Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I'm calling BS and here's why:
Chainrings on the crank are rarely perfectly concentric. If you tighten a single speed chain too much, it'll make a popping noise and the crank will be noticeably harder to spin at one point in the rotation.
Some times it's better to let go. This is a open forum and everybody is entitled to his opinion, right, wrong or otherwise.
I agree that this is far from best practice for any number of reasons, but it's entirely possible that it works in some cases. Some chainrings are pretty round, so the problems of eccentricity aren't severe. In that case the flex in the rear axle and elsewhere in the system might be enough to accommodate the tight chain without bending.
As I said, I think it's poor practice, but calling it BS just fuels the fire. As it is readers of the thread have seen the spectrum of opinions, and can judge for themselves what and who makes sense.