Gates Corporation, maker of the Gates Carbon Drive system for bicycles, is launching a series of limited edition red belts called Carbon Drive Red.

Carbon Drive Red, shown to the right, adds a high-visibility splash of color to bicycles and capitalizes on the bike industry trend of color matching components and frame accents. The red belt also highlights the clean, smooth and simple attributes of the Gates Carbon Drive system, which requires no greasy lubrication and never rusts.

Painted chains have been part of urban bike style for many years, but the color quickly wears off and disappears under road grime. Carbon Drive Red, by contrast, will always pop with color. If it gets dirty, just hose it off.

Customers have asked for colored bike belts since the launch of the Gates Carbon Drive system in 2007, but the company instead focused on perfecting the technology, durability and performance of its black belts before expanding into colors.

As an engineering company, our first focus was on the meat and potatoes business of ensuring that our belts and sprockets meet the highest levels of performance and durability, said Todd Sellden, director of Gates Carbon Drive. Now it is time to bring the sizzle.

Carbon Drive Red is available immediately in the United States for purchase as a belt only or on a complete bike. The first production bikes to feature the new red belts are the Acme and Acme Open from Spot Brand. Carbon Drive Red launches in Europe on March 1 with the release of the Red Race single-speed from Berlins Schindelhauer Bikes. Individual red belts will be available for purchase in Europe after April 1.

In addition to Spot and Schindelhauer, Gates partnered with two other bike brands known for their stylish designs to commission some stylish red rides. Flying Machine Bikes in Australia created a custom titanium F-One 11-speed with 3D printed titanium lugs and red accents. Budnitz Bicycles built a Gates X No. 1 city cruiser inspired by the Porsche 918 Spyder.

Carbon Drive Red is an opportunity to grow interest in Gates belts as a simple alternative to chains, and also to attract more people to bicycling, Sellden said. Carbon Drive Red is the epitome of bike style and a bold alternative to greasy chains.