Originally Posted by
cyclist2000
+1 I'm with Hillrider on this, I've been riding a long time and have never broken a chain.
But last year on a group tour, I was riding along some guy and his chain just broke and fell off his bike. The grade was flat and we were just cruising at a slow pace. It must be lack of maintenance or a cheap chain.
I've broken a chain once in 30+ years of riding, but then I was very happy to have a chain tool and spare Shimano pin with me. It took a few minutes, but I was saved from limping home. Nowadays I have a chain tool on the multi-tool and a master link, and I hope I never have to use them.
Just last week I was cleaning and oiling my wife's chain, and I found one link that had broken its outer plate (SRAM PC-59 chain). Strangely, it was still working fine, and we had completed a short but hilly ride. It must have come apart on the last few miles- I can't imagine the chain staying together with any sort of torque being applied.