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Seen over on PB.
Neato 👍
Noticed it somewhere else too... 🙂
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/granite-design-adds-the-new-talon-stashable-tool-to-its-range/
RM.
Edit: Apologies it's a different but similar thing!!
Some nice features in the clever standard one. The chain hammer is a good addition. Winner how good they are as tyre levers. I think the granite designs ones have a better core.
How useful is a missing link without a chain splitter? Genuine question, only times I can think to have used a missing link was fitting a new chain and after breaking out a chain due to a loose outer plate.
Wolf Tooth do something similar too:
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/tools/products/pack-pliers
I think they might have been first.
Yeah, at 4x the price :D.
check out ZTTO master link pliers of e-bay £20. very useful little tool
How useful is a missing link without a chain splitter?
The Pedro's Tulio has a chain tool, you need to have a QR axle though so no good if you have a through axle.
I've yet to use a chain tool out on the trail/road in fifty years of biking! Always a first time of course.
You can open a quicklink with a shoelace.
I think he means breaking the chain at a different location than the quicklink. You can open a quicklink by moving the chain half a link on the chainring then tapping the top of the resulting triangle. Like this:
I’ve yet to use a chain tool out on the trail/road in fifty years of biking! Always a first time of course.
I haven’t been cycling 50 years but I’ve worn out the chain tool on my old multi-tool (due to use not crap tool), & definitely would not go for a ride without one. There tiny, & bloody useful, why would you not carry one?
I’ve yet to use a chain tool out on the trail/road in fifty years of biking! Always a first time of course.
Indeed. I've walked miles for the lack of one, and avoided walking miles by having one.
How useful is a missing link without a chain splitter?
I would say not very. You need a chain tool as well. This compliments a chain tool nicely though. Very little overlap of tools with a multitool and the chain holder feature makes it easier to use the chain tool (especially a fiddly multitool one). Price seems good too, which is rare for this sort of thing these days.
i just carry a quick link instead of a chain tool these days. They're cheap enough to not worry with a chain tool, or am I missing something?
This is ok - but for me I like to take Allen keys as well - so I’ve recently bought a Topeak Hexus X for both bikes (one has a saddle bag - road bike - the other I have a hip pack - mtb’s).
It seemed to be one of the narrowest / most compact tools that covered most of what I need and it wasn’t very expensive after doing a bit of shopping around online. It has a chain tool, multiple Allen and torx keys, 2 tyre levers, spoke keys, valve core tool etc etc.
i just carry a quick link instead of a chain tool these days. They’re cheap enough to not worry with a chain tool, or am I missing something?
What would you use the quick link for? I'm struggling to thing of a trailside repair that you could use it for without a chain tool, other than replacing a broken quick link
@z1ppy and @IHN - I didn't say that I didn't carry one, I do. I said I'd never had to use one.
@5lab - If you mangle/break the chain at a point other than the quicklink you need to be able to split the chain. In that instance you may well need a short section of chain to replace the mangled bit (just for @z1ppy and @IHN's hard of reading - I'll carry one of those as well on remote trips)
@nickjb - quite easy to lose the existing QL if it pings off.If you mangle a link then you can replace with the QL
I’ve yet to use a chain tool out on the trail/road in fifty years of biking! Always a first time of course.
Me neither the only time I needed one (stick mech wheel interface)didn't have with me and asked a few passing people but no go...had to walk and I wasn't supposed to be out of house recovering from knee opo. Guess what all my current multitools have chain tools
@IHN – I didn’t say that I didn’t carry one, I do. I said I’d never had to use one.
(just for @z1ppy and @IHN’s hard of reading – I’ll carry one of those as well on remote trips
Alright, cool your jets there hotshot, I never implied you didn't carry one; you said you'd never had to use one, I just said that I'd not been so lucky.
Those that have never had to fix a broken chain are all lucky, I would say!
I've seen (and fixed) a fair few broken chains on various MTB and club rides over the years and a chain tool + quick link (make sure you have them for the right chain width too!) are absolutely central to my bike tools. Unless I was truly out in the wilds, I wouldn't bother to carry a spare section of chain (you'd need more chain links too) - if you have to shorten a chain, just lock off one or two sprockets to ensure that you can't damage the rear mech, and work a bit harder on the way home 🙂
Plug for the best multi-tool I've found: Topeak Mini 20 Pro. It's got all of the core tools you'd need *and* a perfectly serviceable chain-break tool and is barely bigger than a matchbox. Highly recommended.
@whitestone the chain hammer on this tool is for using with the method you posted above. Basically saves finding a suitable rock. Place chain like your picture, tool over the top, hit with your hand.
+ quick link (make sure you have them for the right chain width too!)
In a fix you can downgrade, a 9 or 10spd will work on 11spd for example. When I used to regularly lead club MTB rides I had a couple of old 9spd chainlinks wrapped in clingfilm and stuffed inside my hollowtech axle, and used these as 'get me home' fixes on 9, 10 or 11spd drivetrains.
They snag very slightly, and you have to be careful and sympathetic on changes, but they work......
In a fix you can downgrade, a 9 or 10spd will work on 11spd for example. When I used to regularly lead club MTB rides I had a couple of old 9spd chainlinks wrapped in clingfilm and stuffed inside my hollowtech axle, and used these as ‘get me home’ fixes on 9, 10 or 11spd drivetrains.
Good call, yes indeed. I tend to have a few of each sort in the saddle bag now (I should probably check my stock levels!) but perhaps this is an unnecessary luxury!
Riding out to watch last year's Tour de Yorkshire, when racing one of our U14 riders to the top of Eastby Brow, his rear mech exploded (quite spectacularly too!) all over the finish line at the top of the climb. We soon got him back up and running again with a shortened chain on a reasonably high, single gear. With only a small amount of assistance on some of the steeper climbs, he rode home without a problem and stayed in the group throughout, even commenting that he enjoyed the challenge of a single speed ride.
I've got a Silca Venti Multitool with QLink storage and a good chain splitter but this just looks a usefull addition to the saddle bag.
I currently don't carry a tube on shorter rides but on longer rides I'm going to carry a tube so will need tyre levers anyway.
I've ordered a pair and will let you know when they arrive.
quite easy to lose the existing QL if it pings off.
Yes, a broken quick link was the only example I could think of. Most likely if it wasn't properly fitted to start with or had been re-used too many times.
If you mangle a link then you can replace with the QL
Not really. How do you remove the mangled bit without a chain tool?
@nickjb - see my response to @5lab:
If you mangle/break the chain at a point other than the quicklink you need to be able to split the chain. In that instance you may well need a short section of chain to replace the mangled bit
Keep meaning to get one of these QuickLink tools as while I've never had to rejoin my chain out on the trails in my whole biking life (road and offroad) I have had to get medieval on a stubborn QuickLink while at home doing routine maintenance. One to add o the xmas wish list I think as I always struggle for ideas!
I’ve yet to use a chain tool out on the trail/road in fifty years of biking! Always a first time of course.
Same here but I have used one to help others out of trouble multiple times. Usually riding mates who have one but it's a bit crap but a few times when coming across others in remote locations. Last one was at Brechfa at the furthest point of the loop on a very cold January afternoon where if he had walked he'd be back at the car well past sunset.
I've got the Topeak Mini 20 Pro. Very small, good little tool. Only thing I don't like is the metal tyre lever "for emergency use" as I suspect it could make a bit of a mess of your rims (cosmetically anyway).
For longer rides I take the Alien II. I still think it's about the best you get but it's a bit bulky so I split it and take the halves in different pockets if I don't have a rucksack on. Hell,I really shouldn't but I use the Alien to pretty much build up 80% of my bikes, it's so good.
I'm going to modify mine with a Dremel soon as I want to convert the Shimano chain pins holder to take a QL. A small bit of dremeling into the plastic body of the tool should allow that easily.
Also want to modify it to incorporate a Presta valve tool... Unless it already has one I've never noticed?
EDIT: Never seen that idea before, I'll have to remember that!
Just bought one of these
Ztto 4in1 tool
Have to wait a month for delivery, but I'm in no rush.
Valve core spanner
Tyre lever
Qlink storage
Qlink remover
Just bought one of these
Ztto 4in1 tool
Have to wait a month for delivery, but I'm in no rush.
Valve core spanner
Tyre lever
Qlink storage
Qlink remover
There are exact copies of that Ztto tool for half the price on eBay I see.
Ha!
Just seen that a chain tool will also double up as a presta valve core remover.👍
I've just had an offer of £15 accepted for one of the ZTTO tools but I think I'd rather get one of the Granite Designs composite tools in case I have to use it as tyre levers.
@Poopscoop - the chain tool as core remover is a standard one, the "spoke key" slots on Lezyne chain tools also fit.
I've posted this before but there's some good tips in this e-pamphlet - https://readymag.com/u16005985/1375842/21/?fbclid=IwAR2HZGX5i0wpgzAsfjMbn0hQUMWY6PeLDgC0K7G62-dClO5tsxsUUvd1iWw aimed at wilderness biking but, hey! it's a bike right?
Thanks for that link Whitestone. I’ve never heard of an emergency cassette lock ring remover tool before.
https://uniorusa.com/store/pocket-spoke-and-freewheel-remover-wrench/
Yeah, that's a neat tool. Got one, it would fit inside a small box of matches and weighs 10g. On a similar line is the emergency spoke - https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/spokes/fiber-fix-emergency-replacement-spoke/
There's quite o few of these specific tools/spares and if you aren't careful you'll end up with a kilo or two of spares! Just a case of applying a bit of common sense regarding what's most likely to happen.
Thanks whitestone, some great little tips and tools there.👍
Modded the Alien 2 to take an SRAM Eagle link. I'll put a bit of tape over them so they don't fall out when I split the tool.
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No way you can drill it and stick a magnet in there to hold them?
Actually, yes! Got a little speed sensor magnet that would fit in there fine.
Good idea matey!👍
👍🏼