Originally Posted by
jimmuller
Oh, I get the variable leverage idea. But...but...but...with a derailleur you have something to take up the chain slack, with a fixie you don't. So when the long axis is horizontal the chain will sag. On the other hand, maybe that's a style thing, kinda' like droopy pants.
But it doesn't. The same amount of chain is wrapped around the chain ring at all times, so chain tension fluctuates only a tiny bit as the crank rotates. But Sheldon had better luck with this arrangement than I did.