Samuel D wrote:Aren’t Wippermann Connex 800-series chains (at least some of them) already like that? The pins still slightly overhang the plate though.
yes that is the case, but the rivets are not quite flush. I've not measured how much they stick out though. For many years shimano chains have had cambered outer side plates, so that even though the pins stick out slightly, they are not the only thing that sticks out.
And yet careful adjustment doesn’t mean minimal gap, right? I read of a specific gap distance in some SRAM documentation (before 12 speed). I have wondered why that might be. Why wouldn’t the smallest gap always be best?
if the gap is smaller than it needs to be (esp with a single pivot derailleur) the shift can be baulky and intolerant to small adjustment errors. If you have a sprung upper knuckle then you can run a closer GPG and the shift will still go. it mayn't be super smooth but it'll go.
Never noticed with my 8-speed 13–26T system that just goes BAM, BAM, BAM through the gears in any direction, any weather, practically instantly, with a SRAM PC-850. I don’t believe further improvement would make any difference to me, even for racing.
maybe not; but the intervals in that cassette are not going to be a big challenge to shift. Part of the equation is not only how well it works, but how long it carries on working for; 6,7,8s systems have an advantage here.
Re jockey pulley size; it is probably better to have an odd number of teeth; this prevents 'every other tooth wear', and slows the overall wear rate on the pulleys.
cheers