Busted cherry, broken chain... (kinda long)

[Rocket Reducer No. 62]

It finally happened. A first for me.

My wife and I were out riding at Spenceville yesterday. Not much of a challenge, but it's where we learned to ride, it's beautiful, cool to ride in the rain, and the climbs are fun on a singlespeed. Plus, the trail closest to our house, Pioneer, was too wet to ride.

We rode up to the falls in a nice light mist. Everything was green and gorgeous. We stayed for a while at the falls then decided to head back. That's when it happened.

I'm cranking up the only sizable climb on the way out, being a determined singlespeeder, when I hear TING! and suddenly I'm sitting on my butt in front of my bike. My wife was close enough behind me to have seen the whole thing. I beleive "@ss over tea-kettle" was how she described it.

The beauty part is it's all my fault. The last time I popped my chain off to clean it, I bent the powerlink, but figured it would be okay. Guess what sheared in half? So, I am directly responsible for the bruises on my inner thighs and my @ss. Karma sucks sometimes.

We had to walk out because, although I had a chain tool with me, my multi-tool couldn't reach into my EBB. Of course I didn't have an extra powerlink, did I? I mean, I have a King hub on the back, but I decide to cheap out on buying a powerlink. That's where I decide to be frugal. I'm a dork.

Late,

[Sparticus]

I remember when my LBS used to sell PowerLinks for, like, 50¢. (Many, many years ago.) Now they go for about ten times that amount.

Oh well, I still carry one or two with me on every ride. As you so eloquently pointed out, it's a price one simply has to pay. And when I think about it, I conclude that it's actually cheap insurance.

Just be glad you didn't smack your sack.

--Sparty

It finally happened. A first for me.

My wife and I were out riding at Spenceville yesterday. Not much of a challenge, but it's where we learned to ride, it's beautiful, cool to ride in the rain, and the climbs are fun on a singlespeed. Plus, the trail closest to our house, Pioneer, was too wet to ride.

We rode up to the falls in a nice light mist. Everything was green and gorgeous. We stayed for a while at the falls then decided to head back. That's when it happened.

I'm cranking up the only sizable climb on the way out, being a determined singlespeeder, when I hear TING! and suddenly I'm sitting on my butt in front of my bike. My wife was close enough behind me to have seen the whole thing. I beleive "@ss over tea-kettle" was how she described it.

The beauty part is it's all my fault. The last time I popped my chain off to clean it, I bent the powerlink, but figured it would be okay. Guess what sheared in half? So, I am directly responsible for the bruises on my inner thighs and my @ss. Karma sucks sometimes.

We had to walk out because, although I had a chain tool with me, my multi-tool couldn't reach into my EBB. Of course I didn't have an extra powerlink, did I? I mean, I have a King hub on the back, but I decide to cheap out on buying a powerlink. That's where I decide to be frugal. I'm a dork.

Late,

[indigosky]

I beleive "@ss over tea-kettle" was how she described it.

That fricking hilarious! Now watch my karma kick my a$$ for saying that!

[cherrybomber]

im buying those paddings for the stem that DHers use....

[Brandon]

Cheaper route.. when you buy your new chain and install it.. throw the extra links you cut off to size your chain into your saddlebag, if it breaks you can just splice in one of the extra links to get back on the trail***. If the chain breaks and gets twisted (I've seen it happen) you may damage more than one link and the powerlink wouldn't be enough to get you going again.

***Assuming you don't use chain with riveted pins that can't be broken and rejoined ie: shimano anything.