Originally Posted by
JohnDThompson
42mm is only "perfect" with 120mm OLD hubs. If your frame is 130mm OLD, you'll want the chain to sit a little further out. 45mm sounds about right...
this is true.
once you have a rear wheel with a rim that sits evenly between the seatstays and chainstays when mounted and that involves a threadon cog or ss freewheel, you have pretty much already made a choice as to the perfectly straight chainline. the rest of it involves matching it to the proper crank and BB.
BTW, a ss freehwheel can be adjusted laterally outward to some extent by judicious use spacers. and some fixed gear cogs are dished to allow two discreet chainlines.