Originally Posted by
joeruge
I know this thread has been cold for a while, but I've got to ask; how do you this? Are you suggesting making sure the same chain link goes on the same sprocket tooth? I suppose that is possible, but it doesn't seem very practical. Am I misunderstanding the recommendation? I can see moving the front chain ring to the back and back to the front, and even rotating the chain rings one bolt every time you take the chain off to clean it, but keeping track of which link is on which tooth? That seems tough.
You can accomplish what is recommended on the Sheldon Brown site by just marking a tooth on each ring that engages the chain between the outer plates. If the rings have an even number of teeth, those teeth will only engage the chain between outer plates from then on. The idea is that this keeps half the teeth in better shape for longer.