Bike chain snapped
By koopharper
@koopharper (7599)
Canada
August 20, 2016 7:00pm CST
As I mentioned in my previous discussion, I cycled home from work Friday evening. Actually I cycled most of the way home. Riding up the last hill of any consequence the chain snapped. I walked and coasted from there.
The chain was recently replaced by your's truly after asking my wife to buy the cheapest one she could find. As I put it on, I was a bit concerned because this chain was more poorly constructed than anything I've ever found in the stores before. Especially the special connecting link. That's what broke but it didn't fail the way I was expecting. I expected that it would fail at the pin if it did. It actually broke right in the middle of the side plate.
I repaired it this evening by taking out that stupid connector link and it actually went together easier and better without it. Weather looks good tomorrow so I'll get another shot at it. Hope it holds together this time.
11 people like this
12 responses
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
22 Aug 16
Well hope it keeps nice and sturdy for you and that it is now safe!
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
22 Aug 16
No problems riding it home yesterday. The bike has decent components for the most part. The rear derailleur is bent and that is a problem. Besides that though, it just needs a few accessories to work well for my purposes.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
22 Aug 16
@MarymargII Did some work on it again today. Need to take it for a short test ride. See if my work did any good.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
22 Aug 16
@koopharper Good idea to do what you're doing and get it all spruced up - as you love to use it and it's your friend-ha! So smart to keep the bike in good working order!
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
21 Aug 16
I need to get back to riding my bike now that I have time. I think it is amazing that you ride so often and do your own repairs, that is a rarity today when most people would rather drive and even when the car has a minor problem, they take it the to shop. My husband does what he can, but cars today are more like computers, so he is limited to car repair than he was 25 plus years ago.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
Thankfully bicycle mechanics is quite simple and doesn't require that many tools. Fixing a chain is relatively easy with the right tool. I've managed without the right tool before but then it is no simple task. I'm hoping to be in shape to scale back our expenses on the van especially gasoline.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
21 Aug 16
@koopharper The right tool and being mechanically inclined, which I am not.. lol. I remember the chain always falling off my bike as a kid and try as much as In could, I never was able to get the chain back on, so my dad had to do it.
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
21 Aug 16
@koopharper I tihnk I told you that already, years ago, when we talked about your biking.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
If it gets me further than Friday we should be all good.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Aug 16
@koopharper lets keep fingers, toes and anything else crossed lol lol.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
22 Aug 16
Glad you didn't have an accident from that. I usually avoid getting the cheapest ones as they don't last at all. I just feel it's a waste of money.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
22 Aug 16
@koopharper Not these days anymore. The cheapest ones give the poorest quality. I think it's ok to buy something not that expensive but not that cheap.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
22 Aug 16
@toniganzon So far this chain is doing alright now that I got rid of the connector link.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
22 Aug 16
Usually in the past the cheap ones were just fine. I find the really expensive ones wear out too fast.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
I'm alright. This is all pacing out nicely. As long as I can ride regularly I'll get back in form.
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
22 Aug 16
It did get me home this evening. I'm a bit tired though.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 Aug 16
@koopharper I can imagine it's time for a rest.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
23 Aug 16
Chain is still holding together . There is a problem with the rear shifter mechanism but I'm hoping I don't have too much trouble with it.
1 person likes this
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
23 Aug 16
All the best with the newly repaired one.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
I doubt it will. I expect the rest of the chain is a lot better than that special connector link. I hope it won't break in the middle of the ride. That's when I'll be furthest from a phone.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
It brought me home today. Hopefully I can continue to make good use of it for awhile.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Aug 16
Hope you get a good ride in. I snapped a chain once. Now that I carry a chain tool, it's never happened again!
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
21 Aug 16
I have the tools to fix it on the road. I just wasn't carrying them with me. Also I was close enough to home that I would have just walked it in anyway and worried about fixing it later like I did. Right now I don't have a rear rack on the bike yet and that backpack I bring to work is heavy enough as it is.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
24 Apr 18
@koopharper
That is very scary. Glad you made it home and hope you did not get hurt in the process of the snapping of the chain. I hope it holds now.
