Fixing your chain without a spare master link

Your chain has snapped and is hanging off of your bike. Now What?

1. The goal is to get rid of any damaged links and reconnect the chain. Make sure your chain is not wrapped around your derailleur or any other part of your bike. If your chain is stuck or wedged make sure to free it before trying to reattach it. It is possible to reattach your chain without first removing it from the bike. If you need to first remove your chain make sure to take a picture of how the chain correctly feeds through your gears if you are not familiar.

2. If you're at home and have already taken your chain off now is a good time to clean and decrease it. Dirt and grease will cause friction in your chain and put it under additional pressure vs a clean chain. There is a good chance that your chain broke because it's getting old, is dirty or rusty. If this is the case now is a good time to replace it with a new chain. Learn more about lubrication here.

3. Before reattaching your chain make sure to shift your bike into a middle gear. Avoid having your gear on the easiest or hardest setting as too much or to little tension can cause a weak chain to break again. Fixed gear bicycle chains can not be repaired without a spare chain link and will need an additional chain link as the chain will not reach.

4. You'll need your chain breaking tool now. Make sure that you have a male and female end of the chain on each side. If you have a broken end link you'll need to remove it until you have an unbroken male and female chain link showing.

How to use your chain tool?
A chain is attached with small round pins running through each link. Place your chain into the chain tool and line up the pin on the chain with the hammering pin on the chain tool. Slowly turn your chain tool with both pins lined up, the chain pin will slowly be forced out of the chain. It's important not to push the chain pin out all the way. Continue pushing the pin out until it is loose enough to remove the chain without fully removing the pin.

5. Reattach the chain to the bike by placing it back through the derailleur and crank leaving the broken chain ends meeting in the middle. Place the male end into the female end and line up the holes. Inspect the pin and make sure it is undamaged before inserting it back in to the chain. With the chain tool insert the pin rivet until it is fully through the chain and lines up with the other rivets.

6. This method is a temporary fix as the chain and pin strength has been compromised. It is important to fully replace your chain before your next ride. Brows our chain selection here.