@ai6yr asks:
I broke a chain for the first time, far from home! Luckily, the local bike shop was downhill. I coasted down & paid them to replace the chain (needed a spare anyway, took the old broken one home to add new links and re-wax). It appears I'm not packing all the tools I need.
Q4. What tools should I carry on all bike rides? (I usually carry a patch kit & small pump, but no chain tool nor master link) What else am I missing?!
@ai6yr @bikenite A4. Here's what I always carry:
* multitool: allen wrenches, screwdriver heads, chain tool, mini tire lever, spoke wrench. It was Topeak's smallest one they made with a chain tool. Don't remember the model, but the Mini P20 looks the closest modern equivalent.
* inner tube: though I might not have the right size tube for my daily commuter...
* patch kit (the rubber cement type)
* random wrappers/straps/ties: usually not useful, but sometimes useful for who knows what! Maybe a tire boot?
* I have one of those metal things the size of a thick credit card that has sort of wrench capacity
I think that's it in terms of tools?
This is mostly what I bring, unless we're on a multi-day bikepacking tour, then I'm bringing an extra chain, cables, more tubes, perhaps a spare tire. Depending on how in the middle of nowhere we are.
So, do you now plan to bring an extra set of quick links to be able to patch a broken chain?
@ascentale @ai6yr @bikenite I generally carry a multitool that includes a chain breaker and a small set of chain quicklink pliers (that has a storage compartment for a spare link) so if I need to I can re-wrap it and fix it in one gear even if it's too short, but I normally tell people not to worry about chains, there's only so much you can prepare for. For most people I just recommend a basic multi-tool, some tire levers, and a spare tube.
@ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite these are the portable ones I keep in my tool roll under the saddle, they're small and can fit a spare link!
@cutting @sam @ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite
I carry a CrankBrothers with chain tool, so carrying a second chain tool just for quick links seems silly. So I just don't bother with quick links.
@rowmyboat @ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite I've never had one come loose or break, but I carry a few if I'm running tubeless so that if I did break one I wouldn't have to throw my spare tube (which I also carry) in. For bikes already running tubes I just use the spare tube.
@alper @ai6yr @sam @ascentale @bikenite
Gonna try that. Many thanks
@rand @InkySchwartz @ai6yr @sam @ascentale @bikenite Normally I only use brute force. Never needed mechanical advantage with a lever. The only issue doing it by force is that link come undone very unexpectedly and sometimes violently.
Any string that is thin enough to pass the narrow link and not stretch is usable. You need to apply reasonable amount of force so it need to be long enough to wrap it around your hands too.
@rand @InkySchwartz @alper @ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite I've done this before in a pinch, works fine (though I prefer to just carry the tool and not have to deal with it, especially since the tool gives me a convenient place to store an extra link).
@sam @ascentale @ai6yr @bikenite #BikeNIte A4 I have an old lightweight multitool that lives in my MTB saddlebag. It has a chain breaker, a couple of open-end wrenches (8 and 10mm, I think?) and at least three sizes of Allen. Sadly, no one seems to make these any more.
The Allen keys are the ones I need most often. On other bikes (because I don't have enough multi-tools) I carry the Allens each bike needs, plus maybe a mini adjustable wrench (which I haven't needed yet) and a few zip ties.
@ascentale @ai6yr @bikenite A4: I definitely carry a quicklink (master link for modern chains). Often I carry a spare tube, always tyre lever(s), multitool/allen keys with at least 5mm and 6mm. And the pitlock "key" you get my wheels off.
Touring I carry more, a cut down 15mm ring spanner, chainbreak, chain lube, spare tyre and etc depending on how I feel.
@MartyCormack Even without spare spokes, I've found a spoke wrench handy. When a spoke breaks it is easy enough to remove the spoke, but the wheel can easily be enough out of true to be un ridable. A spoke wrench allows you to bring it close enough to true to ride it home.
Or at least I've done that once.
@ascentale @ai6yr @bikenite the old chain is dead
I'll bet you 2 chains it's stretched all over and not serviceable
@ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite I am willing to believe there is a different reason than wear all over, but a chain mfg fault is rare these days.
I'll bet the whole thing has issues and would urge you to check it for stretch
A4: in addition to tubes, patches, tyre levers and mini pump, I make a point of carrying the tools needed to fix/adjust whatever I've recently worked on, on the first ride after the repair.
In case I've forgotten to tighten something, or not adjusted it correctly, I want to be able to deal with it with 'proper' tools, not pfaff around with an emergency multitool.
Once the shakedown ride is done, the proper tools can go back in their places in the toolchest.
A4. I have never broken a chain on a ride; the closest was having a single link fail in the driveway after taking it apart and putting it back together again.
That said, I have an older crankbrothers toolkit which has a fold-away chain breaker on it.
I am a minimalist for tools. A patch kit and a pump, sometimes a bike tool kit (usually when I have done repairs and do not trust my fix.) Bikepacking I carry more.
@ai6yr @AsphaltandEarth @Amgine @ascentale @bikenite
The only time I had a chain break was when my friend and I were riding a vintage single speed tandem. It was the timing chain that broke, so the stoker (me) had to provide all the torque. No fun! Luckily there weren't too many hills on the way home.
A4. If a chain breaks its not just about fixing the chain, sometimes there is the issue that it will get stuck somewhere (as it is ripped apart with quite a bit of force). Last time my gf broke her chain on an incline, it jammed the crank/pedals. I managed to snap two chains so far.
I have a small water- (&grease)proof bag with the tools required for spefic bikes with that bikes if I use or used those bikes on a regular basis and far enough from home/civilization that it would be annoying to get home without those tools. E.g. my 70s folding bikes only contain minimum tools as I don't do long distance travel with them.
Arjan Boltjes
Phil (ascentale)
cognitively accessible math
AI6YR Ben
Sam Whited
Doug Cutting
NNN
rowmyboat
oheso
Alper
Matthew Newell
Inky says "What the hell?!"
rand ❌👑
Sam H (he/him)
Lloyd Lemons
Akkana Peck
Moz
Marty Cormack
LovesTha🥧
Darth Osler
isol
Amgine
Asphalt and Earth
Nate
rawe
Edward Hasbrouck
nick
Siegfried.
Guido den Teuling
edd