Why I carry a chain tool

Mike Jacoubowsky

I've never once had a chain failure, or even an issue, on my own bike. But
several times I've come across folk stranded on the road due to a mishap
that only a chain tool could fix. Today was one of those days.

At the base of Tunitas Creek (Northern California) my son and I came across
a group of three or four cyclists at the side of the road, and I asked, as I
usually do, if they had what they needed (works much better than asking if
they're OK, because rarely, it seems, will guys admit that something's
beyond their ability to deal with, but they have no issue admitting that
they need something, probably because that implies that it's in the realm of
an act of God that has them stranded).

Well, this guy had somehow managed to do a number on his rear derailleur and
break the replaceable dropout hanger. His bike wasn't going anywhere, as the
chain, without a derailleur attached, was going to be dragging on the ground
if he were to put it on the smaller chainring so he could get up the grade
ahead. That's where the chain tool came in. I was able to shorten his chain
enough to get it onto a front/rear combination that would allow him to make
it up the hill, which he did.

Other times I've help people with failed connector pins (fairly common) and
once with a chain that, due to a really nasty shift, had gotten bent
severely and had to have a few links removed.

It's not a bad thing for somebody in a group to have a chain tool. For what
it's worth, the one I use is the Topeak Hexus (used to be called the
Hummer).

You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Bill Sornson

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> I've never once had a chain failure, or even an issue, on my own
> bike. But several times I've come across folk stranded on the road
> due to a mishap that only a chain tool could fix. Today was one of
> those days.
>
> At the base of Tunitas Creek (Northern California) my son and I came
> across a group of three or four cyclists at the side of the road, and
> I asked, as I usually do, if they had what they needed (works much
> better than asking if they're OK, because rarely, it seems, will guys
> admit that something's beyond their ability to deal with, but they
> have no issue admitting that they need something, probably because
> that implies that it's in the realm of an act of God that has them
> stranded).
>
> Well, this guy had somehow managed to do a number on his rear
> derailleur and break the replaceable dropout hanger. His bike wasn't
> going anywhere, as the chain, without a derailleur attached, was
> going to be dragging on the ground if he were to put it on the
> smaller chainring so he could get up the grade ahead. That's where
> the chain tool came in. I was able to shorten his chain enough to get
> it onto a front/rear combination that would allow him to make it up
> the hill, which he did.
>
> Other times I've help people with failed connector pins (fairly
> common) and once with a chain that, due to a really nasty shift, had
> gotten bent severely and had to have a few links removed.
>
> It's not a bad thing for somebody in a group to have a chain tool.
> For what it's worth, the one I use is the Topeak Hexus (used to be
> called the Hummer).
>
> You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
> http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or did you
or someone else have a special link or pin?

I always carry a chain tool, too -- prolly from my early years mtb-ing when
broken chains weren't all that uncommon -- but I wonder about these
newfangled chains that supposedly /require/ a special pin or link.

Bill "old school...is out" S.

Mike Jacoubowsky

| Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or did you
| or someone else have a special link or pin?
|
| I always carry a chain tool, too -- prolly from my early years mtb-ing
when
| broken chains weren't all that uncommon -- but I wonder about these
| newfangled chains that supposedly /require/ a special pin or link.
|
| Bill "old school...is out" S.

It was a temporary fix, using one of the chain's original pins. Not ideal,
and remained a bit stiff, but got him to the top of the climb.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Bill Sornson" <askme@ask.me> wrote in message
news:4830ca22$0$12913$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
| Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
| > I've never once had a chain failure, or even an issue, on my own
| > bike. But several times I've come across folk stranded on the road
| > due to a mishap that only a chain tool could fix. Today was one of
| > those days.
| >
| > At the base of Tunitas Creek (Northern California) my son and I came
| > across a group of three or four cyclists at the side of the road, and
| > I asked, as I usually do, if they had what they needed (works much
| > better than asking if they're OK, because rarely, it seems, will guys
| > admit that something's beyond their ability to deal with, but they
| > have no issue admitting that they need something, probably because
| > that implies that it's in the realm of an act of God that has them
| > stranded).
| >
| > Well, this guy had somehow managed to do a number on his rear
| > derailleur and break the replaceable dropout hanger. His bike wasn't
| > going anywhere, as the chain, without a derailleur attached, was
| > going to be dragging on the ground if he were to put it on the
| > smaller chainring so he could get up the grade ahead. That's where
| > the chain tool came in. I was able to shorten his chain enough to get
| > it onto a front/rear combination that would allow him to make it up
| > the hill, which he did.
| >
| > Other times I've help people with failed connector pins (fairly
| > common) and once with a chain that, due to a really nasty shift, had
| > gotten bent severely and had to have a few links removed.
| >
| > It's not a bad thing for somebody in a group to have a chain tool.
| > For what it's worth, the one I use is the Topeak Hexus (used to be
| > called the Hummer).
| >
| > You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
| > http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg
| >
| > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
| > www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
|
|
| Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or did you
| or someone else have a special link or pin?
|
| I always carry a chain tool, too -- prolly from my early years mtb-ing
when
| broken chains weren't all that uncommon -- but I wonder about these
| newfangled chains that supposedly /require/ a special pin or link.
|
| Bill "old school...is out" S.
|
|

Brian Huntley

On May 18, 7:30 pm, "Bill Sornson" <as...@ask.me> wrote:
> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> > I've never once had a chain failure, or even an issue, on my own
> > bike. But several times I've come across folk stranded on the road
> > due to a mishap that only a chain tool could fix. Today was one of
> > those days.
>
> > At the base of Tunitas Creek (Northern California) my son and I came
> > across a group of three or four cyclists at the side of the road, and
> > I asked, as I usually do, if they had what they needed (works much
> > better than asking if they're OK, because rarely, it seems, will guys
> > admit that something's beyond their ability to deal with, but they
> > have no issue admitting that they need something, probably because
> > that implies that it's in the realm of an act of God that has them
> > stranded).
>
> > Well, this guy had somehow managed to do a number on his rear
> > derailleur and break the replaceable dropout hanger. His bike wasn't
> > going anywhere, as the chain, without a derailleur attached, was
> > going to be dragging on the ground if he were to put it on the
> > smaller chainring so he could get up the grade ahead. That's where
> > the chain tool came in. I was able to shorten his chain enough to get
> > it onto a front/rear combination that would allow him to make it up
> > the hill, which he did.
>
> > Other times I've help people with failed connector pins (fairly
> > common) and once with a chain that, due to a really nasty shift, had
> > gotten bent severely and had to have a few links removed.
>
> > It's not a bad thing for somebody in a group to have a chain tool.
> > For what it's worth, the one I use is the Topeak Hexus (used to be
> > called the Hummer).
>
> > You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
> >http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg
>
> > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> >www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>
> Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or did you
> or someone else have a special link or pin?

If they chain already has a "power link" or equivalent, you can undo
it, shorten one side with the chaintool, and put it back together with
the link. (One of the many reasons I like them.)

Robert Chung

On May 18, 5:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mik...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
> http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg

You tell him his seat was too low?

Mike Jacoubowsky

"Robert Chung" <rechung@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:052a4eff-1e28-48ca-bbaf-548e49237172@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
| On May 18, 5:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mik...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
|
| > You can see a picture of the "repair" here-
| > http://www.chainreaction.com/images..._hanger0139.jpg
|
| You tell him his seat was too low?

I wasn't paying attention to his seat height, and I'm not sure there's
enough in that photo to tell. I can see where it might be, looking at his
left leg, but I can't see his left foot well enough to know if he's got a
strong toe-down position at that moment. Normally I'd be looking for a 90
degree included angle when the crank is roughly in line with the downtube
(45 degrees from parallel). Unusual femur lengths make the traditional
slightly-bent knee at bottom of the stroke less reliable. In any event, I'm
not so good at either one while a bike's on the move!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Bill Sornson

Brian Huntley wrote:
> On May 18, 7:30 pm, "Bill Sornson" <as...@ask.me> wrote:
{snip Mike's Good Samaritan tale}

>> Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or
>> did you or someone else have a special link or pin?

> If they chain already has a "power link" or equivalent, you can undo
> it, shorten one side with the chaintool, and put it back together with
> the link. (One of the many reasons I like them.)

Great idea...unless a chain breaks fairly far from the special link. Can't
shorten it /that/ much!

DennisTheBald

> Great idea...unless a chain breaks fairly far from the special link. Can't
> shorten it /that/ much!

I've got two powerlinks on my chain, but then I have a really long
chain too.

Tim McTeague

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:TX3Yj.3914$ah4.477@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com...
>| Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or did
>you
> | or someone else have a special link or pin?
> |
> | I always carry a chain tool, too -- prolly from my early years mtb-ing
> when
> | broken chains weren't all that uncommon -- but I wonder about these
> | newfangled chains that supposedly /require/ a special pin or link.
> |
> | Bill "old school...is out" S.
>
> It was a temporary fix, using one of the chain's original pins. Not ideal,
> and remained a bit stiff, but got him to the top of the climb.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

But then, if the chain breaks while climbing, due to the re-use of an
existing pin, he decides to sue you for putting him in needless danger.
Good Samaritan laws notwithstanding. Maybe you should have had him sign a
waver before fixing his chain. Anyone think this would never happen?

Tim McTeague

Bob

On May 18, 7:16*pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mik...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in
part:

> At the base of Tunitas Creek (Northern California) my son and I came across
> a group of three or four cyclists at the side of the road, and I asked, asI
> usually do, if they had what they needed (works much better than asking if
> they're OK, because rarely, it seems, will guys admit that something's
> beyond their ability to deal with, but they have no issue admitting that
> they need something, probably because that implies that it's in the realm of
> an act of God that has them stranded).

We can't admit it because, dammit! We're *guys*! I see that phenomenon
occur in another situation as well- when a guy gets lost in an
unfamiliar area. I don't know why it is but they will rarely ask
directions except as a last resort. That doesn't apply to me
personally of course because I have never been lost. I've occasionally
taken a more scenic route and I was confused once for two weeks on a
wilderness hike but lost? Never.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

SMS

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

<snip>

> It's not a bad thing for somebody in a group to have a chain tool. For what
> it's worth, the one I use is the Topeak Hexus (used to be called the
> Hummer).

Yeah, I carry a chain tool as well, and have only had to use it to help
others, including the dérailleur bypass. IIRC, it was in the same area,
between 1/2 Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. That's a bummer of a place to get
stuck as there's no place that you can buy any parts or tools for quite
a ways. Maybe the San Gregorio store should put in a selection of bike
stuff. Even my local Longs's Drug Store sells a selection of Park tools,
including a chain tool. I always wonder who's going to go to Long's to
buy Park tools.

Brian Huntley

On May 18, 10:23*pm, "Bill Sornson" <as...@ask.me> wrote:
> Brian Huntley wrote:
> > On May 18, 7:30 pm, "Bill Sornson" <as...@ask.me> wrote:
>
> {snip Mike's Good Samaritan tale}
>
> >> Did you just push a "regular" pin back in to connect the chain, or
> >> did you or someone else have a special link or pin?
> > If they chain already has a "power link" or equivalent, you can undo
> > it, shorten one side with the chaintool, and put it back together with
> > the link. (One of the many reasons I like them.)
>
> Great idea...unless a chain breaks fairly far from the special link. *Can't
> shorten it /that/ much!

Ah, but we were discussing shortening a chain, not fixing a broken
one. I can barely remember the last time I had a chain actually break
- but I carry a spare power link when I'm touring, just in case.

Dane Buson

Bob <hunrobe@aol.com> wrote:
>
> We can't admit it because, dammit! We're *guys*! I see that phenomenon
> occur in another situation as well- when a guy gets lost in an
> unfamiliar area. I don't know why it is but they will rarely ask
> directions except as a last resort.

Our wife and I are reversed in this regard. I'd much rather stop and
ask someone than circle and try and figure it out. I've also finally
convinced her to look up the actual street address and cross streets
*before* we leave the house.

Of course, I think she finally has convinced me to call places instead
of assuming they'll actually keep their posted hours, still be in
business, have what I want in stock, aren't being attacked by
radioactive Aardvarks, etc.

> That doesn't apply to me personally of course because I have never
> been lost. I've occasionally taken a more scenic route and I was
> confused once for two weeks on a wilderness hike but lost? Never.a

Remember, wherever you go, there you are.

--
Dane Buson - n0n6t0p8@unixbigots.org
No, I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I'm after is
just a mediocre brain, something like the president of American Telephone
and Telegraph Company.
-- Alan Turing on the possibilities of a thinking
machine, 1943.