Could this new drivetrain change mountain biking?

For riders who hate smashing derailleurs, squeaky chains, and maintenance in general, this new drivetrain system is a heaven-sent.

Zerode bikes serves up a velvety smooth ride experience with this Gates Carbon Drive with internal gear box drivetrain configuration.

While the system isn’t the lightest for those who count grams, riders who simply wanna send it without risking broken drivetrain bits will love this setup. All of the gear components are hidden away from harm inside the frame, and there's just one big, thick sprocket on the back wheel.

I got to play around a little bit in the parking lot at the Sedona MTB Festival where I saw this bike, but no trail time yet. I will say accelerations and shifting tests were intriguing, and the bike definitely merits a real trail test!

Shifting under load isn't possible, as the shifter won't even rotate if you're pedaling too hard. Also, the engagement is a tad slower than traditional drivetrains with high point count hubs like the i9 Hydra.

What’s your take on this type of drivetrain? Are the maintenance merits worth the drawback of additional grams? What about the fact that frames need to be purpose-built for compatibility? 

Be sure to check out our post on Instagram about this drivetrain to see it in action!