taylorgeo

How difficult is it to use one of these if a chain should break while out on the road/trail?

Litespud

Not difficult at all. However, you're still going to need a chain tool to remove the broken link

CargoDane

Should be standard in any repair kit if your bike has a chain. It's easy to use, but as Litespud said, you need a chaintool for the broken part.

Ogsarg

I see the chance of a chain breaking as so miniscule that I wouldn't bother unless I was going to be in such a remote area with no way to get assistance. If you have them then you need the breaker as well as the pliers for getting it to lock.

mack_turtle

spare link is essential to any portable kit.

Mulberry20

It would be easier just to keep the cheapest Wipperman Connex chain handy for about $25 rather than fiddle with a tool.

I only use Campy Chorus and Record chains and have never in over ten years had one break.

CargoDane

But much heavier.

biker128pedal

It’s a good idea to carry a couple of those. I’ve lost one in the leaves while replacing a derailleur hanger. And a couple of weeks ago my derailleur was tweaked so the chain jumped inside the cassette. Caught it quick but the link came loose when pulling the jammed chain out. Then lost the link. Forgot an extra so had to push bike back. At least I was only a mile in.

dedhed

When I replace a chain I throw the old quick link in my seat bag.

Troul 

except when you combine the tool necessary to fix a broken chain, it almost equals out.

CargoDane

Almost, but not quite. A chain is heavy. Especially one long enough for a derailleured bike. And you still won't have the tool to shorten the chain to a cog that fits the terrain. And since you're carrying a chain, it might be a good idea to carry a a spare link anyway, as one of the posters mentioned above.

jadocs

I would just get the Connex quick link and use it on the OPs chain he has on there now. No need to run the Connex chain if he doesn't want to.

The great thing about the Connex link is that you do not need tools, so if you are broken down on a trail it is much more convenient.

mstateglfr 

I have a chain breaker on my multi-tool. It adds maybe 1oz of weight to the munti-tool.

mstateglfr 

I have a quick link in the wedge bags on all my bikes. There is simply no downside to carrying something that weighs maybe a couple grams.
If the quick link on my chain somehow breaks, then I have a replacement.
If another part of my chain somehow breaks, then I can use my multi-tool to remove the broken part of the chain and use the spare quick link to attach the chain together.

In either scenario, I just saved my ride and can continue to enjoy the day rather than sit on the side of the road and wait for however long until my wife can come get me.
I honestly dont understand why sitting and making someone pick you up is the more appealing scenario.

As for pliers to get the quick link to lock, you can simply push down on the forward crank arm with the rear tire on the ground to get it to lock. That isnt at all an issue to worry about.

spelger

just mount one of these to your bike. gotta be prepared.

frogman

What he said !

Barry2 

I keep an old link in my bag "just in case"
And I carry a 92 gram multi-tool Topeak Ninja 16+
At 92 grams... it has a chain tool !

Barry

Maelochs

I carry a Park Mini-Brute on most of my riders, and always carry a few quick links.

I have had a couple chains break .... actually only three that I can recall ... but in each case I was able to remove the damaged links, replace them with quick links, and continue my ride.

If the mini-Brute and three quick links (which weigh less than a chain) is too much for some to carry, okay. Some folks won't even carry a spare tube. Chacun a son gout.

I like riding home, as opposed to walking. My wife is rarely around when I am riding so the "Call of Shame" isn't a great option. I know there is at least one Uber driver in our town, and he has a big enough vehicle to carry a bike (he is an occasional riding buddy, so I could get good conversation on the way home, too) but I am not sure about others, or what they drive.

At least with a broken chain I could remove the chain and push the bike .... but 15 miles in road cleats would probably cripple me.

Again, we each make or own decisions.

BlazingPedals

I always pack a spare quick-link in my patch kit. It's small and I just use one from my last chain replacement. It's not so much in case you break a chain, although that's happened to me; mostly it's in case I or a friend suffer an unclipped quick-link. Either way, it's an easy way to avoid the 'Call of Shame.' And yes, I can remove the other riven from a broken (outer) link without a tool, so that I can use the spare.

taylorgeo

Here's a pic of my multi-tool, it says it has a chain tool. Will I still need the breaker as well as the pliers for getting it to lock?





Also, here's a pic of my bike... Any idea what size quick link I would need? Chain is a KMC Z7 nickel plated.

Koyote

Umm, what? We're talking about items for a repair kit. Do you seriously carry an entire spare chain when riding?

Carry a good multi-tool that includes a chain tool, throw a couple quick links in your repair kit (I put mine in the little plastic box that holds the patch kit), and - most important of all - know how to use it.

For what it's worth, I have had a broken chain, and I've seen it happen to other riders.

mack_turtle

carrying an entire chain does not weigh less than a mini chain tool.

Maelochs

As for that tool .... make sure it works and make sure you know how to use it.

I bought a bunch of cheap multi-tools once, because at one per bike (so i never forgot it) things got expensive.

never had a problem until I broke a chain on a ride with another guy---so I was holding him up while I fiddled with my stuff.

My cheapo multi-tool chain breaker was not strong enough to push out the bent pin. I was exceedingly glad he had a decent chain tool, so I could take out the bad links and add quick links.

I ordered three Mini-Brutes that night.

Quick Links are not determined by bike size but by chain size. As far as I know most bikes use either 6-7-8-speed chains (all one size) or 9-, 10-, or 11-speed chains (I assume bikes with `12 cogs use 12-speed chains but I have never seen one .... just using my Sherlock Holes deductive skills.)

I can't count the cogs on your bike ... but you can.

Pratt

If you have the chain breaker tool, you could just remove the bad link, and reunite the ends of the chain. One link shorter, yes, but probably good enough to get you home. Once upon a time, those handy, removable links didn't even exist.

Phil_gretz

On tour, yes, I carry a chain breaker and a quick link. When mountain biking, I always carry a quick link and breaker tool. Always. Chains can be smashed riding single track.