Chain tool
Chain tool
Having your chain snap while you’re out on a ride is a genuine nightmare. It’s one of the most irritatingly fiddly things to fix at the roadside, and quite possibly the most time consuming, too.
Touch wood, it’s something most of us will never have to try and fix outside of the comfort of the garage, but it’s always a good idea to carry a chain tool just in case.
The caveat to this one is that you should carry a quick link as well, because the chain tool is most useful for removing the broken section from the chain so you can replace it.
The key with a chain tool is leverage. They all work using some kind of twisting movement, and you’ll need a long enough lever so you can easily produce enough force to push the pin out of the chain. Tools that use a design like Lezyne’s, with what is effectively a large paddle are pretty easy to use as there’s a good size area to apply pressure. Alternatively, something innovative like Park Tool’s IB-3C that has a tyre lever that doubles up as the secondary part of the chain tool and provides a big surface area for added grip.