Posted by: RAHrider
Isn't a Singulator a reliable single speed option? i like shorter chainstays to make the bike easier to get on the back wheel etc so the thing i never really liked about horizontal dropouts is that it makes perfectly short chainstays too long. Sometimes you get lucky with your gear and the chainstay length but I'm just as happy to run a singulator.
Sprung tensioners are noisy and sensitive to chainline, frame flex and contamination with thick mud in my experience and depending on the frame, longer chainstays might actually feel pretty nice/better than the short setting, but that's obviously personal preference. Also think of the clean lines!
I had a ~1992 GT Tequesta set up with a fixed tensioner at the BB, that worked pretty nicely, but even there noise and friction were more significant than on a nicely set up bike with an EBB, sliders or track ends.