20 June 2013

Rohloff-Equipped Belt Drive Steve Potts Ultimate Commuter

Steve Potts Rohloff and Gates Carbon Drive equipped Commuter

We recently completed this beautiful titanium Steve Potts Rohloff and Gates belt drive commuter bike for a customer based in San Rafael, CA. He wanted an 'ultimate commuter' bike with integrated features and built for long term heavy use similar to the Firefly E.P.U.C we highlighted previously. This customer was already experienced with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB, having ridden one on his Cannondale Badboy for the last several years. We transferred his existing hub onto this bike and added the Gates Carbon Drive Center Track parts for the build.

Headbadge and Rohloff cable guides for clean routing

Custom Steve Potts handlebar and stem

This bike features a host of special touches including a custom Steve Potts handlebar and stem, and Kent Eriksen seatpost all made from titanium.  Even the Tubus rack and King water bottle cages are made of titanium.

This is about the cleanest custom taillight we've ever seen.
Dynamo wire running to the custom taillight
Schmidt SL dynamo connection and internal fork wiring

One of the really neat features of this bike is the integrated lighting system.  A Schmidt SON28SL dynamo powers the headlight and taillight. The hub connects to the lights through a special plate in the dropout, enabling the wheel to be removed and installed without plugging in any wires. The wire from this dynamo connector runs through the fork leg to the Supernova E3 headlight, and the taillight wire runs through the frame and inside the seatpost. The titanium Eriksen Sweetpost was drilled out custom for the Supernova E3 LED taillight, which was custom mounted inside.


Gates Carbon Drive Center Track belt system for superior smoothness and longevity

We built the wheels on this bike with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Schmidt SON28SL hubs laced to Velocity Dyad rims, a popular touring and tandem model that should hold up well for this application, with SAPIM Race spokes and brass nipples. All wheels built by Cycle Monkey are pre-stressed multiple times during the build process and finished to exacting tolerances, ensuring a long lasting and durable wheel.


Rohloff SPEEDHUB with Gates Carbon Drive Center Track belt pulley held in place on the rocker dropout by a maximum security stainless steel Pitlock locking skewer set.

 Chainstay brake mount and Rohloff OEM slot on Paragon rocker dropout


There are certain bikes that can't be completely taken in with one look. This Steve Potts has enough custom features and thoughtful details to fit into that category. Steve is a legendary local builder and produces few enough frames that when you do come across one it is worth remembering, especially one built up as nice as this.

Build details:

  • Frame: Steve Potts custom titanium commuter
  • Fork: Steve Potts steel Type II
  • Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet
  • Stem: Steve Potts titanium
  • Handlebar: Steve Potts titanium
  • Shifter: Rohloff
  • Grips: Ergon GP1
  • Seatpost: Eriksen titanium with integrated taillight
  • Saddle: Specialized Avatar
  • Front Hub: Schmidt SONdelux SL disc
  • Rear Hub: Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14
  • Spokes: Sapim Laser
  • Nipples: Sapim Brass
  • Rims: Velocity Dyad
  • Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme
  • Cranks: RaceFace Deus
  • Bottom Bracket: Chris King
  • Chainring: Gates Center Track sprocket
  • Rear Sprocket: Rohloff Gates Center Track belt pulley
  • Belt: Gates Carbon Drive
  • Brakes & Levers: Magura Louise
  • Rotors: Avid
  • Extras: Tubus Airy rack, Pitlock anti-theft skewer set, Supernova E3 headlight and tail light, King Ti bottle cages

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