Originally Posted by andiewithanie

i can see how a too tight chain might contribute to wear, but i still think the fundamental issue is the pedalling forces involved. bmxers have been running tight chains for decades and i don't think it's as much of an issue if you're running 44/16-36/13.
yes bearing size is a concern, hence trying to find out if there's a way to get two small cartridge bearings to work together to share the forces better. i think maybe a top hat bearing (with apropriate spacers) might be the way to go, that way the chainline is roughly half way between the two bearings. it is at least a relatively simple solution. another alternative is bushings