Originally Posted by
grant40
combine with this.
<pic of crank with two same-size rings snipped>
There are at least two advantages to such a system (apart from the obvious one of shared and thus effectively reduced wear), though neither is much use to cyclists. With appropriate placing of the sprocket teeth one can achieve more uniform rotational speed and accuracy, and double- (and triple- etcetera) row chains can carry more power; not uncommonly used for this purpose on motor-cycles.