Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Chain length...

This might be a stupid question, how do you determine the proper length for you're chain? I know on my multi-gear bikes I just go big big and add 2 links.

I put the rear wheel in just enough so there is full axle washer contact. Then I put the chain on as tight as possible. It should still have slack, then I loosen the nuts and pull back for tension. I really push back, grabbing the wheel at the BB and levering with my thumb against the BB. This way I can keep the chain snug and wheel straight while tightening the nuts.

i've always put the axle in the middle of the dropout/track end, and then size the chain as appropriate. it makes sense to me to do it that way so i've got room to move about if i ever feel the need to change my gearing.

........and of course, if your dropouts/forkends/trackends are a bit on the short side or not quite horizontal and you're unable to place your rear axle at a desired location, "half-links" of chain are also available. When I first heard of half-links, I had a hard time visualizing what they look like because I knew what a full link looked like......I thought how you can link a chain with just half of a full link........hmmmm......but I figured it out. Haven't actually seen one yet, though.......except in my mind......and it really works. Spoke to a few people who use them on the Fixed-Gear Mailing List.
Anyway, I think Sheldon Brown sells them for about $5 per half-link. Thank you!!

i have a converted road bike with short semi-horizontal drops and i used a half link that i got from harris-cyclery for 5 bucks. theres 2 kinds of half links ive seen out there, and the style sheldon has is a higher quality than the kind you can get at dans competition, although dans is cheaper