Why a Rohloff Booda has no snubber
This article applies to Booda models with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB.
What a snubber is
Section titled “What a snubber is”A snubber is a small wheel on an arm next to the rear sprocket. Gates recommends one when a Carbon Drive belt runs on a Rohloff SPEEDHUB: it sits just off the belt and stops it from skipping (ratcheting) over the sprocket teeth under load.
Why we leave it out
Section titled “Why we leave it out”Booda bikes are built without a snubber. With the belt at the right tension, a Rohloff hub is no different from any other hub gear when it comes to the belt skipping, and many years of building and servicing Rohloff Boodas have shown us we can leave it out.
What keeps the belt on the teeth is the tension. Check it regularly, and always after the rear wheel has been out: see Belt tension.
“The gears are slipping”
Section titled ““The gears are slipping””On a belt-driven Rohloff, “the gears are slipping” or a loud metallic noise under load is very rarely the hub itself. It is almost always too little belt tension: the belt teeth skip over the rear sprocket. Skipping is not only noise: it can damage the carbon cords inside the belt.
If you notice this, stop riding, then:
- Check the belt tension: see Belt tension.
- If the belt has skipped under load, have it checked before you ride on: Gates requires a belt that has skipped under load to be replaced. See Belt and sprocket wear.
If the tension is right and it still happens, contact us.
Does my Rohloff Booda need a snubber?
No. We do not fit one: with the belt at the right tension, a Rohloff SPEEDHUB is no more prone to the belt skipping than any other hub gear, and many years of building and servicing Rohloff Boodas have shown us we can leave it out. What prevents skipping is the tension, so check it as described in Belt tension.