Inch pitch is wonderful and feels more direct, at least with a block chain, which is impossible to do ( I guess) on a 1/2 inch pitch chain. I would think that the availability of block chains is why inch pitch survived so long in the track world.
It also wears slower, sounds cooler and looks burlier - what's not to like?
Jerry, OT, but with my OT 7800 bike, I basically have a 11-18 straight block and then some bail out climbing cogs.. Like a liquid transmission till it jumps. It's pretty nice too, but wears really fast. I despise the proliferation of cogs, but enjoy the results.
-Harry Schwartzman
Brooklyn NY