Chains- some questions

garetjax

I'm trying to learn more about bike repair and maintenance ( It's frankly embarrassing how little I know). I am a complete noob at this so please bear with me.

Ive started by reading about chains and experimenting with breaking and re-joining an old chain in the garage with a chain tool .

According to the website my bike has a SRAM PC-971 w/Power Link. This chain is now broke and I am wanting to replace it, but I am wondering what to do when a SRAM chain snaps on the trail. Would you suggest to carry a spare power link? Or can you repair the chain by simply removing the bad /broke link , rejoin with a chain tool and then get going. Obviously the chain will be smaller but i guess you just avoid certain gears?

In general whilst riding do you recommend to carry spare power links ( for SRAM) and spare replacement rivets ( for Shimano)?

nferrar

I just carry a couple of powerlinks these days, you still need a chain tool though to remove a broken normal link before replacing it with the spare powerlink

Stephen-Hawking

Yup, as above.

andrewjoseph

Would you suggest to carry a spare power link?

No.

I suggest you carry several pairs. You will use one when a chain breaks, it may be your mates or a total stranger you meet crying beside the trail because he's 20 miles from home and has no chain tool.

Then 10minutes later your chain breaks, or several weeks later you find you've forgotten to replace the powerlinks only when you break a chain several miles from home.

I always have 5-6 pairs in my pack. but then I always carry plenty of spares for everything.

SRAM power links will work on any chain of the same width, silver for 7-8 speed, gold for 9 speed.