Originally Posted by
Negative Force
Not only is it actually true (come on, of *course* you put more rearward pressure on the cranks and chain than if you were coasting or using brakes), but you actually basically just repeated a version of the quote you were trying to poo-poo by DROPPIN KNOWLEDGE.
And that's a fine colloquial use of "torque"... You really didn't know what the poster meant?
No, it
is not actually true.
Of *course* you put more rearward pressure on the cranks of a fixed gear than a freewheel (some > none). But, the max amount of pressure you can apply in the backwards direction is no greater than what you can apply in the forward direction. Besides, the direction of tension (not torque) doesn't matter. Action = reaction, so the forces on the chain's links & plates is the same. So, the amount of tension on a fixed gear chain is basically the same as on a single speed or geared bike chain.
Just because we all know what the OP meant by "torque" doesn't mean he/she used it correctly. You can no more torque a chain than push a rope.