Carbon Belt Drive
One thing to note is that belts cannot be taken apart like a traditional chain, so installing one requires a frame designed for a belt drive. Chain and belts alike need to pass through the rear triangle of the bike, so those designed for belts will have a breakpoint or a removable dropout to allow installation. It may not be an option for retrofitting your current bike, but to gain these benefits, it’s well worth an upgrade.
Key Benefits
A bike with a carbon belt drive is convenient, clean, and cost-effective, and for you that means:
- No more ruined pant legs from your bike chain
- Saying goodbye to degreasing and re-lubricating on a regular basis
- Easy, occasional cleaning with water and no threat of rust
Setting and adjusting the tension on a bike with a carbon belt drive is perhaps the only required maintenance. While the belt drive on a Montague Allston is pre-tensioned out of the box, it is an important skill to know if ever necessary. Read more on the Folding Bikes Blog below.
Internal Gear Hub
A traditional drivetrain has a derailleur, a relatively complex mechanical device that physically moves the chain between different gears. With this design, the gears, and those moving parts of the derailleur, are exposed on the outside of the bike. The gears are susceptible to damage, quick to pick up grime from the road, and can corrode from moisture. However, an internal gear hub, such as the Shimano Alfine 11, places the entire shift mechanism and gears inside a sealed rear hub.
With all the shifting mechanisms encased safely within the rear hub enjoying an endless bath of oil, any chance of gear corrosion or system damage goes from inevitable to near impossible.
Key Benefits
This ensures that your gears are shielded from the elements and kept lubricated, which means:
- More time on the road
- Easier, more reliable shifting
- Less time making constant adjustments
This combination of a belt drive and internal gear hub is offered on the Montague Allston, alongside a patented folding design to deliver the ultimate city bike. The Gates belt drive and Shimano Alfine 11 internal gear hub, which offers a whopping 11 gears (and 85 gear-inches of range) in its compact package, allow you to ride in all weather, tackle any hill, and sprint to work without worrying about shortening the lifespan of your chain.
Paired with Montague’s unique DirectConnect folding technology, the bike can go anywhere. Simply fold up your Allston and take it with you on public transportation, store it in a car trunk, or carry it with you up to your office.
Hear what others have to say about the Montague Allston.
Just got it and unpacked it. Very nice first ride! So smooth, and solid. I love this bike. Nice finish, nice graphics. Very well made. The gates belt is smooth and the Shimano Alfine 11 shifts perfectly. Love the rackstand that acts as a rack and a kickstand. Great job Montague!
Sweet bike! Very happy with the purchase. Having the belt instead of a chain is really awesome, feels buttery smooth to ride.
Everything about this bike is excellent. If you’re concerned that it won’t ride well or feel stable think again. You know it is quality made as soon as you take it out of the box. Most of the time I ride it on the weekends and since I can just toss it in the back of my car I try out new locations. It gives a high performance ride and I don’t worry about it getting stolen.
The Allston has been outstanding this winter for commuting.
