I live in California in the high desert. It literally has the least amount of rain and snow of any place I have ever lived. I have a Co-Motion Pangea Rohloff. I am 63 years old and prior to this bicycle I never thought of cleaning and maintaining a conventional drivetrain as a problem. My Pangea Rohloff helps me to be motivated to ride more often. Sometimes its the little things that make life more fun. There is allot of wind storms were I live and for the first time in months it is really raining with some hail. It has been proven that belts last longer especially in severe weather and adverse conditions. Unless somebody rides a bicycle with a belt and a Rohloff or pinion they have no idea what they speak of about how much maintenance. There are allot of little things that are not necessary when you have a belt equipped bicycle.