chain length and the eno hub

[spiderman]

i've been experimenting with the right blend of chain length
replacing the chain
and quickly getting the perfect wheel alignment on my fixed gear bike.
i started out inserting the wheel with the eno hub down
tightening just enough to keep the wheel in place
putting on the chain
and then wrenching back the hub 90 degrees.
...it seems to fit better, though
when i put the wheel in position so that there is free rotation
while holding the eno hub at the 90 degree mark, back toward me fully
and then just roll the chain on after the hub is already in position
(tightened securely at the maximum length before the chain is in place).
this makes me wonder if i'm using the eno hub to its greatest benefit
or to any benefit whatsoever...
there is definitely a sweet spot on the perfect chain length.
previous threads about measuring chains by laying them out
and changing out chains have been of great benefit!
thanks!!
i'm becoming much more skilled with my walmart chain tool, too!
...much more confident that if i broke a chain on a ride, i'd be able to fix it
without a master link. i guess practice makes perfect...

[Ray]

You might be thinking too hard. I recently got an ENO rear wheel so I could ride any of my vertical drop-out frames fixed. In converting my Rambouillet, I just put the wheel in loose, ran the chain around the cog and chainring and eyeballed it, figuring I'd err a bit on the long side. I did err, took another link out and then all was good. I friggin' LOVE this hub - it makes getting the chain tension dialed in much easier than with horizontal dropouts. I put it in place with the bike on the floor and let the weight of the frame drop onto the chain to tension it. Tightened it up and it's perfect - more perfect than I've ever felt in all my years of running fixed. And the number of frames it opens up to experimentation is a wonderful thing!

edit - this made me start thinking about whether letting the weight of the bike create the tension made sense - if the bolts should loosen during a ride, all of your body weight will be on the chain, which sounds potentially dangerous. Although maybe less so than having the hub position opposite, where it would partially collapse the chain if things got loose? So I just checked the White Industries website, where they have mounting instructions. They recommend doing it as I mentioned orignially - let the bike weight tension the chain and then REALLY crank the bolts down so they don't loosen up on a ride. Perfect chain tension every time (unless your chainring is really out of round).

-Ray

[spiderman]

and the white industries site
puts it together for me
especially having tried a couple of different options.
i'm thinking the reason is works so well
is that i can get it right with this hub
even if i go at it unconventionally!
it seems to work no matter what...
...it's all in the eno hub!