http://z10.invisionfree.com/Travelli...?showtopic=902
my attempt at setting up my road bike for light weight camping ,still need to sort out my sleeping gear .

BigAura, I agree with you and try to accomplish as much preventative maintenance as possible before hand but stuff happens, and often I find myself riding with others that aren't so conscientious or should I say, are more adventurous than I. I mean who can predict while riding a trail that someone could ride over a stick large enough to be flipped up and into the rear derailleur and chain with such force that it could screw up a couple links in a chain. Stuff happens!

It's the "sometimes yes" that will screw you. My observation is that the chain tool has always been necessary.

Weird stuff happens. I've seen a fair number of chain problems on bikes that are kept in service (where a chain tool was necessary).

It's easy to find a multitool with a chain tool. If you are carrying a power-link, it doesn't make sense not to carry a chain tool too.

No one is arguing that one can "guarantee everything".

It's not that hard to learn how to use the tools in a basic way.

Now, that's odd!

My minitool includes the chain tool and a spoke wrench for minimal extra weight.

+1

It's amazing that some bike shops are so inept. I've never had to find this out first hand. I guess my cheapness and self-reliance have paid off. I build and service my own bikes.

How about a shop that tried to interchange a brake and shifter cable as if they were the same, or sold the guy a tube that was way too large for the tire or thought that a 27" tire should be interchangeable with a 700 c rim, or ..... I can go on and on.

Be a boy scout, be prepared or better yet marry a boy scout so you don't even have to get your hands dirty.

I think you've totally ignored, what i posted.

I do carry a multi/chain-tool plus a chain checker.

I build my bikes and do all my own service and work at home and on tour.

I wouldn't do it either, but it isn't all that odd on tours long enough that you are likely to wear out a chain. That said I never got in the habit using of a chain checker, preferring to use a metal ruler to measure 12 full links (think about changing at 12-1/16" and be sure to do it before 12-1/8"). I have borrowed a metal ruler from a shop along the way, but have not carried one on tour.

A 13" section of a broken steel tape measure would roll up tiny and weigh a fraction of an ounce. That or two marks on the chain stay 12-1/16" apart would suffice.

Then there is the following method. It is what we used to do when I was a kid many years ago. That was in the days of coaster brakes though.

• Put the chain on the big ring.
• Grab the furthest forward part of the chain and pull it away from the ring.
• If it clears a tooth completely, it is worn out.

Not sure how shot they are when they fail this test. Next time I have one that measures 12-1/16" for 12 links I'll have to compare using this method.

No, I didn't ignore what you posted. What you wrote was confusing.

You carry a chain-tool and you suggest that it isn't necessary!

Carrying a chain checker is odd. Are you recommending everybody carry one?

This isn't a recommendation that people should carry a chain tool. Often, you need a chain tool to use a power-link.

I realize chains can break even with low mileage. Very commonly a chain will quickly degrade because you have too many drive-train miles or improper attention to previous chain maintenance. If your chain-rings and/or cassette gears are shark-toothed you'll ruin a new chain in no time. If you read what I posted I said start fresh and keep up maintenance. I concede that I may have given bike shops too much credence in their ability to properly maintain a bike.

Let's see how long we can keep this going.
And how bold the text can get.
And how big!

What do you think?

I read what you wrote and you are still confusing.

It's easy to find a multi-tool with a chain tool and carrying a power-link without a chain tool doesn't make much sense.

???

I want to make sure I can fix a flat, boot a tire, and repair a chain. Those are the things I figure will stop me from riding. Catastrophic derailleur issues can be worked around by fiddling with the chain and making the bike single speed. Headset, bottom bracket and wheel bearing issues are usually progressive, although I did once have a 6 speed freewheel that suddenly became a freewheel in both directions, so no drive at all. Brake failure could happen, but you've got two of those and a gear change issue can again be solved by going single speed.

http://gifs.gifbin.com/042009/1239960414_pong-tenis.gif

Here's my post that this confusion sprang from. I was saying this primarily for people who don't know how to use tools or fix their bike. Proper maintenance will reduce your break downs.

People riding long distance should know basic bicycle repair. Fixing a chain isn't very hard.

This is obvious. It's so obvious that people can't really be talking about it.

This is basically reasonable advice. But should they still carry a minitool?

still going.

Pete,
realize that it's the pot calling the kettle black here, as I'm definitely the one who brings more repair materials than needed but I never considered a chain checker as that could definitely be handled before the ride in most cases. And even if the chain does measure too long, I'm not carrying a full chain with me so I'm still screwed and will have to find a shop. We all must decide on what is necessary and what isn't for each ride, frankly I would like to tour with Bigaura and then I could use his :)

Please put these in Tips + Tricks. Genius!

Thanks for this, because that is exactly what I did for my first "UL" tour.

On the list, I've never tried any of those but #1 is the only option I would even think of at this point.

Anyone know of any good Carradice doubles in the United States?

A couple caveats...

One, the chainstay thing is kind of hard to read. You have to place the chain against the chainstay and look down in between the two.

Two I am not sure how worn the chain is when it fails the test of grabbing and pulling. We did it years ago, but I would want to calibrate the method against a know measured chain before I'd trust it.

I still just use a metal ruler.

Yeah I doubt that many carry a gauge.

That said on multi-month tours it isn't that crazy. Starting every tour with new stuff gets old when/if you start doing lots of long tours. At one time I might have just started with new tires, chain, etc. Refreshing everything before a tour is a much less attractive option, if you do multimonth tours more than once a year. This is especially true if you only use the bike for tours and therefore are unlikely to use the worn stuff once it comes off the bike. Throwing away half worn tires, chains and so on is a waste. For example I started the southern tier on tires that I knew would last over 1000 miles but would not finish the trip. Buying new ones in the middle of the trip and swapping them then made sense to me. It is especially true if you are lucky enough to be able to do numerous long tours and a multi thousand mile tour is not necessarily the big tour of your life.

Knowing that you will need a chain soon is a good thing whether you have a spare or not; then you can plan on stopping at the next bike shop. It isn't like you have to change it the second it reaches 12-1/16".