Feature explained
Belt Drive vs Chain Drive
A toothed rubber belt instead of a metal chain.
Simplified schematic — not to scale.
What it is
Some commuter and single-speed bikes use a reinforced rubber belt instead of a chain, needing no oil and shrugging off rain and grit, but requiring a specially split frame to fit and only working with certain gear systems.
Why it matters
Belts trade some flexibility (they only pair with hub gears or single-speed setups) for a genuinely clean, near-silent, low-maintenance drivetrain.