My chain tool snapped mid-ride in Tucson, had to improvise with a zip tie

Was heading out on a 40 mile loop near Sabino Canyon last Saturday when my chain gave up about 12 miles in. No spare quick link on me, which was dumb, but my chain tool also broke on the first link. The pin bent sideways and just stuck there. I ended up using a zip tie to hold the two ends together, then pedaled real gentle for 3 miles to a gas station that had a basic repair kit behind the counter. Cost me $8 for a cheap link and a lot of embarrassment. Anyone else ever had a tool fail at the worst possible time? How do you handle it, carry backups or just accept the walk of shame?

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1 Comment

troy4391mo ago

Man, "pedaled real gentle for 3 miles" got me. I can't believe you made it that far on a zip tie without it snapping or the chain wrapping around your crank. That's some serious luck mixed with skill. I've had a multi-tool bend on me before but never break clean off like that, I would've been stuck in the desert cussing at the sky. The gas station repair kit thing is wild too, who even has that behind the counter anymore, you basically found a miracle. Honestly, I think you handled it way better than most of us would, I'd have just sat down and waited for a ride. Now I'm paranoid about my own chain tool, might go test it on a spare link tonight.