Fifty Plus (50+) - Do you ride with a chain tool?

Just had my second chain failure in 2 years ,2 different bikes, both Shimano chains. First time it was a long walk home, second time my wife came to get me. I just ordered a sram chain along with some extra quick couplers. Seems to me that I need to start carrying a chain tool if I want to be self sufficient, but my seat bag is already full. I guess I'll need to start wearing jerseys with pockets.....

I think everyone should carry one. It has saved my butt many of times over the years. Just used it about a month ago when my wife and I were out on the MTB's and she broke her chain.

Don't take one on a ride as I have a Chain Gauge. Only time I will break a chain is soon after it has been fitted and I haven't done the job properly OR if the chain is getting well worn and it is time for it to break. I regularly check the wear on a chain and as it gets to 1% worn on the gauge I order a new chain and fit it next weekend.

I carry one.

The very best way to prevent chain failure is: here it comes - get ready. Carry a chain tool incorporated into a multi-tool kit along with a few spare links together with a KMC or Sram Quick Links. When thusly prepared, some cyclists can go an entire cycling career, I'm talking years here, without a bit of chain trouble.

Needed one yesterday, and I had it with me. First time I needed it for my own bike while out on the road, but I kind of suspected I would need it and had taken a spare chain with me as well which was the first time I did that.

The last time that I broke a chain on a ride I was solo mountain biking around 4 miles from my car. No problem, I have a Park mini chain tool right? WRONG! The #$%^&* replaceable pin was missing. I lowered my seat so I could Flintstone the flats, walked the uphills, and coasted the downhills back to my car.

Yes, I carry one, with a couple of spare links. Very rarely needed, but a life-saver on those rare occasions.

I haven't carried one for several years. I've had two broken chains and both were worn beyond the point where they should have been replaced. So, I just keep my chains well maintained and replace them when they should be.

My multi-tool includes a chain tool, but I'd be hard-pressed to break a 10-speed chain with it.

My multitools have chain tools and I carry quick links. Haven't needed them and hope I won't but they are there.

Nope - hope I don't need one.

My multitool has a chain breaker, and I carry some "missing links".

I didn't used to but then a few years ago I came accross a couple who were waiting with their bikes for a ride. One of them had broken a chain. If only I had a chain tool with me I could have salvaged their day.

I carry one now.

I now carry a chain tool and a spare master link, but have not yet used them. This is in reaction to the day some years ago when a Wippermann link separated in the middle of a front shift and one half got lost in the weeds.

Carry the quick links that match not only your bike, but your crews - it will gain you a round at the pub one day.

Only time I will break a chain is soon after it has been fitted and I haven't done the job properly OR if the chain is getting well worn and it is time for it to break.

This. There are lots of other ways to get stranded and a broken chain is on the very bottom.

I've never had a chain break except when I didn't install it right. But I've had a seatpost clamp snap and a skewer break.

The very best way to prevent chain failure is: here it comes - get ready. Carry a chain tool incorporated into a multi-tool kit along with a few spare links together with a KMC or Sram Quick Links. When thusly prepared, some cyclists can go an entire cycling career, I'm talking years here, without a bit of chain trouble.

Absolutely correct. After 2 chain failures and the advent of a chain tool in my rear bag, I have not had to use it for the last 6 years.

No. Maybe I should.

I have a multi-tool with a chainbreaker on it and years ago I carried a regular chain tool. Of all the things I have broken on the road a chain is not one of them, but I broke one on a mtb once and I have repaired chains for several others on the road.

Thanks for posting this! Chain tool? Gives me something else to buy. Never thought about my chain breaking... :ride:

Yes. Each of my bikes has a multi tool in its seat bag and they all have chain tools built in. Glad I had my Alien with me today as I needed it. I was riding the new monstercross bike on some dirt roads when it started shifting funny and the chain jumping to the small ring without me shifting. I stopped to see what was going on and I saw that the side plate on one of the chain links was busted and about to fall off. I guess I shouldn't have reused the chain when I transferred the components over from the Casseroll. The chain tool allowed me to remove that link and put the chain back together and ride home. It would have been a 5 mile hike or a call for a ride without it.

I always carry a multitool with a chain breaker built in. But do you research on tools before you buy the first one you see - some of the built in chain tools are junk.

The multitool I use has a chain tool. I've never needed it but friends have. It's not shop quality by any means but it works well enough in the field.

The spoke wrench on the tool has come in handy many times. This tool is a tiny Ritchey that's no longer made, not the huge heavy tools that they have now.

Many decades ago, my husband broke his chain while out on a ride with my sister and me. He walked/velocipeded 15 miles home while we rode the rest of the 50 mile loop. Since then, we always have a chain tool with us. (It was pretty funny watching him roll backwards when it broke. He thought he had just mis-shifted and was pedaling frantically trying to get the chain to engage. I guess it didn't occur to him to use his brakes.)

By the way, whenever I hear of or see someone have a chain break on a ride, it always turns out to be a Shimano chain. My husband had one literally fall to pieces on him. He put it on, went on a 750 mile tour, and limped to the endpoint six links shorter than he started.

You don't need to carry a chain tool. Just carry one of those quick links. If a chain breaks, it will be because the pin separated from an outside link. If one pin pulls out, the whole outer plate will have to pull itself off before the chain separates. Thus, you are only missing one outer link. The quick link requires no tools to install. You DO NOT want to be messing with a chain tool attached to a multi-tool when dealing with modern 10-speed chains; the tolerances for the pin are too close. If you use a chain tool to make a field repair, you won't be able to get the pin in the right place. The chain will break again at the point you riveted it.

On my fixie, I just carry a 1/8" master link. I use my keys or tiny pocket knife on my key ring to slide in the circlip.

Luis

246081


Chains break in mysterious ways. Above is a very common break with the pin still intact. A Missing Link would work, but you would have to first remove the pin of the damaged outer link with a chain tool.

Thus, always carry a chain tool....and some missing links.

And a power link ;)

Yep!
I carry a multi-tool with a dinky (but effective) chain breaker, plus a couple of old quick links.

Twice, I have saved the bacon for riders with busted chains. Once on a group ride where we were miles from nowhere, and out of cellphone range.
The second time was in the early miles of a century ride thru NYC.

The key is to use a quick-link after removing bad links with the tool. I would not want to attempt "re-pinning" a chain on the road, in the dark, while raining!

Always carry one and have had to use it a few times over the past 5 or so years when I was mountain biking and riding my fixed gear and in both cases saved me from a really long walk (of shame) home.

On the road, it has been a welcome tool for other people's bikes.

Another here with multi-tool and chain breaker. Not had to use it yet :thumb:. The only time I've had to use a chain breaker was on a ride with school pupils and one had is chain jam up. I had to remove several links. We checked every-ones bikes before we set off but he joined us down the road and we never spotted the state of his ride.

I carry one and also a small drill that is slip fit for the pin and a small sleeve I made along with a couple repair links. Most of the usage is of the Good Samaritan variety. The drill and sleeve can be used to align the link to replace a pin. Or the sleeve alone works for tightening the side plate on something like the one shown above or one coming loose.

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/47885/2765540010037547136S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2765540010037547136ShsgrL)



Last summer I came upon a club with one guy down with chain problems and out of about 6 guys no one had any tools or repair links. We fixed his chain but it was ready to come apart several other places so we went around and snugged up all the pins. Told him it was really time for a new chain when he finished the days ride.

Here is what I carry for a tool.

Nice, handy tool there, Bud.

Bill

Thanks for all of your thoughtful replies. After dropping the chain on Saturday, I knew I'd start riding with a tool but had not considered a multi tool as I didn't realize that they could break chains. Do they perform when needed? Ihbernhardt says I don't want to be relying on one to break a 10 speed chain, which is what I need it for. True? Or is he useing the wrong one? Seems a good multi tool that would replace all of the other things I carry seperately ( levers,allen set, small screwdrivers, maybe a chain tool) would be the ticket. But I've always shied away from them for some reason.

I have a chain tool on both my bent and my trike. I also carrry a quick link for both the chains. If a chain should break, there is no reason to have to walk home.

I have never broke a chain myself, but have stopped to help people who did and didnt have a chain tool.

I carry the multi tool but for a chain tool I prefer the one that’s not attached I posted above as the smallest one to get the job done for me. But then again I haven’t tried all that many on the multi tools.

I almost always carry one, but the only time in thousands of miles I had a sticky link was when I didn't have one.

I don't carry one. I used to when I first got my MTB, back in 1990, when I though that b/c I'd be doing some hard core off roading, putting some serious torque on my chain, that I'd break one soon. It never happened. I carried a chain break tool in my saddle bag for about 10 yrs before I stopped.
Short Story:I've only had 1 chain break since started seriously riding in 1983; that was a brand new chain installed earlier in the day at a shop in Georgetown (Wash. DC). I snapped it on a short steep hill later that afternoon. Took it back to the same LBS next day. The owner told me that snapping a chain pretty much should never happen. It was about a 5 mile walk back to the dorm when it snapped:mad: Since then, I learned to install all chains myself and haven't had one snap since 1983, after many yrs of road racing, training, hill intervals, centuries, off-roading, etc.

Actually, I think that my multi-tool in my bag on my hybrid does have a chain break on it. None in the bag on my MTB

Never had a chain break in my life and I've been cycling for forty years.

I broke a chain once on my commute in to work, temp was just below 0F, and it was a royal pain getting the bike repaired enough to get the rest of the way in to work. I now carry a wipperman chain tool, which included one of their quick links....

Mark

Yup. It came with my Topek seat bag. Along with tire levers, a mutlitool(slotted and philips screwdriver,allen wrenches), spoke wrench, and hex wrenches. Iv'e used the chain tool after my chain came apart after I rushed to put it back on and did a bad job of it. And to repair a chain of a scout on a Boy Scout ride. His chain broke in the parking lot before we started. Do you have to carry one? Nope. Does it come in handy? You betcha.

Sometimes I carry one, sometimes I don't. I've never had a chain break on the roadie or the MTBs during a ride. When I carry the chain breaker it's because it comes attached to the multi-tool and I want to carry hex wrenches. I have had the need to use a hex wrench many times.
For those who are interested, I use a Topeak Hexus II. I use it when I work on bikes and have broken many chains with it of all speeds, 7, 8, 9 and 10, Shimano, SRAM, Campy and KMC. I don't know what problem the previous poster had with a ten speed chain, but I used the Topeak many times to break a ten speed Shimano chain and reassemble it. The first Topeak I bought I wore out the chain breaker (flattend the tip). I now have a second, newer Hexus II. If anyone is looking for recommendation, which unit to buy, I would rate the Topeak Hexus II as a unit you should consider as it's performed very well for me.

Unless I have a new bike that I'm getting dialed in my philosophy is to keep a light heart and to carry just enough stuff to fix one flat tire. I've done tech support on some big rides so I've seen the kinds of mechanical failures that happen in real lift. To equip yourself to cover all of them would require a saddle bag that's only slightly heavier than the burden of worry on your shoulders.

I do. it's one of the few heavy things in my rear rack trunk. been trimming down what I carry and I stood there recently pondering the chain tool for about 60 secs and eventually decided to keep it in the bag ...

One out of my three bikes has a multitool in its saddlebag with a built-in chain tool. I've never had to use it, but I suppose it's nice knowing that should the opportunity arise, I'll be able to completely screw up a roadside chain repair!

I have on at least two occasions seen someone rescue a ride with a chain tool, so it seems prudent. But I can't quite bring myself to add a chain tool to my other two saddlebags.

Meh... what was the question?

I don't carry one...never needed one.

Perhaps I'm pushing my luck.:twitchy:

My experience is as a sailor where one may be thousands of miles from help. In truth, in our modern age we are not likely, especially with radios or cell phones available, to be that far from fairly quick aid. Nevertheless, my mentality is to be independent with the capacity to deal with serious emergencies on my own. My outlook is to consider consequences. It may well be that the consequence of a gear failure would be more than a PITA. The failure may sometimes be deadly. In my opinion, how much stuff you carry is dependent on those consequences and that will vary with the region, time of year, distance from timely aid and any number of considerations. For example, will there be children in your group, will you be far from a trailhead, is weather predicted to be fairly steady or is it likely to get worst throughout the day. There can be many considerations depending on the makeup of the group, time of day, terrain, weather and on and on. It is not so much the gear carried that is key, but judgment on the situation.

I've been riding bikes since I was around 5, I have never had a chain break yet. If I ever experienc my first chain break and don't have a tool I'll have to deal with it. I don't normally ride very far from an easy call or ride to get home. If I decide to ride somewhere there is not an easy call or ride home I may decide to carry a chain tool and some links. I carry what I need to fix a flat if I have one.

Most of the multitool kits I carry with my bikes have a chain tool. My only advice to add is to make sure the one you carry is of good quality. I've found it's easy to misalign the pin driver when you use cheap ones, and you end up driving the pin in or out of the chain at an angle. Not good! That flaw once caused me a chain failure after only 20 miles. The misaligned pin had ovalized the holes in the side plates which caused the pin to pull out. Chain puked out onto the road and I became an expert spinner, real fast :)

It seems that the mountain cyclist seem to have more of a problem with chains than roadies do. If I was strong enough to do the mountain bike thing I think I would carry one.
That was the long answer to the question. The short answer is no.