Mark Stonich wrote <but I snip to leave only one of his interesting points>:
[relative to 3/32 and/or 1/8" chains] There must be some cost in strength though as 3/16" is coming back in vogue for BMX and modern Single Speed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
May I suggest that this might be a fashion, not driven by serious analysis? In 4+ decades, I've rarely broken a 3/32 chain (and one of those times was riding an on-topic triplet with a pretty strong team, and required missing a shift, too). Besides, one wonders if the side plates are thicker or stronger on the new 3/16" chains. Or do they claim that better bearing surfaces give enough advantage to overcome the certain increase in weight? My sense is that these are chosen primarily for visual impact, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong - off-list, of course, unless the argument is on-topic. :-)
harvey sachs
mcLean va.