moxfyre

I was riding home from campus today, on the final hill up to my house, when my chain creaked loudly then 1/2 second later it suddenly snapped. At first I thought, "I knew that darn SRAM powerlink was too good to be true" and I looked all over the ground for it, but then I realized that it wasn't the powerlink that had broken. In fact one of the ordinary links had come apart and the roller had just popped right out. The narrow end of the broken link was unscathed but the plates of the wider half of the link were bent outward slightly (sorry I don't know the terminology).

I was a bit surprised, since I think SRAM makes really good chains. This was a PC-58 8-speed chain and only about 3 months old. I wasn't in a particularly low gear, riding on the middle 34T chainring. Admittedly, I had been standing up on the pedals since I was 100 feet from home and getting lazy, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Anybody ever have this happen before? It would sure suck if I hadn't been right near home, as a chain tool is one thing I don't carry with me.

elbows

I've never had it happen, but I do carry a chain tool just in case. I actually have one on my multitool (Crank Bros M-17).

mtbikerinpa

Ive had chains break but not Srams(never get shimanos, I have broke 3 of them). Probbably there was a defectively punched rivet. How old was it?
While carrying a tool is good and reccomended practice, I rarely ever do since it is something that is very unlikley to happen when the chain, as the rest of the bike is thoroughly inspected. The riveting will show warning signs beforehand. One chain I had a long time ago had a plate pop loose but I had been looking while I lubed it.

eubi

I'll agree with mtbikerinpa. Sounds like a defective rivet.

I've broken a chain, but it was by cracking on of the rivet holes. Evidently due to one of my lightning-like sprints. ;-)

I carry a chain tool all the time. It usually get used on other cyclists.