DENVER (BRAIN) — Gates is introducing some extra-durable belt drive sprockets, inspired by year-round users in the Netherlands and aimed at adventure trekking riders.
The new CDC-EXP sprockets are designed for use with Rohloff internally geared hubs. The work with Gates' standard CDX belt but are extra durable because of a 25 percent increase in surface area. They are available in three front sizes and four rear sizes and retail for 25 percent more than the same-size CDX sprockets. The company said they weigh only a few grams more than the standard sprockets and will be available this fall.
"Gates isn't launching these due to any lack of durability on the regular CDX sprockets. Typical CDX customers have no need to order EXP," a Gates representative said. "Under certain abrasive conditions, however, the belts were outliving the sprockets — especially in the Netherlands where there are a lot of winter cyclists who are riding 12 months a year in slop and abrasive dirt. The soils in the Netherlands have a high silica content that is hard on bike parts."
The new 39-tooth front sprocket is also designed for use with Pinion gearboxes. Gates will unveil CDX:EXP at Eurobike later this month.
"The CDX:EXP sprockets are an example of how we continue to expand the Carbon Drive product line to meet the needs of the widest range of bicyclists," said Todd Sellden, the global director of Gates Carbon Drive.
Sellden said that at Eurobike, Gates will show a range of new belt-drive bikes and e-bikes from brands including HNF Heisenberg, Cube, GTech, Kalkhoff, Biomega, Stevens, Klaxon, Riese and Muller, Butchers & Bicycles, Cannondale, Bergamont, Ghost, Kettler, Ibex, and BME. HNF Heisenberg is a new brand that has introduced three eBikes with Gates Carbon Drive and Bosch drive systems, including a first-of-its-kind full-suspension electric mountain bike whose suspension linkage was designed by BMW.
Gates also has partnered with Shimano to create a front sprocket assembly that integrates with Shimano's STEPS mid-drive.
"Gates is seeing fast growth in the premium electric bike market because mid-drive motors wear out chains rapidly. Our testing shows that Carbon Drive has a longer life than chain drives on mid-drive eBikes," Sellden says. Other new product highlights include the new lower-priced CDNTM belt system. Gates is working closely with Thun in Europe and FSA in Asia to design and make available bottom brackets specific for the CDN system.
