REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Ever brake a chain on a singlespeed?

941 Views 18 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Obi, Nov 30, 2005

TwistedCrank

Discussion Starter · Nov 28, 2005

On a recent ride flipinidaho remarked that if he every broke his chain while riding he'd be hosed (so would I). Earthpig told us he carried five chainlinks and a powerlink just in case.

That got me wondering if I should add some chainlinks to the just-in-case pouch - even though I ride with a 1/8" chain and I weigh a lanky 175 lbs..

If you have ever broken a chain what was the field repair? Do you carry spare links?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

DeeZee

· #2 · Nov 28, 2005

Happend to me this weekend

TwistedCrank said:
On a recent ride flipinidaho remarked that if he every broke his chain while riding he'd be hosed (so would I). Earthpig told us he carried five chainlinks and a powerlink just in case.

That got me wondering if I should add some chainlinks to the just-in-case pouch - even though I ride with a 1/8" chain and I weigh a lanky 175 lbs..

If you have ever broken a chain what was the field repair? Do you carry spare links?

Out of the saddle hammering hard up a climb and SNAP down I went.

Glad I was by myself and just doing the 10 mile loop by my house. I just washed my gear and forgot to put the extra piece of chain and power link back in my bag

(first time in 3 years of SS'ing I broke a chain). Had to call wifey to come pick me up.

pacman

· #3 · Nov 28, 2005

TwistedCrank said:
On a recent ride flipinidaho remarked that if he every broke his chain while riding he'd be hosed (so would I). Earthpig told us he carried five chainlinks and a powerlink just in case.

That got me wondering if I should add some chainlinks to the just-in-case pouch - even though I ride with a 1/8" chain and I weigh a lanky 175 lbs..

If you have ever broken a chain what was the field repair? Do you carry spare links?

Yep, SRAM PC-1. KMC has not broken yet. Extra links? Of course.

pitmang1

· #4 · Nov 28, 2005

I too have broken a chain or two. They only seem to break when I don't have extra links with me, so I have decided that I will always carry some spares in my bag. It's weird, but I only get flats when I don't have spare tubes as well.

itsdoable

· #5 · Nov 28, 2005

I always carry a KMC Quick-Link (it's a one-use PowerLink, only cheaper). It's been used many times, not always by me.

shiggy

· #6 · Nov 28, 2005

Ever brake a chain on a singlespeed?

No. I prefer the have the brakes on the wheels.

On a fixie you are braking the chain to slow the rear wheel.

Mine'sAPint

· #7 · Nov 28, 2005

< smartarse >
Surely the only chain that brakes would be one on a fixed-gear bike ?
< /smartarse >

Edit: Damnit, Shiggy beat me to it! <shakes fist>

Rainman

· #8 · Nov 28, 2005

...yes.

R.

unit

· #9 · Nov 29, 2005

great timing

Yes, I loaned a SS of mine to my brother 2 days ago (he weighs 165 soaking wet). we went on an easy ride on a local trail at a slow pace. The chain on the bike he was riding was about 5 rides old and had about 100 miles on it...yup it popped on the flattest portion of the trail under only a moderate load.

any chain is as strong as....you guessed it, the weakest link. that was a pretty decent quality chain too....but obviously had a defective link.

I have similar stories about chains that were touted as "unbreakable" by dealers selling them.

nothing is unbreakable, and no manufacturer is immune to making a total turd once in a while. carry a spare, or be prepared to crosstrain.

Ken

Bikehigh

· #10 · Nov 29, 2005

I've broken a chain twice on my SS twice. Oh wait, no, scratch that, I haven't. I've bent the chain tug twice, when a rock got kicked up got jammed between the chain and freewheel and I pulled the wheel forward bending the chaintug outward in the process. PC-58 in one instance and PC-59R in the other, so breaking a chain on an SS seems far less likely if it can survive abuse like that and still work to perfection. I do carry spare links for SRAM 8 speed and XTR 9 speed chains as well as Shimano pins and a real chain tool. I've used it to help out others from time to time.

Ken in KC

· #11 · Nov 29, 2005

Not on a ss...

TwistedCrank said:
On a recent ride flipinidaho remarked that if he every broke his chain while riding he'd be hosed (so would I). Earthpig told us he carried five chainlinks and a powerlink just in case.

That got me wondering if I should add some chainlinks to the just-in-case pouch - even though I ride with a 1/8" chain and I weigh a lanky 175 lbs..

If you have ever broken a chain what was the field repair? Do you carry spare links?

I have on geared bikes due to my poor shifting capability but not on a SS. I still carry some links in my pack, though. As you said, just in case.

Ken

Padre

· #12 · Nov 29, 2005

shiggy said:
No. I prefer the have the brakes on the wheels.

Would you "prefer the have" your grammar correct too?

Juan Speeder

· #13 · Nov 29, 2005

Padre said:
Would you "prefer the have" your grammar correct too?

^What he said^

If you're (not your) going to play grammar police, you'd better get it right yourself.

Better luck next time.

Padre

· #14 · Nov 29, 2005

Juan Speeder said:
^What he said^

If you're (not your) going to play grammar police, you'd better get it right yourself.

Better luck next time.

It's ok Juan, he's in a group for his problem.

Ratt

· #15 · Nov 29, 2005

Yes a pc-1 on only my second SS ride. Of course i only had 9-speed links in my bag.

CabRider

· #16 · Nov 29, 2005

three times lucky here

first time i was bearing down with my full weight, trying to keep the bike barely moving (hehe) on a steep dirt climb. Snapped and down I went, hit my knee on the top tube (I think).

second and third times were on road climbs to (and from) the trail. good thing I didn't go down as hard as I did the first time.

on all three occasions I was fortunate enough to carry spare links (more than 5!) and a chain tool. Would really be a bummer to have a snapped chain out on the trail, without any means of repair. even before I started SS'ing, I had them links in my pack. Running a cheapo Shimano IG chain.

DiRt DeViL

· #17 · Nov 29, 2005

Only once on the SS, was during last years 24hr race on the first lap. Guess that the chain stroke a rock and the powerlink broke, it was a PC99 chain.

Since then haven't experienced any chain issues.

Brandon

· #18 · Nov 29, 2005

Yep, ended up coasting/Walking home.

I had to go home without the aid of pedalling. so now I keep a few extra links in the bag just in case.

Obi

· #19 · Nov 30, 2005

Yep...

A few times, but the odd thing is the chains were either the PC-1, or the PC-58's. I never got over 100 miles on 'em, yet I'm using my PC-89R from May, with well over 150 miles on it, and it hasn't given any issue. Of course now I've jinxed myself, better go shopping tomorrow. Same with my buddies, chains, the Sram 9 speeds are holding up, despite seeing posts elsewhere to state otherwise.

Note: I personally never hesitate to break out the ruler every so often.(No more than 1/8" past 12" pin to pin.)

Maybe that Surly spew about chains was legit and the multi-speed one's the stronger.

http://www.surlybikes.com/spew3.html
excerpted text:

4. 1/2x1/8" chains vs. 1/2x3/32" chains. 1/2x1/8" chains suck. Run whatever you want, but bigger isn't better here. Yeah, they're wider, but according to manufacturer-supplied data, they're not stronger and they are definitely not of better quality. Multi-speed drivetrains is where the bucks are at, and chains that work on such drivetrains are where the manufacturers of chains showcase their innovations and developments in quality. The rollers are better, the plates are better, the pins are stronger, and the construction method (riveting procedure) is better on all multi-speed 3/32" chains. I guess if you grind your chainring and chain down the handrail every night at the local pub, a bigger 1/2x1/8 " chain will last longer, but most of us don't and it won't.

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