Originally Posted by
venturi95
What are you folks doing that requires roadside repair, or even trailside repair? I have been riding bicycles frequently since Christmas Day 1964, and I have only been stranded by a mechanical twice in my life 1: Mountain biking, chain got wrapped in the rear wheel catching a little air. 2: Mavic Ksyrium wheel broke a fancy proprietary spoke. I have never broken a chain, I have broken 3 spokes on my own bikes in all those years.
Reliability starts at home, knowing how to maintain your machine, knowing what componentry will work reliably over the long haul.
Learn how to shift and properly install a chain if you are having problems in that area. I carry a chain tool most of the time but have never needed it.
Your big 'ol educated brain is your best tool ever, millions of years in development.
Stuff happens. While I agree that reliability starts at home, it’s a good idea to have enough tools…and knowledge…to get yourself back home if necessary. I’ve broken lots of spokes, at least one crank, at least on pedal, had bolts fall out of derailers, had slipping posts, slipping handlebars, and had too many flats to count. I’ve never broken a derailer. And, despite carrying a chain tool for 40+ years, I’ve never broken a chain. But the minute I don’t carry a chain tool, I’m certain that I will need one.
I did have to change a chain ring once in Port Dover, OT because I put the wrong chainring on at the beginning of a tour and that was where I decided I couldn’t live with it anymore. Thankfully, I had an Hollowtech II crank so all I needed to remove it was a 5mm Allen wrench but I’m glad I had it. Thanks to a sea gull outside of Detroit, I no longer had the keys I needed to abandon my trip and the only way I was going to get a key back was to meet my wife in Philadelphia…about 600 miles away and roughly 1100 miles from my truck. I’m most certainly glad I had my tools.