Zed’s Take: Another one joins the future. At this point, the chain holdouts are starting to feel like the horse-and-buggy lobby circa 1910. We’re not saying chains will disappear. We’re just saying your grandkids will find them charmingly retro.
Source: Cycling Industry Press Release | Date: March 2026
Excerpt from the press release:
Starting with our 2027 model year, all urban, touring, and e-bike categories will ship exclusively with belt-drive systems. Consumer demand for low-maintenance drivetrains has accelerated beyond projections, and we’re proud to meet that demand.
Chain-drive options will remain available in our performance road and competition mountain lines “for the foreseeable future,” according to a company spokesperson, who declined to define “foreseeable.”
Translation: Even the manufacturers are tired of warranty claims from stretched chains.