result is usually enough to rip the belt or sometimes break it clean. These belts generally have to run pretty tight and according to the mfgr of these drives (or at least from what I have seen in the past) you have to verify proper tension by strumming the belt like a guitar string and listening for a certain pitch...no joke.
It will probably be more quiet than a chain but one may be substituting derailleur drive issues/ noise with belt replacement issues...If you plan on racing this thing...make sure you have an ample supply of back up belts...because guaranteed nobody else at the race will have one and they may be tough to come by at a local shop.
Oh, and tension is measured by a tool Gates makes called the "cricket" for the tone deaf.
Also this gearbox design looks more pedal friendly as far as efficiency goes, which is appealing on the mini DH. They are two ways to go about it and I like what they are doing. I could see a zerode mini DH with a lower gearbox and pivot that pushed a horizontal shock, and a belt from crank to gearbox making it lighter and more pedally.
The kit include: trigger + sequential + turnshift (="gripshift") means you can switch when you want to try a new one.
The 9 speeds is equivalent to 24-36 front and 11-34t at rear. 7 speeds is equivalent to 11-34t.
We propose 7, 8 or 9 speed, but you can choose 6 or 5.
Each ball bearings are standard which mean that you can find it on the market and we will not racket you 50$ for 4 bearings.
Gearing replacement will not be as expensive as a full high quality derailleur transmission( that need to be change once or two time/year when you ride a lot).
Ride picture:
rdshoot.pinkbike.com/album/Chatel
rdshoot.pinkbike.com/album/Test-proto
Shock available is Bos Stoy Rare or Void.
A most inaccurate statement if I ever read one. Chains are very efficient in transferring power - typically better than belts. Elongation ("stretch") of a chain is a result of wear and doesn't really have anything to do with power transfer. Wear is greatly reduced with a straight chain-line. An enclosed drive system would greatly improve the longevity of the drive system whether it be chain or belt.
Good to see another company making innovation in bicycle technology with the exception of the belt-drive system. While I usually like the "industrial" look, this bike could be improved aesthetically IMO.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6785200
I too think an up and down change button on opposing sides of the bars would be great.
For explaining any bike with a IGH I would say it has a gearbox in the rear hub, yes.
gearbox |ˈgi(ə)rˌbäks|
noun
a set of gears with its casing, esp. in a motor vehicle; the transmission.
One caveat for dh though, belts are not "self cleaning" as a chain is and are finicky to setup. If not perfectly true, they wear fast and creack. So maybe a simple fixie chain setup would solve that and gearing with a simple cog swap is possible.
No bike buy this year. I wait till this thing comes to market. Bye bye Sramano.
Afterthought - Chain setup really a boon.
There are places for chains, don't get me wrong, but this combines two amazing technologies that I'm frankly thrilled to see finally getting good production touches!
I know Gates as had a belt drive XC bike out for a while, but this is rad to the max...
I have a feeling that belt vs. chain will soon become like carbon vs. aluminum in some areas; the simpler option is cheaper, but the costly one is superior.
This obviously doesn't apply everywhere in MTBing, but this is a start!
www.nicolai.net/159-1-Helius+Pinion+AM.html
lots of those bikes built to a sensible weight as well
forums.mtbr.com/nicolai/anyone-got-helius-pinion-am-yet-784671.html
www.rohloff.de/en/products/index.html
Would cost?
Also straight cut gearing is noisy, compared to sliding mesh.
Honestly I can't really tell if the gears are straight cut like you would have in a sequential gearbox or sliding mesh like a convention gearbox.
More info here : www.ingeartec.com
it looks stunning...
it weigh 35 lbs...
any discounts?
I will have one please!
There is also an alarming rise in respiratory issues as well as allergies. This generates billions for big pharma as well as helps cull the weak and elderly. See population control. People have gone missing or have been 'suicided' trying to blow the whistle on this one.
One thing I know for sure is that normal airliner jets do not make clouds that descend low and haze out the sky. That is our first clue something is not right,
We need to fight this people, its our future, not theirs.
No derailleur to beat to high hell...
No chain to stretch... more centered and (possibly) lower CoG for racing...
Those are all benefits to me, but we have to wait for reliability to be metered over a consumer's use, so GIMMIE ONE!
Shift gears anytime you want with out pedalling ? yes please.
Not replacing cassette every year ? yeah i'll have some of that.
Not buying a new chain 3 times a year yes please.
Not smashing expensive mechs into rocks and tree stumps , no brainer.