Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Pinche Cadena or Damn masterlink

Well I lost my masterlink mid ride today, on my way home from work. Funny enough I spent over 500 dollars for the wheels on my bike, and another couple of hundred color coordinating, but put a 7 dollar chain on there. I had been using a substancially more expensive track chain, but the silver clashed with the black theme of my bike. I know I am a little vain but I switched the chain out when I installed the black crankarms. I got stuck, walking my bike home, as I could only locate half of the masterlink. It was quite a surreal experience hearing a wierd sound and looking at my drivetrain as the chain slowly fell to the ground. Funny enough I tried to back pedal even though it didn't do any good, good thing I am not riding brakeless anymore... Fixed the chain now, and decided to forgoe the masterlink situation and just used my chain tool to correct the problem.

F* Masterlinks...

Phil

I never bother with them. I just figure it's another thing that can go wrong. And apparently it's something that *does* go wrong. Yeah chain tools, boo master links.

I thought you knew better than that... You could have just sent off for a black track chain or had the hub order you one in...

The same thing happened to me when I was standing on a climb, except I don't have brakes. My foot suddenly became unweighted, which pushed all my weight to the left, and I tipped over in slow motion. My friends thought it was funny, and they pushed me up the hill. Check out the chain on the bike at www.cycles-for-heroes.com. It looks indestructible, but it's not black.

Looks a lot like the one on my bike. It at least 'feels' indestructable....

I never bother with them. I just figure it's another thing that can go wrong. And apparently it's something that *does* go wrong. Yeah chain tools, boo master links.

ALWAYS take that damn link OFF, you hear! Shees... :eek:

odd...I have always used a 'masterlink' type chain: SRAM PC-1, Izumi, and Sachs (long time ago) nd have yet to lose/have a problem (knock wood x 3).

Mine have always been masterlink style - but I took a file to my chain tool to make it fit wider chains so I don't have to use the masterlink... It feels better that way...

']odd...I have always used a 'masterlink' type chain: SRAM PC-1, Izumi, and Sachs (long time ago) nd have yet to lose/have a problem (knock wood x 3).

I use rock bottom Czech 1/8" granny bike chain without any probs, altough it does stretch wee bit too quickly for my taste

i dunno...i've been running mostly izumi NJS chains for a while now, and i'm cool with the master link. never had a bit of trouble.

NJS chains have a master link that secures with a screw, not a flimsy little clip.

beware of the screw. Blue Loctite that mutha in place as they have been known to go "on vacation" if not secured properly.

I had the same thing happen to me, only I was brakeless. PC-1 snapped apart as I was coming up to a 4-way intersection. I managed to get one foot out to stop but not until I was well into the intersection - luckily everyone saw me and I got nothing more than yelled and cursed at. After that I put on a front brake and started using a chain tool to join chain. Could have been much worse.

Craig

']beware of the screw. Blue Loctite that mutha in place as they have been known to go "on vacation" if not secured properly.

oh, yeah. definitely. i've been doing that from the beginning.

Yeah I was glad it wasn't worse, it was the first problem I have EVER had with a masterlink so I feel it isn't too bad. I mean how many years now and still just this one problem?? I don't feel too bad, especially since I was just about a mile away from home.. Life isn't all bad.

Phil