Road Cycling - Chain tool? yes or no.........

To me a chain tool is heavy, takes up much space in small seat pack I like to use, and I've never needed it. So the question is with a well pampered drive train and a chain in good condition with very little stretch what are the odds that I will need it? Any one ever have a 'good' chain pop?

Yep. I've had em break while accelerating from a stop, and I've had to break a chain that was wedged from chain-suck.

I used to carry a full-sized chain tool, but the one in my Crank Bros Multi 17 works just fine.

RichC

I carry one. Even with a SRAM powerlink, you just don't know which part of a chain will break.

Hey Rich C I checked out the tool you noted. Looks like a good one. Maybe I could ditch a couple other things I have in the pack and use just that one. Just the thought of a fifty mile walk back to my car is something I cant imagine.

In the 30 yrs of road riding, I've never, ever needed a chain tool on the road. Therefore, I don't carry one. But when Mtb'ing, yes.

Originally posted by ClevelandGuy
Hey Rich C I checked out the tool you noted. Looks like a good one. Maybe I could ditch a couple other things I have in the pack and use just that one. Just the thought of a fifty mile walk back to my car is something I cant imagine.

Yeah, I really like the manufacturing quality of the CB stuff. And the 17 is a nice selections of tools you can use; the chain-breaker doesn't add that much to its weight or bulk.

And you never know, you might come across someone with a broken chain that you can help out, even if you never need it yourself.

RichC

The Topeak Hummer is another multi tool with a reasonable chain tool, and yes I've had one chain snap on the road (admittedly a cheapie). I've not had a SRAM chain break but you never know...

I agree with the The Fixer...

Considering what I weigh and what my bike weighs, I find the tiny mass of a chain tool to be worth it.

Paul

I can't afford to be stranded, so a multitool is the order of the day. Saved my can many a time. I've not yet used the chain tool on it, but I figure it adds a solid 10 grams to the weight of the tool, if that. Worth it for piece of mind.

I've never had a chain break on the road, but a fellow-rider did have one break on a Labor Day century last year. Far from home! Fortunately, someone had a chain tool and he was able to repair the chain. I carry a Crank Bros Multi 17 and a couple of spare Shimano pins.

Well, I put in a lot more miles then most people. I carry a chain tool and have had to use it once on my own bike. I have seen other people break chains, oh about 3 or 4 times.

To give you an idea, in the same span of experience I have had more flats then I can remember, maybe over 100 and I have seen at least as many from other riders. I do most of my miles solo by the way.

So can you get away without a chain tool? I think so.

I have carried a chain tool for 20 years. Maybe not in short daily rides, but for anything longer than that. I never used it, except 2 times in a row, lately, when 2 different 8-speed chains broke.

Regards,

Yes.

I carry a multi-tool with a chain tool on it. I wouldn't ride without one. In 12 years or so, I've broken chains twice, both times on my roadie. I've also stopped to repair chains for other people three or four times. Having a small chain tool in your saddle bag is a cheap insurance policy. It can save you a long walk. I also carry a "Missing Link" in the appropriate size for my chain.

The weight of a chain tool on a multi-tool is negligible to me. If I were aa supported racer, I might not bother with it. I'm not a supported racer.

*Edit* Correction: I've broken chains three times, always on my roadie. The first time I didn't have a chain tool. That's why I always carry one now.

I'ved used it once for a friend's bike when the rear derailler busted and trashed to pieces...

I used the tool to shorten the chain and turn his bike into a single speed so we could get back to the start...

I fully recommend to have one. Just find one that comes apart in pieces.

chain tool? whats that... just kidding lol

anyway, i don't carry one..

Well,

Funny this should come up, my chain broke last weekend, and I didn't have a chain tool :(

Fortunately, a park ranger stopped and had a hammer, pliers and a 10d nail with which I could break and refasten the chain, so then I could finish the ride :) (put pliers on ground and use to support link leaving space for pin to be driven in/out with hammer and nail.)

The chain only has 300-500 miles on it, one of the pins just came loose, I think because I chainsucked a few weeks ago.

Would you replace the chain or just use it? it seems to work fine, i've put another 30 miles on it since the incident. It is a 6 speed chain BTW.

take care,

Jester

How far do you ride from home? If it's far enough that it would creat much trouble coming back, I would think it's good to carry it. I am on a cross country tour right now with a streched and wore out cheap chinese chain and I sure do have it somewhere on the bottom of the bags :D

If you don't have support, think you need to carry extra water or food then you probably need a chain tool along with an extra tube.

When I do my 130+ mile rides I carry 4 bottles, 3 tubes a tire and a multi-tool. Oh yea and a cel-phone.

The phone is the last measure. With some parts of the ride being in open country of 40-50 miles of NOTHING... I'd rather try to fix the chain than wait in the baking Florida sun for 2 hours waiting for a lift home.

If your Lance then you don't need to even carry a saddle bag... If not then you need to carry basics that will fit into a bag no bigger than the profile of your saddle.

No.

Knock on wood.

Oh what the heck! Yes

Hey you guys, thanks a lot. I bought one today! and 4 extra pins that are made for my chain type, just hope I never need it.........

Broke my chain fifteen years ago on my then new bike on the first ride ever. Have carried a chain tool ever sence and have fixed several friends chains over the years, but have never broken one sence then.

I think one of the best tools to carry is the Performance multi tool with the chain tool, works great and only weighs 46grams. Use to carry the Crankbrothers multi tool, but that thing weights four times as much with about the same tools I need.