Originally Posted by RedHairedScot
Spoke breakage? Even at home I wouldn't know what to do about that...at that point it's time to call SAG.
It's not a biggie, though if you hate extra weight and you have your wheels checked before you go it shouldn't be a problem. On a very well built wheel spokes shouldn't break.
But . . . it would be a shame for such a small, easily solved problem to shut you down. It's such a basic repair and you'll feel much better and self-sufficient knowing how to do it. The only extra things you'd have to bring are proper length spokes, cassette/freewheel tool, and wrench that fits the tool. I think a chain whip is unnecessary since there is a chain on your bike you can use to grab the cassette.
If you don't want to mess with cassette/freewheel removal, I've heard people recommend these--
http://www.yellowjersey.org/fiberfix.html . Never tried it myself but have reallyreally wished I had one once (Touring on a borrowed bike that I stupidly assumed had a cassette but actually had a freewheel so I didn't have the right tool. I was 130 miles from the nearest bike shop and broke one, then another spoke.)
Here's a link on the value of the cyclo-tourist knowing repair basics
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/skills/repair.htm