broken chain

[JohnRedcoRn]

hope it never happens, but in the event of a broken chain in the middle of nowhere ; what kind of chaintools do i need to be carrying routinely ?

are we talking spare chain links and something to cobble the chain back together ?

and are there any other major chain catastrophes i need to be aware of ??

i have an intensive maintenance course coming up but i'm doing regular 10 - 40 mile rides so i should be able to do jobs like this.

thanks

 

[Gerry Attrick]

All I carry is a chain splitting tool, a spare pin or two of the correct type for the chain, and a SRAM removable link, although this latter is not strictly needed.

Assuming you have derailleur gears, then should a chain break, you remove the damaged bits and re-join the chain with a new pin. Best to replace the chain with a new one later.

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

thanks. so, chain splitter, spare links and spare pins?

i'm confused though - a chain splitter ; why would i need one of these if the chains already broken? is it to remove the broken bits from the chain ?

 

[Twenty Inch]

Because the chain will pull apart under the stress, and you'll need to take out the damaged bits, and also undo a new link to rejoin it.

It's worth practising beforehand. The first time it happened to me was on a dark and stormy night, 10 miles from home and 12 miles from work, where I had to go and do a short but vital job late in the evening. Luckily I knew what I was doing and was back on the road in a few minutes.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Beautifully put TwentyInch.

 

[domtyler]

Couple of paperclips and a stapler should get you back up and running.

 

[jassy-x]

....I came across a cyclist at the side of the road a few weeks ago with a broken chain...luckily for him he had the chain splitter and spare links/pins to get moving again....which got me thinking....if it had been me I would have found myself freewheeling down hills and walking on cleets for the rest of the 20 miles home as I only carry tyre levers, spare tube, pump and multi-tool.....
...so do many of you guys carry the tools???
...if so, how many have been thankful for the fact??
...and on the other hand, have many been caught out??

 

[palinurus]

I carry stuff to fix a puncture, a multitool with a chainsplitter and some cableties. Most things can be fixed or bodged with those. At least if I had to walk 20 miles I could remove the cleats from my shoes. If touring I carry a few extra bits in case a crank works loose or a spoke breaks etc.

I've needed to use a chainsplitter at the roadside on two occasions in 20 years.

 

[Soltydog]

At least if I had to walk 20 miles I could remove the cleats from my shoes.

Cheers, that's a top tip. I had bb trouble a couple of weeks back & thought i was going to end up walking 7 miles home, wouldn't have thought of removing cleats In the end i managed to gently nurse my bike home

 

[papercorn2000]

I've lost a front skewer that I obviously hadn't tightened - don't know how it opened! That was scary!

 

[joebe]

my KMC chain popped a link on the way home tonight, dashed in to Action Bikes to get a splitter and a spare just in case then limped home with one side of the link holding it all together.

 

[Mr Pig]

I carry a chain tool, spare links and a quick-link.

I have fixed a chain on my mate's bike, he'd just fitted a new chain and I guess he hadn't connected it correctly. I've also been glad of the spare quick-link (SRAM power link it was) when the Power Link on my chain came undone going over rocky ground and I lost half of it. The spare link meant I was up and running very quickly, I actually spent longer looking for the lost link ;0)

 

[tdr1nka]

I carry a chain splitter, tyre levers, self adhesive patches, pump and a multi tool as my basic kit.

 

[Mr Pig]

One of my mates has a bike that cost less than my muti-tool!...

 

[tdr1nka]

One of my mates has a bike that cost less than my muti-tool!...

I thought I was shocked at this until I realised that I have a friend who's bike cost less than my pump!