Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
I'd just size it so you don't have any "droop" when on the smallest cog.
It could probably go shorter, but why not spread the load over more links?
Exactly.
I've experimented with installing a full length chain,
w/o removing any links at all.
It functioned just fine even with massive droop on the small/small combo (which is not a combo you use anyway).
Only a minor annoyance was the sound of loose lower segment rattling on bumps, (in the few gears where there was slack).